Moving from the UK to Portugal: How 3 Months Changed Everything

When we look back now, it still feels hard to believe how quickly everything unfolded.

At the time, our life in the UK felt settled. We had just moved into what we truly believed would be our forever home, a house we had poured time, energy, and so much hope into. Two weeks after our youngest son Archie was born, we unpacked boxes and began life as a family of four. He was just six months old when everything changed.

From the outside, life looked exactly as it should.

But quietly, something didn’t feel right.

Our eldest son Oliver was about to start his second year at school, and over time we had begun to notice subtle shifts. His confidence had dipped. He seemed more hesitant, less sure of himself. There was no single incident or clear problem. Just a growing sense that the environment no longer fit him in the way we had hoped.

We did not yet know what he needed. We only knew that something had to change.

An Opportunity We Never Planned For

Around that time, we stumbled across an opportunity to spend three months in Portugal.

It was not something we had been searching for or planning. It simply appeared at a moment when we were already questioning what we wanted for our family. The timing felt significant, almost like an invitation to pause before life carried on at full speed again.

Within weeks, we found ourselves signing up for a three month cohort in Portugal.

We had a six month old baby. A child about to enter his second year of school. A home we had only just settled into. But we were also incredibly fortunate. We run our own business, which meant we could work remotely and take our work with us wherever we were in the world.

Instead of talking ourselves out of it, we decided to try.

We told ourselves it was temporary. Just three months. A chance to step outside our routine and see what might shift.

A Three Month Trial That Changed Everything

From the moment we arrived in Portugal, life began to slow.

Days were built around being outside, around connection and community. Family life felt more spacious and less rushed. Learning no longer felt confined to specific hours or places.

During those months, Oliver began world schooling. Learning happened through living. Exploring towns and nature. Hearing a new language. Experiencing a different culture. Following his curiosity without pressure or comparison.

Slowly, something changed.

Oliver’s confidence began to return. He stood taller. He became more willing to try. Without the weight of expectation, he found his footing again.

At the same time, our own perspective as parents shifted.

Those three months did more than support Oliver. They opened our eyes and realigned our values as a family. We realised we wanted a childhood for our boys that prioritised experiences, curiosity, and connection. We wanted learning to be woven into everyday life, not rushed or reduced to outcomes.

We wanted them to grow up hearing different languages, experiencing different cultures, and understanding that there is more than one way to live, learn, and belong in the world.

Why We Didn’t Go Back

When the three months came to an end, we were faced with a decision we had not expected to make. Returning to the UK would have meant stepping back into a life that no longer felt aligned with who we were becoming. The pause had given us clarity, and we did not want to ignore it.

So we stayed.

Not because life in Portugal is perfect, but because it supports the kind of family life we want to build.

Where We Are Now

Oliver is now settled in an international school in Portugal within a forest school environment.

It is calm, nurturing, and rooted in outdoor learning. It feels safe for him in a way we had been searching for without fully realising it. The balance of structure and freedom has allowed him to thrive, and watching his confidence continue to grow has reaffirmed that this move was the right decision.

Archie is growing up immersed in a different culture and language from the very beginning. Something we never planned, but something we now deeply value.

Practical Advice for Families Considering a Similar Move

When it comes to visas, we applied for Portugal’s D7 visa, which works well for families with passive or remote income. The process requires preparation, paperwork, and patience, but it is achievable with clear organisation.

We chose to rent initially rather than buy, which gave us flexibility and removed pressure. Living in a place before committing long term helped us understand daily life, schooling options, and community rhythms.

Portugal offers a wide range of schooling options including public, private, international, and alternative models. Taking the time to explore what truly suits your child makes a huge difference.

Being able to run our business remotely gave us the freedom to take this leap, but it was the slower pace of life that made settling in feel gentle and sustainable.

Why I’m Sharing This Story

I am sharing our story because I know how easy it is to ignore that quiet feeling that something is not quite right, especially when life looks settled and sensible from the outside.

We had a home we loved. A newborn baby. A life that made sense on paper. But we also had a child who needed something different, and an unexpected opportunity that asked us to pause long enough to truly listen.

Those three months in Portugal did not just change where we live. They changed how we see our children, how we value time, and what we believe childhood can look like. They reminded us that confidence can return when pressure is removed, that learning can happen everywhere, and that sometimes the bravest thing you can do as a parent is trust your instincts even when you do not have all the answers.

This move was not about escaping a life. It was about choosing one that felt aligned with who our boys are and who we want to be as a family.

You do not always need a perfect plan. Sometimes, all it takes is the courage to say yes to a small window of change and the willingness to see what unfolds.

This is our little adventure. And it began the moment we decided to listen.

Thinking about taking a sabbatical? That Holiday Mum shares exactly what it’s like to take 6 weeks out for quality family time, plus the tips that make it doable. Read the full blog here.