Interest in moving to Portugal remains strong among Americans, with 455 people attending a recent series of events in the United States to explore residency options, property and the practicalities of relocating.
The September Living in Portugal roadshow, organised by Open Media, visited San Francisco, Seattle and Scottsdale in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Attendance exceeded the organiser’s expectations, with an average of around 150 visitors per city and full seminar sessions at each venue.
The turnout points to continued demand for Portugal among prospective US residents and investors, despite uncertainty surrounding changes to Portuguese citizenship rules.
According to Open Media CEO Bruce Hawker, that uncertainty had weighed on interest earlier in the year. The company’s May events in Los Angeles, Miami, New York and Chicago attracted fewer registrations and attendees than anticipated.
“Back in May we held events in Los Angeles, Miami, New York and Chicago and, whilst the events went well, registrations and attendance fell below our expectations based on the experience we have gained over the last four years,” he said.
The September results suggest that interest remains substantial, although clear information about the distinction between residency and citizenship has become an important part of helping prospective movers assess their options.
For the latest roadshow, Open Media adjusted its marketing to address questions about citizenship directly, while highlighting the residency routes available to people wishing to live in Portugal.
“We decided to address the changes in citizenship law in our marketing, explaining that nothing has changed as far as residency is concerned,” Hawker said.
“Portugal still offers highly attractive visa options for residency.”
He added that, for many prospective movers, obtaining citizenship is not the immediate priority. Their principal interest is establishing residency and enjoying life in Portugal.
Visitors to the events were able to discuss both relocation through Portugal’s D visa routes and residency by investment through the Golden Visa programme. Alongside immigration advice, the roadshow brought together specialists covering property, removals, currency exchange, insurance and tax.
That range of expertise reflects the decisions involved in an international move. Choosing a visa is only one part of the process; prospective residents also need to understand where they might live, how to move their belongings and money, and how to arrange healthcare and manage their financial affairs.
“Our marketing campaign gave the clear message that things may have changed but the opportunity remains,” Hawker said. “We have the experts at our events to guide people through the process of finding the right visa option for them and everything else, from real estate and removals to health insurance and tax advice.”
Participating organisations included Plan B Outbound Migration, NSM Law, Prime Legal, 3 Comma / C2 Capital, Optimize Investment Partners, Active Cap, Fine & Country, Invest Madeira, Currencies Direct, Global International Relocations and Medal Insurance and The Uncommon Beach Residences Vilamoura was also represented by Fine & Country.
Open Media attributed the stronger turnout to a combination of renewed interest, more focused digital marketing and carefully selected venues. Digital marketing partner Dengun refined the targeting of the campaigns, while the events were held at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle and the W Scottsdale.
The company has organised more than 60 events since 2022, covering 15 US cities so far as well as destinations in other countries, including Brazil and South Africa.
Although attendance at three events does not establish a nationwide trend, the September turnout offers a clear indication that Portugal continues to attract serious interest from Americans considering a move abroad or an investment-linked residency option. For the organiser, the results also underline the value of addressing uncertainty directly and giving prospective residents access to specialist advice.
Plans are already in place for the next “Living in Portugal” roadshow in April 2027. In the meantime, the company will stage three further US roadshows focused entirely on the Golden Visa, starting later this month in Dallas https://www.portugalseminars.com/events/dallas2026 and Atlanta https://www.portugalseminars.com/events/atlanta2026 followed by Charlotte https://www.portugalseminars.com/events/charlotte-nov2026/ and Boston in November https://www.portugalseminars.com/events/boston-nov-20-21-2026/ and then a further three events in January.
For information about participating in Open Media’s events e-mail info@open-media.net or call +351 282 094 341
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