“They are looking for a plan B, some of them to move and others to have a residence permit, namely the Golden Visa, which allows them to feel that they have the freedom to leave if they need to”, said the co-founder Filipa Pinto de Carvalho.

The trend noticed by the AGCP office reflects something that was visible right from election night when the Google search engine registered an increase in searches for “moving to Portugal”.

Last year, the number of North Americans residing in Portugal increased by 44.2% to more than 14,000 and tourism continues to grow.

With 80% of North American customers located in California, the spike AGCP is experiencing is similar to what happened during the Covid-19 pandemic – and is expected to continue into 2025, with the political and social environment at the root of the increase.

“There is some discouragement with a feeling of great division in the country,” said Filipa Pinto de Carvalho. “Many of them also refer to the fact that they have young children and want another environment, to be able to provide their children with security, another type of life in a society with less tension, with a less sense of division”.

The choice of Portugal over other European countries is due, according to those interested, to its similarities with California. “They feel that there is great comfort in the similarity they find from the point of view of a spirit of openness, of a cultural mix”, said the executive.

Other factors mentioned are lifestyle, good weather, good wine and food, but Filipa Pinto de Carvalho says that the country is differentiating itself in other aspects: there is reference to the quality of projects, innovation and professionals.

Innovation

“People more linked to entrepreneurship and innovation or investment and venture capital feel in the ecosystem that they see growing in Portugal that initial bubbling of enthusiasm, a very collaborative spirit that they felt 20 or 30 years ago in San Francisco”, he told Lusa.

The majority of Americans who are asking the AGCP for help are seeking either Golden Visas, with a focus on investment funds, or the formation of local companies to hire workers.

“I think it is very positive and also reveals this maturity from the point of view of what Portugal is offering and the way it is perceived by those outside”, highlighted the person in charge. This connects to another growing trend of companies already established in the United States looking to Portugal as a test market and gateway to Europe.

Filipa Pinto de Carvalho is also a co-founder of RedBridge, which seeks to create synergies between Portugal and California, and said that she notices a greater desire to make a positive impact on the part of North American entrepreneurs.

“I've seen a lot of people who, when they make that decision to move, they want to come and enjoy what's there, but they also want to have a positive impact on what they feel is their new community,” he said.