How does it actually work?

You pick the group that fits you on this website, click the WhatsApp button, send us a message, and within 48 hours (usually the same day) a real person adds you to the right WhatsApp community. That's it. No apps to download, no login, no fees.

Yes. Joining any Porto People Club group is 100 percent free. We do not sell your number, we do not spam the chat, we do not run ads inside the groups.

Can I join more than one group?

Absolutely. If you're a digital nomad who hikes the Douro at dawn and loves a good tasca on Fridays, join the Nomads, Douro Hiking and Wine & Foodies groups. Most members are in 2 to 4 groups.

What's the group size? Won't it be spammy?

Each group stays under 250 members with active moderation. Anyone posting promo, crypto, or off-topic links gets removed. The chat is for members, by members.

I'm only in Porto for 5 days. Worth joining?

That's exactly why Tourists - 10 Days exists. You get a welcome dinner, airport-pickup carpools, and a dozen locals telling you the real spots within hours of landing.

I don't have WhatsApp. Another option?

WhatsApp is how Porto actually runs - Uber drivers, wine-tour guides, bike rentals, doctors - everything. If you're in Porto it's the one app to install. If you really can't, message us from the contact page and we'll figure something out.

Are these groups safe? Vetted?

Every new member sends one intro message before being added - 1 photo, first name, where you're from, which group you want. We remove anyone flagged for harassment or scams. We're a community of travellers, not a business directory.

Porto People Club is run by long-term Porto residents and travellers who believe nobody should stay alone here. We started informally in 2021 with one WhatsApp group; now we moderate ten. It's a labor of love, not a company.

All communities

Community

Permanent Residents

You will not stay alone. The Porto Permanent Residents community is already waiting.

Join the group Who is in it

About this group

Porto is home. No return ticket.

residency permit holders, foreign investors, mixed-heritage families. This is the smallest, quietest group but the one with the deepest knowledge of how to actually live in Portugal as a non-citizen long-term.

Group vibe

Stable, generous with time, protective of the community.

Members

Who is in this group.

Example members. Real archetypes drawn from the people who already meet up here.

Wolfgang, 56

From Vienna

residency permit, 18 years, kids are Portuguese citizens

Yuki, 50

From Kyoto

Owns a boutique hotel, fluent Portuguese

Stefan, 61

From Zurich

Retired, Bonfim home, sails with the local yacht club

Meera, 45

From Mumbai

Fashion designer, Vila Nova de Gaia atelier, married locally

What we do

What happens in the chat.

residency permit paperwork and PR-path navigation
Tax residency and reporting (Portuguese + home-country)
Long-term healthcare (SNS and private insurance combos)
Legacy questions: property inheritance, school for kids
Cultural-integration advice beyond the tourist layer
Quiet quarterly dinners, often at members' homes

Before you join

Quick answers.

Is it free to join?: Yes. All ten Porto People Club communities are free. No hidden fees.
How fast do I get added?: Usually same day, always within 48 hours. You will send a quick intro message before being added.
Can I leave whenever?: Of course. Leave the WhatsApp group any time. No questions, no guilt.
Will the chat be spammy?: Each group is capped around 250 members with active moderation. Promotional or off-topic messages get removed.