> While the low residency requirements of the golden visa are potentially
> attractive, I expect I would be moving permanently. I did not realize
> there was an 8+ months/year option and would love to hear more about
> that - does it have a path to permanent residency status?

You can apply for a D7 visa. This would provide an eventual path
toward permanent residency. It's initially for a 2-year residency
and then renewed every 3 years. There are a lot of details,
but basically:

- You are not an EU national.
- Have the funds to support yourself in Portugal.
- Clean criminal record.
- Spend at least 16 months in Portugal during the first 2-year period.
- Can show proof of residence in Portugal.

For the last item, a signed lease registered with the government is
sufficient. After living here for 5 years and passing a minimum
language proficiency test, you can apply for citizenship.

> I expect I will be working about 5 more years - remote tech
> consulting, about 20 hours/week - then retirement.

That's not a bad plan. Given that tech salaries are generally pretty
high, you probably won't have a problem meeting the minimum income
requirements, but how you document this income is important.

If you're working for an employer, it's more complicated than if
you work for yourself. If you are 62 or older, you can provide
documentation from Social Security (even if you haven't started
benefits yet) as part of your income requirement.

> A potentially odd thing about my case is that my two cats
> have to be able to relocate with me.

Not odd at all. Many people have moved here with their pets. The
process is strict, but if you follow the guidelines you shouldn't
have any problem. I'm familiar with someone who brought both of
their cats in soft carriers on their flight to Portugal.

You'll probably want to travel to Portugal (and/or Spain) on a
vacation to determine if it might be a good fit for you. The
relocation process can be done in stages, and you don't have
to commit to any large cash outlays until you get to the point
of signing a lease for accommodations to live here.

I'll be happy to address additional questions, but you should
also check out the Facebook group: Americans & FriendsPT
I actually loathe Facebook, but this group is an invaluable
source of up-to-date information on moving to Portugal, esp.
from an American perspective.

Boa sorte!

-Rubic