Your Europe relocation
planning checklist.
A practical worksheet to help you prepare for an introductory conversation or a meeting with your own advisers.
The questions to take into your first conversation.
Start with nationality, intended activities and the life you want to lead. Use the Portugal route guide, selected-route comparison and cross-border planning guide to find the questions that need an answer.
Use this worksheet on screen or print it for your own notes. No sign-up is required.
Start with the life you are planning.
- Who would move, and which nationalities and existing residence permissions are involved?
- Where would each person actually live, work or study during the year?
- Which countries would remain connected to your home, income, business or assets?
- What is your intended timetable, and what could change it?
- Which advisers are already involved, and which questions remain unanswered?
Which situation is closest to yours?
A family planning to relocate
- Which family members could apply together, and which might need a separate route?
- What changes when a child becomes an adult or a dependant's circumstances change?
- How would schooling, healthcare cover and each person's permission fit the move?
- How would actual living arrangements affect the family's tax and reporting questions?
A family planning occasional stays
- How many days would you expect to spend in each country?
- Which presence, renewal and continuing obligations would need to be met?
- What travel would the permission allow, and what would require separate permission?
- How would a home or changing travel pattern affect your tax-residence analysis?
Someone planning to work or run a business
- Would you be employed, self-employed, working remotely or managing a business?
- Which permissions would cover those activities in the country where you perform them?
- What would your employer or business need to check about payroll, tax and reporting?
- Could employment, business or another residence route be relevant to the same plans?
A worked example: a family considering Portugal
Illustrative situation: two adults and a school-age child want to move; one adult would keep working for an overseas employer. They have not selected a residence route.
- Immigration: list all nationalities and ask which permission covers the remote work and each family member. Start with the route guide and family questions.
- Tax and employer: prepare a travel and housing plan. Ask the employer and relevant advisers to review where the work is performed, payroll and reporting. Use the tax questions.
- Everyday life: confirm school admissions, healthcare cover and accommodation directly before committing to dates.
- Next action: record who will answer each question, the official source and the date checked. Keep passport copies and financial statements out of an initial educational enquiry.
This example illustrates a planning sequence. It does not determine eligibility or recommend a route.
Ask the same questions about all three countries.
What would a qualified adviser need to confirm for each option, and which current official source supports the answer?
| Question | Portugal | Greece | Malta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Which route and permission would be relevant? | |||
| Who in the family could qualify, and on what conditions? | |||
| What presence and continuing obligations would apply? | |||
| Which work or business activities would need separate permission? | |||
| What are the complete costs, renewal steps and consequences of a change? | |||
| Which immigration, tax and ownership questions need specialist review? |
Record the adviser or authority responsible for each answer and the date you checked it. This is a question worksheet, not an eligibility assessment. Keep completed personal notes private; nothing written on your printed copy is submitted to this website.