After years of discussing the possibility of living abroad, Kim Phinney and her family made the decision to relocate from the United States to Portugal in search of greater long-term stability, community, and flexibility.
Portugal stood out for practical reasons: accessibility to the US, healthcare access, and a realistic residency pathway. But also, for something less tangible: a strong sense of civic life and the ability to build a future aligned with the family’s values.
As Kim reflects:
“We wanted a place where we could build a life with dignity, community, and possibility.”
GCS identified a residency pathway that supported the family’s goal of greater flexibility and future security.
Portugal offered a welcoming environment and strong civic culture aligned with the family’s values.
GCS provided support across residency, housing, and logistics, reducing complexity during the move.
GCS offered practical guidance and responsive support, helping the family navigate bureaucracy and relocation with greater ease.
Before recommending a pathway, Global Citizen Solutions worked to understand the family's priorities beyond relocation itself. The decision involved balancing long-term stability, continued ties to the United States, family responsibilities, and the desire to create a sustainable future abroad.
"We're still working people. We still have responsibilities in the US. I have an elderly mother. We needed somewhere we could realistically travel back and forth from if necessary."
With the priorities established, Global Citizen Solutions helped the family navigate residency planning while considering practical realities, including mobility, housing, timelines, and ongoing obligations.
"We understood pretty fast that we couldn't do this alone. Not while managing work, family obligations, paperwork, housing, and the logistics of moving countries all at once."
Support extended beyond securing residency. Through coordination with Goldcrest and ongoing guidance after arrival, the family received support navigating housing, paperwork, and settling into life in Portugal.
"There was always this sense of, ‘Don't worry — we'll figure it out.' That matters enormously when you're trying to reorganize your entire life."
Throughout the process, the goal was not simply execution but creating an experience that felt supportive, transparent, and aligned with the family’s values.
"It never felt like we were being sold something. It felt advisory-led and deeply human."
Global Citizen Solutions supported Kim and her partner, Eliza, throughout their move to Portugal, helping coordinate residency planning, property acquisition through Goldcrest, and the practical complexities of relocating internationally.
Beyond the application process itself, support continued through housing, paperwork, and settling into daily life after arrival, creating a more streamlined, well-supported transition experience.
“There was always this sense of, ‘Don’t worry — we’ll figure it out.’ That matters enormously when you’re trying to reorganize your entire life.”
Today, Kim and her partner are settling into life in Sesimbra while building a future that reflects both practical priorities and personal values. Through careful planning and dedicated support, they have created greater flexibility, long-term stability, and the confidence to navigate relocation with intention.
Support across residency, property, and relocation logistics helped the family establish their new life in Portugal with greater clarity and confidence.
A residency pathway that allows the family to remain connected internationally while building a future in Portugal.
Guidance throughout the process helped reduce uncertainty and made a complex international move feel more manageable.
5–6 November 2026 · Lisbon
The Summit gathering for global citizens, advisors, family offices and industry leaders building global mobility and cross-border strategies.
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