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Top Immigration Lawyers in Portugal

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English-Speaking Immigration Lawyers in Portugal

If you’re looking to move to Portugal for work, study, or to be with family, our English-speaking immigration lawyers are here to guide you. We’ll explain everything you need to know about necessary documents and procedures, and if needed, represent you in any legal matters related to your immigration case.

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To request a free consultation case, please provide us with your contact details below and we will contact you via email or phone.

How can a lawyer help me?

Immigrating to Portugal isn’t just about booking a one-way ticket and then calling it a day. You’ll need to fill out some paperwork first. That’s where we come in. Our experienced immigration lawyers can help in a number of ways:

Understanding requirements: Wondering what papers you need? Our team of experienced lawyers will help break it down for you. Whether you’re moving for school or work, we’ll equip you with the right knowledge of the requirements for your specific visa.

Gathering documents: Searching for all the right documents can be confusing. We streamline the tedious task of gathering necessary documents like passports, employment or study proofs, and financial statements, so you don’t have to sweat the small stuff.

Advising on deadlines: Have a deadline looming? We’ll keep tabs on those important deadlines and ensure your application is filed on time.

Filing the application: It’s not just about filling out forms, it’s about filling them out correctly. Our lawyers can help you complete and file the application for a visa to immigrate to Portugal, so you can focus on the more exciting parts of your move.

What Our Clients Are Saying

Trust our proven track record of successful immigration cases in Portugal to help you achieve your goals.

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Why move to Portugal?

Thinking about moving to Portugal? You’re not alone and for good reasons. Here are some of the many reasons why immigrating to Portugal is a great choice:

The weather: Portugal boasts some of Europe’s best weather. Think clear skies and plenty of sunshine year-round.

The food: The Mediterranean diet isn’t just delicious – it’s healthy too. Fresh fish, olives, and yes, good wine.

The landscape: Portugal offers more than picturesque beaches. Here you can find everything from mountains to lush countryside.

Culture and education: Whether it’s history or high-quality education you’re after, Portugal ranks highly in both.

Immigrating to Portugal: Steps to Take

Understand the Visa Choices

The first step in relocating to Portugal is selecting the appropriate visa. Portugal offers a variety of Residence Permits based on the applicant’s nationality, intent, and background.

The D7, Digital Nomad and Golden Visas attract a large number of non-EU applicants in Portugal. Take a good look at what each one offers and pick the one that aligns best with your goals and circumstances.

Prepare & Apply for a Visa

Once you’ve made your pick, it’s time to gather those important documents for your visa application in Portugal. Some of this paperwork will need to be translated, apostilled, and legalized in Portuguese. Submit your application to the Portuguese Embassy or Consulate in your home country.

Residency by Investment - Golden Visa

Looking for a pathway to Portuguese residency through investment? The Portugal Golden Visa might be the right path for you. The document requirements are similar to other visas, but you’ll need to prove your investment funds. Apply through the same Portuguese Embassy or Consulate in your home country.

Immigration as an Entrepreneur or Freelancer

If you’re an entrepreneur or a freelancer, you can also move to Portugal. Consider applying for Portugal’s D2 Visa. No need to secure a job contract in Portugal – you’re your own boss after all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Portugal a good country to live in?

If you’re into great weather, delicious food, and a laid-back lifestyle, then Portugal could be the right country for you. However, beyond sunshine and seafood, Portugal ranks high in quality of life and offers a solid healthcare system and educational opportunities. So, in short, yes. Portugal is a great place to call your future home.

Does Portugal allow dual citizenship?

The short answer is yes. Portugal allows dual citizenship. This gives you the freedom to become a Portuguese citizen without relinquishing your original nationality.

However, it’s important to remember that the rules for dual citizenship can vary depending on your home country, so remember to check the rules for both countries.

What is the average salary in Portugal?

The salary you can expect in Portugal will differ depending on where in Portugal you decide to settle. For example, you can expect a higher wage in bigger cities like Porto and Lisbon compared to smaller cities and towns.

The average salary in Portugal in 2023 is around 1044 EUR a month gross. While this is less than many of its European counterparts, it’s important to remember that the cost of living is also generally lower here.

Where do most expats live in Portugal?

It’s no surprise that the majority of expats flock to cities like Porto and Lisbon. Both of these cities are famous for their unique charm, vibrant culture and Mediterranean lifestyle. However, if you’re looking for a more relaxed atmosphere, Braga might be the city for you. And, if you want that coastal lifestyle the Algarve is home to a sizable expat community.

How long do you have to live in Portugal to get residency?

Generally, you need to live in Portugal for 5 years before you can apply for permanent residency.

🇵🇹 Portugal is calling for you...

Portugal is blessed with over 3000 hours of sunshine per year, which makes it the perfect destination for those seeking a warmer and sunnier climate.

Benefit from Portugal's quality healthcare system while enjoying an active lifestyle with excellent infrastructure that makes it easy to explore and stay active.

The Portuguese people are renowned for their warmth and hospitality. From the moment you arrive, you will be welcomed with open arms into a vibrant and diverse community.

Portugal is a country that values health and wellbeing. With an abundance of fresh produce, delicious seafood, and outdoor activities, it's easy to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle here.

Immigration Services in Portugal

Schedule Initial Consultation

Golden Visa

The Portuguese Golden Visa is a special residence permit for investors. What makes this visa special? You get to live and travel in Europe but only have to visit Portugal for one week per year to renew the visa.

Initially, the permit is issued for a 12-month period but it is renewable for two-year stretches. After five years of residence, you and your family members may apply for Portuguese citizenship.

Passive Income Visa

This “Wealth Visa” is designed for non-EU nationals with sufficient funds to live in Portugal without engaging in any employment activity.

This visa is ideal for individuals who wish to maintain themselves and their families through stable income sources. Lexidy is here to facilitate your Passive Income Visa application and ensure a smooth transition to Portuguese residency.

Portuguese Nationality

Navigating the path to Portuguese nationality can be a complex process. Whether your eligibility is based on residence or family connections, Portuguese law mandates that you have substantial ties to the community.

Our expert team of lawyers can personally present your nationality application at the registry offices in Portugal. Let us help simplify the process for you.

Business Activity Residence Permit

If you have a business idea and want to operate from Portugal, either as a self-employed worker or through a company, Lexidy is here to help you complete the process. We offer specialized immigration advice to non-EU nationals, making it easier to secure a work permit or set up a company. Trust Lexidy to navigate the complexities so you can focus on what you do best –innovating.

Permanent Residency

Expats have the right to apply for Permanent Residence or Portuguese Citizenship after five continuous years of residence in Portugal.

EU Residency Certificate

If you’re an EU citizen planning to stay in Portugal for more than 90 days, consider getting an EU Residency Certificate. This certificate grants you most of the rights that Portuguese nationals have. Our team can guide you through the immigration process to make it smooth. Once you obtain this certificate, it remains valid for five years, provided your personal circumstances don’t change.

Speak to a Consultant

We know that the process of obtaining a residence permit can be daunting and confusing. That’s why we offer a comprehensive range of services to ensure your success. From reviewing your documents to providing detailed advice and solutions, we’ll be with you every step of the way.Speak to an expert immigration consultant at Lexidy today.

Resident card for EU Family Members

The EU Family Permit extends the rights of the EU citizen to your family members, irrespective of nationality. We provide immigration advice for Portuguese residence card and for family members of an EU citizen. This permit is valid for up to five years.

Obtain a Fiscal Identification Number

NIF is the tax identification number and is needed to perform acts in Portugal like registering taxes, establishing a business, opening a bank account and for most other documents. Save time and money by letting our lawyers obtain the Portuguese tax ID for you.

Diana Andrade

Head of the Immigration Department

Work with English-speaking Immigration Lawyers:

Moving to a new country is a big deal, and we get that. Our ace immigration team at Lexidy handles more than just the legal stuff. We guide you through the whole process –from securing the right visa to helping you navigate real estate and local laws. Our goal? To make your relocation to Portugal a smart and stress-free process.

Find your Immigration Lawyer

Lexidy is a modern, dynamic, and innovative law firm. We always put customers at the center of our work and do our best to give an exceptional experience. We’re not just about law; we’re about you.

Our expertise in Spain and Portugal allows us to solve complex problems thoroughly and eliminate risks before they happen. We focus on delivering an experience that’s as exceptional as you are

Diana Andrade
Lawyer, Head of Immigration Portugal

See what our customers have to say about our services

Lexidy Legal Tech

4.7

Based on 93 reviews

Brian Kean

18:56 08 Sep 23

This law firm was good until I signed the contract and paid my first bill. To begin with, on the day I was signing, I had a FedEx package delivered to their office so that it would arrive while I was there. They refused to accept it, and while I sat in the conference room with the lawyer, who was trying to upsell me, the package was declined and shipped back to Germany--I ended up getting it five months later! Medicine for blood pressure! "It's not our policy" they said. My lawyer was Karla Morais. Wow! Thank God I had time on my hands that summer to do HER work because she did as little as possible. Everyone involved in my case was constantly going on vacation--and for like 3 and 4 weeks at a time--and all the while zero was being done on my immigration case. I have never seen such horrendous communication habits as at this firm. If you have 10 questions for a call, they will answer one and send a cut-and-paste note from Google with outdated information for the other 9 questions. Karla just ignored me and then was mad at me. It takes about 5 minutes to get a NIF--It took Lexidy 3 months and when I asked where it was, she insisted it had been sent to me--and then that day she emailed. It had been in her inbox for nearly 3 months. Finally, I was in New York to apply for my D7 visa and it turns out that residents from New Jersey don't use the NY office but the consulate in Newark, NJ. While I was there that day, no one from the agency checked in to see how things were going and my wife had to call from Portugal to the firm 20 times to finally get someone. "Next appointment they tell me, in November!" This was early September. I ended up solving the problem by myself with a very kind woman at the Consulate in Newark who let me in after the Consulate had closed! There is SO much more to this but suffice it to day: Lexidy owes me $2700 because I have no idea what I paid for and they were horrible and never once followed up...just always trying to sell me more and sending invoices. DO NOT USE THIS LAW FIRM!

Steve Pitt

17:32 26 Jul 23

Outstanding service. Knowledgeable, responsive team of attorneys that is easy to work with. We used them to purchase a property in Madeira Portugal and everything went great. We worked with Vasco, who was a pleasure to work with, very responsive, professional and knowledgeable. We're working with their immigration team now for our D-7 application and they've been great so far. Very helpful and providing the service and help we need to hopefully complete the process. Both my wife and myself have been very pleased with their service and highly recommend using Lexidy Law Boutique.

Fasy Ismail

12:47 21 Apr 23

Excellent law firm with great immigration &and tax lawyers. They're very helpful and attentive. Loved working with them.Thank you Belissa, Déborah and Rodrigo. They're very knowledgeable lawyers. I do not hesitate to recommend them.

Ebrahim Yousefi

17:55 10 Feb 23

This companies defective consultation and solutions costed me and my partnes 150k , almost all legal advisors i talked with they had second or third job and not sure if they were legal advisors at all once one legal advisor told me if i have money to invest i can give it to her for cryto trade and investment she is doing this service for some of her clients , don't trust their solution or you will pay for it , almost every month employees and team structure is changing if you have an application you will meet tens of legal advisors and you'll face hundreds or errors in their service process, i appreciate anna carolina's defect immigration consultation, carolina herrera's attitude and childish behavior and successful management skills of mr Michael

Andrew Jones

16:05 25 Nov 22

Everyone was very friendly and helpful. Thank you Thabata Mota, Belissa Cunha, andMargarida Vieira.

James Newitt

11:19 20 Nov 22

Young law firm in Lisbon specialising in legal help for foreigners living in Portugal - tax, immigration, citizenship etc. The team are friendly, reliable and very clear with communication. Déborah Andrade was thorough and generous in helping negotiate applying for residency after Brexit. Would recommend their sevices.

Vladislav L

09:38 19 Nov 22

Lexidy's great team made the process of relocation to Portugal flawless and seamless. They helped me with every essential process from real estate purchase, to residency visa, NHR status, family reunification and much more. I highly recommend this professional and friendly firm for all your relocation needs!

Reyhan Khan

14:09 07 Nov 22

Lexidy law Firm assisted me with my D type visa process for Portugal. Being a Pakistani, the process is very tedious and Deborah Andrade helped me on every single step. Would recommend Lexidy 100%!

Ryan Rich

12:47 17 Aug 22

Lexidy has helped us so much in both the business and immigration side. We continue to use them for all legal needs and recommend them highly.

Martin Bortagaray

11:53 06 Aug 22

The Lexidy team provided a great service, taking most of the stress out of the bureaucracy of applying for residency. The team are all professional and friendly. My only issue is with the finance department who on two occasions tried to overcharge me and had me digging through past invoices to prove i'd already paid. Just make sure you keep track of that. Besides this, it was an overall very positive experience, highly recommended.

Sheila Simpkins

12:00 04 Aug 22

Thank goodness for Lexidy! They are extremely knowledgeable, professional and responsive. I would recommend them for any residency procedures.

Ali Delshad

11:49 26 Jul 22

First of all, I would like to appreciate all the team members of Lexidy for helping me to get my residency card.I had a great experience especially on the SEF appointment day with their kind and helpful Brazilian expert which made my experience smooth and without stress.When you decide to work with this law company you should notice that you don’t just pay for lawyers but also for the quality, respect and safety.I’m totally happy with the processes and quality of their job.

Aluísio Leite

16:38 16 Jul 22

The Lexidy Team helped me enormously as I applied for a D7 visa and made the move from the US to Portugal. Highly recommended team of professionals!

Maryanne Sea MSW Healing Intuitions

22:54 25 May 22

Lexidy Law Firm is outstanding! I come from a family of four lawyers and a judge so I am quite discerning when it comes to law firms. From the first contact we made to now, we have received nothing but prompt, professional, gracious and competent service. I would particularly like to acknowledge and thank Karla Morais in the Immigration Department for her dedication to providing all the information we needed in order to make a decision about citizenship in Portugal. Thank you, Lexidy, and thank you Karla. You are excellent!

Kristen Wilkinson

14:53 20 Oct 21

Update: While all of the initial responses were pretty quick, they started getting busy, so I had to constantly follow up. We have since sought assistance elsewhere.My husband and I plan to move from the USA to Porto, Portugal in the spring/early summer of 2023. We didn't know where to start or what to expect. I searched online and found Lexidy Law Boutique. Their website is intuitive, informative and inviting. I emailed the office and Lidiane responded within a few hours. Based on the information in my email, she emailed us appropriate information on our situation. She was very professional and offered to set up a web call if we wanted to. We ended up having our web call today and will be starting our journey of becoming Portuguese citizens. She informed us of the first steps, all of the documentation we need and what the law firm can do for us. Right after our call, she emailed us detailed information regarding pricing and what is entailed in that pricing. So far, the beginning of our journey is a positive one.

Hani Slim

12:05 21 Sep 21

We met with Mrs. Lidiane Carvalho and her colleague yesterday at Lexidy Law Boutique and our experience was great! They were both very helpful, provided us with detailed information about our case, and explained how they can help us build a solid application. Highly recommended.

A Striniqi

07:14 20 Sep 21

At the recommendation of a Portuguese friend of mine, I contracted the Lexidy Law Boutique in the period March - May 2021 for the purchase of real estate in Portugal. Due the pandemic, most of the communications and consultations happened online/remotely, but that did not have an adverse impact on their quality of services. After the first guidance and consultation on Portugal's immigration policies and real estate purchasing processes, the team handled efficiently the process of obtaining my NIF, the verification of legal and overall status of the property, the negotiation and drafting of the CPCV, the deed formalities and the registration of the transfer of ownership property with the municipal and tax authorities. Throughout the whole undertaking, the team was very helpful, passionate and thorough in answering all questions and provide clarifications and information as needed. They were very responsive and made sure they followed up the process in every step. I wish to thank particularly Bettino and Gabriel for their dedication, patience and valuable advice. Lexidy Law boutique is a trustworthy partner that will facilitate your immigration and real estate projects and I highly recommend them!!

Shikha Chand

11:53 17 Sep 21

Yesterday we had an hour call with Lidiane de Carvalho of Lexidy law Boutique. She was incredibly helpful in clearing all our doubts. So today we confirm to proceed with them. Highly recommend Lexidy law boutique because what we noticed dey lawyers are so much up to date with system of immigration and etc…

Narek Chomoyan

06:33 17 Sep 21

I have got a free consultation from Belissa Cunha, and I got very concrete and useful answers. The meeting was at very friendly atmosphere and professional.

Verónica Barina

15:16 14 Sep 21

I only had an initial communication, but Lidiane seemed very professional and provided really detailed information on the situation.

Caleb Wibbenmeyer

16:20 11 Sep 21

One stop shop for all things related to visas in Portugal (and taxes, etc). Great for digital nomads, retiree's or anyone interested in becoming an Portuguese expat. Looking forward to working more with Lexidy.

Greg C.

18:24 07 Sep 21

We had a brief call today with Lidiane de Carvalho of Lexidy Law Boutique. Lidiane was incredibly helpful. This firm specializes in working with people outside of Portugal. We found the session informative and valuable and we are looking forward to continuing to work with her.

Stella K

17:43 07 Sep 21

My initial impression is a great one, I spoke to Lidiane de Carvalhon, one of the attorneys that works at Immigration Department for the Lexidy Law Group. She has is a cheerful, likable personality while explaining the visa process in a professional manner.

Mahsa M

18:37 24 Aug 21

Very kind and helpful. I talked with Belissa Cunha. And she answered all my questions very precisely. I’m looking forward to work with them for immigration process of my family.

Mayur reddy

16:36 24 Aug 21

Had a good productive discussion with Lidiane.. highly professional and extremely helpful.

Lisa Martin

14:55 19 Aug 21

Joana and her team have made my move to Portugal absolutely seamless and stress free. I have been really impressed with the service, my tax affairs and residency were taken care of quickly and efficiently, without having to take any time off work or stress about the legalities. I couldn't recommend Joana and her team more highly. Thank you for a truly great service.

Jay G

10:18 13 Aug 21

Had a very informative and productive conversation with Lidiane (for free) which was scheduled soon after my initial D7 visa enquiry (lodged via their website). Lidiane clearly has expertise in this area and was extremely generous with time and openly offering her advice. Not just that, she was extremely pleasant to talk to. TY !

Ernesto Arrocha

17:41 11 Aug 21

Spoke to Lexidy Law Boutique to inquire about the process of applying for Portuguese citizenship (via Portuguese descent). Lidiane and Belissa did a great job of walking me through the process and answering all my questions. They were very professional, clear and concise while still providing information that was accessible to someone entirely unfamiliar with Portuguese immigration law. Would highly recommend the team for any inquiries re: the application process and eligibility for citizenship!

Ashwin Shirale

16:26 30 Jul 21

Belissa Cunha at Lexidy Portugal has been very professional, courteous, supportive and responsive in helping me secure a visa. The list of documents recommended was pretty exhaustive and was accepted without issues by the Portuguese consulate. My visa was approved by SEF in 9 business days. Without hesitation, I would recommend Belissa Cunha and Lexidy Portugal for a stress free and smooth visa process.

Benjamin Elliott Vaughan

15:27 21 Jul 21

I had a positive and very informative conversation with Lidiane from Lexidy Law Boutique, which help answer all the questions that I had.

Habib Lion

22:08 18 Jul 21

Few months ago, I decided to relocate to Portugal. Belissa took care of the rest.Belissa surprised me positively with her reactivity and professionalism. Since our first call, I knew I was in the perfect hands and my process will be successful 100%.If you need a 5* Lawyer, please get in touch with Belissa, your life will be much easier!Thank you my dearest Belissa!Finally, be reassured that you will get very reasonable fees with Lexidy law Boutique.Thanks,Habib

Caroline Brown

02:45 16 Jul 21

Lidiane was very professional and knowledgeable. She was well-prepared and provided thorough answers to all our questions. She also provide very timely follow up and communications. I highly recommend her and Lexidy.

Samarjeet Arora

05:50 14 Jul 21

Rafaela is very well informed about the immigration process and moreover she was able to understand my requirements and guide me according to my needs which was so satisfying experience.Thanks

Dennis Johnson

17:41 23 Nov 20

Lexidy goes the extra mile every time. They helped us get our residential visas and TIE. They are proactive, they respond to emails at all hours, they follow up to make sure everything is perfect. Best of all - they are so nice. I will always recommend them. Laura and her team are wonderful.

Lynne Veenstra

14:37 19 Aug 20

From the very first contact with Carolina we had friendly ,professional service. Our business was concluded in a very speedy manner, I would certainly recommend Carolina, and all the team at Lexidy for their help, and experience with immigration matters. keep up the good work.

KALPANA SAKLA

11:54 24 Jun 20

Bettino is a Gem, excellent service provided for my Portuguese Nationality by marriage.I will give 10 star if I can. Excellent service for all your legal & immigration matter, in Portugal & Spain, very attentive, accurate & multilingual, as I needed English speaking advocates. Higgly recommended to friends and family. Once again Thanks a ton to Bettino🙂

Linda

11:40 22 May 20

Bettino is a very, very professional lawyer who helped me get the residence card smoothly and encountered obstacles in the process of going to the immigration bureau. The staff of the immigration bureau firmly believed that it could not be continued. The immigration staff communicated, and finally the staff changed their attitude, which made me get the residence card smoothly. I sincerely thank Attorney Bettino for solving all the problems with his professional knowledge, ability, and confidence. The work is also very conscientious and attentive, patiently answering every question I have, the best wishes are presented to Bettino, the best lawyer in Lisbon 👍👍👍

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Top Immigration Lawyers in Portugal

English-Speaking Immigration Lawyers in Portugal

Contact Us

To request a free consultation case, please provide us with your contact details below and we will contact you via email or phone.

How can a lawyer help me?

What Our Clients Are Saying

Why move to Portugal?

Immigrating to Portugal: Steps to Take

Understand the Visa Choices

Prepare & Apply for a Visa

Residency by Investment - Golden Visa

Immigration as an Entrepreneur or Freelancer

Frequently Asked Questions

🇵🇹 Portugal is calling for you...

Immigration Services in Portugal

Golden Visa

Passive Income Visa​

Portuguese Nationality​

Business Activity​ Residence Permit​

Permanent Residency​​

EU Residency Certificate​

Speak to a Consultant

Resident card for EU Family Members​

Obtain a Fiscal Identification Number​

Diana Andrade

Head of the Immigration Department

Work with English-speaking Immigration Lawyers:

Find your Immigration Lawyer​

Vasco Dias

Thabata Mota

Diana Andrade

Gabriela Teruel

Karla Morais

Alicia Vilafranca

Margarida Vieira

Marina Tormin

Bruna Duarte

Ricardo Lopes

See what our customers have to say about our services

How Can We help you?

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Passive Income Visa

Portuguese Nationality

Business Activity Residence Permit

Permanent Residency

EU Residency Certificate

Resident card for EU Family Members

Obtain a Fiscal Identification Number

Find your Immigration Lawyer