Retire in Portugal: A Federal Retiree's Guide

Thinking about retiring in Portugal on your federal pension? What most videos won't tell you: your visa, FEHB, Medicare decision, and OPM annuity are four separate systems — and assuming one takes care of another is the mistake that costs federal retirees real money. I retired from federal service, survived a 327-day OPM wait, and I'm planning my own move abroad. This is the guide I wish someone had handed me — written for FERS and CSRS retirees, not generic expats. Inside:

✅ Portugal's residency routes — and why old NHR tax advice no longer applies

✅ What FEHB actually covers overseas — and what to ask your plan in writing

✅ Why Medicare mostly stays home

✅ Getting your OPM annuity paid reliably abroad

✅ Taxes: what follows you abroad

✅ Where to live — matched to healthcare access, not Instagram

✅ Pre-departure checklists

✅ Official source links to verify everything yourself Every figure reviewed against official sources — July 2026.

Educational purposes only — not immigration, legal, tax, financial, or insurance advice.