Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

Last Updated: August 9, 2026

Last Updated: August 9, 2026

AmericansGuideToPortugal.com respects your privacy.

This Privacy Policy explains how personal information may be collected, used, shared, and otherwise processed when you visit AmericansGuideToPortugal.com, submit information through the website, communicate with Michael Minson, or interact with services and technologies used on the website.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By using the website, you acknowledge the practices described in this policy, subject to any rights and choices provided to you by applicable law.

Who Operates This Website?

Who Operates This Website?

Who Operates This Website?

AmericansGuideToPortugal.com is a personal website operated by Michael Minson.

The website is not operated by Keller Williams or KW Portugal.

For purposes of personal information collected directly through AmericansGuideToPortugal.com, Michael Minson is the website operator and, where applicable, the data controller responsible for determining why and how that information is processed.

For privacy-related questions or requests, contact:

Michael Minson

American Realtor in Portugal

Information You Choose to Provide

Information You Choose to Provide

Information You Choose to Provide

You may provide personal information when you submit the website’s contact form, send an email, call, communicate through WhatsApp, or otherwise contact Michael.

Depending on how you interact with the website, this information may include:

  • your name

  • your email address

  • your phone or WhatsApp number

  • where you currently live

  • areas of Portugal you are considering

  • where you are in the process of exploring, moving, renting, or buying

  • your approximate timeline

  • questions or information included in your message

  • information you voluntarily provide during subsequent communications

You are not required to provide more information than is reasonably necessary for your inquiry.

Please do not submit highly sensitive personal information through the website’s general contact form unless it is specifically necessary and an appropriate method of communication has been arranged.

Contact Form

Contact Form

Contact Form

AmericansGuideToPortugal.com uses a contact form to allow visitors to communicate directly with Michael.

The form may request:

  • Your Name

  • Email Address

  • Phone / WhatsApp

  • Where you currently live

  • Where in Portugal you are considering

  • What best describes where you are in the process

  • Your approximate timeline

  • What you would like to discuss

Some fields are required to allow an inquiry to be understood and answered. Other fields are optional.

When you submit the form, the information you provide is processed through Framer, the technology platform used to build, host, and operate this website, and transmitted to the email destination configured for the form so Michael can receive and respond to your inquiry.

Framer’s current Data Processing Addendum identifies the Framer customer as controller and Framer as processor for personal data Framer processes on the customer’s behalf.

How Your Information Is Used

How Your Information Is Used

How Your Information Is Used

Personal information may be used to:

  • respond to your inquiry

  • communicate with you about your questions or plans

  • understand what type of assistance you are seeking

  • follow up on a conversation you initiated

  • provide information you requested

  • discuss real-estate services when relevant

  • maintain appropriate records of communications

  • operate, maintain, secure, and improve the website

  • detect or prevent spam, abuse, fraud, or security threats

  • measure and understand website usage

  • measure the effectiveness of advertising and communications, where permitted

  • comply with applicable legal, regulatory, or professional obligations

Submitting an inquiry does not obligate you to purchase a service, enter into a real-estate transaction, or become a client.

Email, Telephone, and WhatsApp

Email, Telephone, and WhatsApp

Email, Telephone, and WhatsApp

You may contact Michael directly instead of using the website form.

If you communicate by email, telephone, or WhatsApp, information associated with those communications may also be processed by the relevant communications provider.

For example, if you choose WhatsApp, your communication is processed through WhatsApp and is also subject to WhatsApp’s own terms and privacy practices.

Using a third-party communication service is optional.

Website Hosting and Framer

Website Hosting and Framer

Website Hosting and Framer

AmericansGuideToPortugal.com is built and hosted using Framer.

Framer provides technology used for functions that may include:

  • website hosting and delivery

  • website infrastructure

  • form processing

  • security

  • spam and abuse protection

  • technical operation of the website

Framer’s current Data Processing Addendum provides that Framer acts as a processor for relevant personal data processed on behalf of its customer, while the customer remains responsible for determining the purposes and means of processing and establishing an appropriate legal basis.

Framer may use subprocessors and other infrastructure in providing its services. Its applicable terms and privacy documentation govern those processing activities.

Information Collected Automatically

Information Collected Automatically

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit AmericansGuideToPortugal.com, the website and its technology providers may automatically receive certain technical or usage information.

Depending on the website’s configuration and your privacy choices, this may include:

  • IP address

  • browser type

  • device type

  • operating system

  • referring website or page

  • pages viewed

  • approximate date and time of access

  • interactions with website content

  • approximate location derived from technical information

  • identifiers associated with cookies or similar technologies

  • information used for website security and spam prevention

The specific information collected depends in part on which website features and third-party technologies are active and the choices you make through available privacy controls.

Cookies and Similar Technologies

Cookies and Similar Technologies

Cookies and Similar Technologies

AmericansGuideToPortugal.com may use cookies, pixels, tags, local storage, and similar technologies.

Some technologies may be necessary for the website to function, remain secure, process forms, or remember essential preferences.

Other technologies may be used for purposes such as:

  • analytics

  • measuring website performance

  • understanding how visitors use the guide

  • measuring advertising effectiveness

  • conversion measurement

  • advertising

  • remarketing or audience-related functionality, where enabled and legally permitted

  • embedded third-party content

Where required by applicable law, non-essential technologies should not be activated until the appropriate consent or other legal requirements have been satisfied.

The website’s consent mechanism should allow visitors to make applicable choices regarding non-essential technologies.

Google Analytics

Google Analytics

Google Analytics

AmericansGuideToPortugal.com uses Google Analytics to understand how visitors use the website. Analytics is optional, off by default, and Google Analytics is loaded only after the visitor gives Analytics permission through Cookie Preferences.

Depending on configuration and consent choices, Google Analytics may process information about website visits and interactions, such as pages viewed, device and browser information, approximate location, referral information, and other usage data.

Google states that, under the GDPR, it acts as a processor for Google Analytics data processed on behalf of Analytics customers, subject to its applicable data-processing terms and customer settings.

Google’s role can differ for certain data-sharing configurations. For example, Google states that it can act as a controller for Analytics data shared under certain optional Google products and services settings.

The configuration of AmericansGuideToPortugal.com’s Google Analytics account, including data-sharing and advertising settings, should therefore be reviewed as part of the site’s privacy implementation.

Google Ads

Google Ads

Google Ads

AmericansGuideToPortugal.com plans to use Google Ads for advertising and measurement.

Depending on configuration and your consent choices, Google technologies may be used to:

  • measure whether advertising leads to visits or inquiries

  • understand advertising performance

  • measure conversions

  • create or use audiences

  • support remarketing or advertising personalization where enabled and permitted

Google explains that websites using Google advertising and analytics services may transmit information such as the page URL and IP address to Google and may allow Google to set or read cookies, depending on configuration and user settings.

Google also imposes additional requirements where personalized advertising or first-party audience information is used.

Google’s current controls increasingly use Consent Mode to govern how Google Ads-related data is collected and used according to users’ privacy choices.

Meta Pixel

Meta Pixel

Meta Pixel

AmericansGuideToPortugal.com plans to use the Meta Pixel.

The Meta Pixel may be used, depending on configuration and applicable consent choices, to help understand actions taken on the website and measure the effectiveness of advertising on Meta platforms.

It may also support functions such as advertising measurement, audience creation, or remarketing where those functions are enabled and legally permitted.

Because these technologies can involve information being transmitted to Meta, the site’s implementation should ensure that applicable consent and disclosure requirements are satisfied before non-essential Meta tracking is activated.

Embedded YouTube Content

Embedded YouTube Content

Embedded YouTube Content

AmericansGuideToPortugal.com may include videos embedded from YouTube, a Google service.

When a page contains or loads embedded YouTube content, information may be transmitted to Google/YouTube. Depending on the embed configuration, your interaction with the video, cookies, your Google account status, and your privacy choices, Google may receive technical or usage information.

Google states that sites embedding YouTube content can share information with Google when those services are integrated.

Where technically available and appropriate, the website should use privacy-conscious embed settings and applicable consent controls for non-essential third-party content.

Consent and Privacy Choices

Consent and Privacy Choices

Consent and Privacy Choices

AmericansGuideToPortugal.com provides a consent banner and Cookie Preferences control that allows visitors to accept or reject optional Analytics technologies.

Necessary technologies are always active for core operation. Analytics is optional and off by default.

  • Necessary

  • Analytics

  • Advertising / Marketing

Visitors should be able to decline non-essential technologies without being prevented from accessing ordinary informational content on the website.

Where applicable, visitors should also be provided with a way to revisit or change their consent choices.

Visitors can revisit and change their Analytics choice at any time using Cookie Preferences in the site footer. Google Analytics is intended to be activated only after a consent-safe implementation is in place.

Marketing Communications

Marketing Communications

Marketing Communications

Submitting the Contact form does not automatically subscribe you to a marketing email list.

Information submitted through the Contact page is intended primarily to allow Michael to respond to the conversation you initiated.

If AmericansGuideToPortugal.com later introduces newsletters, automated marketing emails, property alerts, or similar communications, appropriate subscription and unsubscribe mechanisms should be implemented and this Privacy Policy updated as necessary.

Legal Basis for Processing

Legal Basis for Processing

Legal Basis for Processing

Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, personal information may be processed on one or more lawful bases, including:

  • taking steps at your request before entering into a contract

  • performance of a contract

  • legitimate interests

  • compliance with legal obligations

  • consent, where consent is required or relied upon

For analytics, advertising, cookies, pixels, and similar non-essential technologies, consent may be required before processing occurs, particularly for visitors in Portugal and elsewhere in the European Economic Area.

Sharing Personal Information

Sharing Personal Information

Sharing Personal Information

AmericansGuideToPortugal.com does not intend to sell personal information.

Personal information may be processed or shared with service providers when reasonably necessary to operate the website and communications infrastructure, including providers associated with:

  • website hosting and operation

  • form processing

  • email and communications

  • analytics

  • advertising and measurement

  • security and spam prevention

  • embedded content

Depending on which technologies are active, these providers may include Framer, Google, Meta, YouTube/Google, and WhatsApp/Meta.

Information may also be disclosed when reasonably necessary to:

  • comply with applicable law

  • respond to lawful requests

  • protect legal rights

  • investigate fraud, misuse, or security incidents

  • protect the website, its operator, or other people

Other Professionals

Other Professionals

Other Professionals

Moving internationally can involve professionals in real estate, law, taxation, immigration, finance, mortgages, insurance, healthcare, and other fields.

Contacting AmericansGuideToPortugal.com does not automatically authorize your personal information to be shared with another professional.

If it becomes appropriate to introduce or involve another professional, any sharing of personal information should be handled in accordance with the circumstances, applicable law, and any permission that may be required.

International Data Transfers

International Data Transfers

International Data Transfers

AmericansGuideToPortugal.com serves people who may be located in Portugal, elsewhere in the European Economic Area, the United States, and other countries.

Some technology and communications providers used by the website operate internationally. As a result, personal information may be processed in countries outside the country where it was originally collected, including potentially outside the European Economic Area.

Where applicable law requires safeguards for international transfers, relevant providers and processing arrangements should use legally recognized transfer mechanisms or other applicable safeguards.

Framer’s DPA expressly addresses international transfers and its obligations as processor under the GDPR framework.

How Long Personal Information Is Kept

How Long Personal Information Is Kept

How Long Personal Information Is Kept

Personal information should be retained only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected and to satisfy applicable legal, regulatory, accounting, or professional obligations.

The appropriate retention period may vary depending on whether:

  • you submitted a general inquiry

  • an ongoing conversation developed

  • you became a client

  • a real-estate transaction occurred

  • records must be retained for legal or professional reasons

Information that is no longer reasonably required should be deleted, anonymized, or otherwise handled in accordance with applicable requirements.

Your Privacy Rights

Your Privacy Rights

Your Privacy Rights

Depending on where you live and the laws that apply, you may have rights concerning your personal information.

Under applicable European data-protection law, these may include, where relevant, rights to:

  • obtain information about the processing of your personal data

  • request access to personal data

  • request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data

  • request deletion in appropriate circumstances

  • request restriction of processing

  • object to certain processing

  • receive certain personal data in a portable format

  • withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

  • lodge a complaint with an appropriate supervisory authority

These rights are subject to applicable legal conditions and exceptions.

To make a privacy-related request, contact:

Reasonable information may be requested to verify your identity before personal information is disclosed, corrected, deleted, or otherwise acted upon.

Portuguese Data Protection Authority

Portuguese Data Protection Authority

Portuguese Data Protection Authority

For matters subject to Portuguese data-protection law, the relevant supervisory authority is:

Comissão Nacional de Proteção de Dados (CNPD)

The CNPD provides mechanisms for individuals to request information and submit complaints concerning personal-data protection.

Comissão Nacional de Proteção de Dados (CNPD)

You are encouraged to contact Michael first if you have a concern so the matter can be reviewed, but doing so does not limit any right you may have to contact a supervisory authority.

U.S. Privacy Rights

U.S. Privacy Rights

U.S. Privacy Rights

AmericansGuideToPortugal.com is directed substantially toward Americans considering living in Portugal.

Certain U.S. state privacy laws may provide residents with additional rights concerning personal information depending on factors such as where they live and whether the applicable law applies to the website and its activities.

If a U.S. privacy law applies to your personal information, you may have rights provided under that law, subject to its applicable conditions and exceptions.

To make a privacy-related request, contact:

Children’s Privacy

Children’s Privacy

Children’s Privacy

AmericansGuideToPortugal.com is intended for adults researching, planning, or carrying out a move to Portugal.

The website is not intended to collect personal information directly from children through its general Contact form.

If you contact Michael about schools, education, or relocating with your family, please avoid providing unnecessary personal information about children through the general inquiry form.

Data Security

Data Security

Data Security

Reasonable technical and organizational measures should be used to protect personal information processed through AmericansGuideToPortugal.com.

Framer states that its DPA requires appropriate technical and organizational measures for personal data it processes on behalf of customers.

However, no website, email system, internet transmission, communications platform, or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Please do not transmit highly sensitive documents or information through the general Contact form, including:

  • passport copies

  • government identification documents

  • passwords

  • banking credentials

  • complete financial account information

  • tax returns

  • unredacted financial statements

  • other highly sensitive records

If sensitive documentation becomes necessary during a professional relationship, an appropriate method of transmission should be arranged separately.

Third-Party Websites

Third-Party Websites

Third-Party Websites

AmericansGuideToPortugal.com links to Portuguese government agencies, public authorities, transportation providers, financial institutions, educational organizations, and other third-party websites.

Those websites operate independently and maintain their own privacy practices.

This Privacy Policy applies to AmericansGuideToPortugal.com. It does not control how third-party websites or services process information after you leave this website or choose to interact with those services.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

Changes to This Privacy Policy

Changes to This Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated as the website develops, technologies change, services are added or removed, or legal and operational requirements evolve.

When material changes are made, the Last Updated date at the beginning of this policy should be revised.

Visitors are encouraged to review the current version periodically.

Contact

Contact

Contact

For questions about this Privacy Policy or requests concerning your personal information, contact:

Michael Minson

American Realtor in Portugal