Key takeaways
- Ask who does the legal work. In Portugal, legal advice and representation for others are reserved to registered lawyers and solicitors.
- Get a written contract that names the company you are hiring, the law that governs it, exactly what is included and how refunds work.
- Treat any promise of guaranteed approval as a red flag. Consulates and AIMA make the decisions.
- A good partner explains which visa fits your income source and why, and has people on the ground in Portugal for appointments, viewings and setup.
- Check that they coordinate with your US or Canadian tax adviser, because the home-country side of the move matters as much as the visa.
Moving to Portugal involves two governments, a visa file that has to be assembled in the right order and a long list of practical steps once you land. That is why many Americans and Canadians hire help. But “relocation company” can mean anything from a one-person visa service to a full team in Portugal, and the difference only becomes clear when something goes wrong.
This guide gives you 12 questions to ask any relocation company before you sign, the red flags to watch for, and how we answer the same questions at Relocate360.
Relocation Company, Lawyer or Do It Yourself?
There are three main ways to move to Portugal, and they suit different people:
| What you get | Best for | |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | You research, collect documents, book appointments and handle every step in Portugal yourself. | Simple cases, flexible timelines, people comfortable with bureaucracy in a second language. |
| Immigration lawyer | Legal advice on your visa route and representation before the authorities. | Complex legal situations, appeals, or when you mainly want legal review. |
| Relocation company | Coordination of the whole move: visa file, NIF, banking, housing, appointments and settling in, ideally with legal work done by a registered lawyer. | Busy professionals, families and retirees who want one accountable team. |
If you are still deciding which visa fits you, start with our D7 vs D8 comparison and our moving to Portugal checklist.
12 Questions to Ask Before You Hire
1. Who does the legal work, and are they registered in Portugal?
Portuguese law (Lei n.º 49/2004) reserves legal advice and representation on behalf of others to lawyers and solicitors registered with their professional bodies. Ask for the name of the lawyer or solicitor who will work on your case. You can check a lawyer’s registration with the Ordem dos Advogados, Portugal’s bar association.
2. Who signs the contract with me, and under which law?
Find out which legal entity you are contracting with, where it is registered and which country’s law governs the agreement. That decides where you would resolve a dispute and how you pay. Get everything in writing before you transfer money.
3. What exactly is included, and what costs extra?
Ask for a written scope. Common extras include government and consular fees, certified translations, apostilles, criminal record checks, health insurance, short-term accommodation and property searches. A clear quote separates the company’s fees from third-party costs.
4. How are fees structured, and what is the refund policy?
Ask when payments are due, whether they are tied to milestones, and what happens if your plans change or your application is refused. Avoid paying everything up front for work that happens months later.
5. Do you guarantee approval?
The right answer is no. Consulates decide on visas and AIMA decides on residence permits. A trustworthy firm will tell you how strong your file is and what could weaken it, not promise an outcome.
6. Which visa do you recommend for me, and why?
Your visa should follow your income source, not the lowest threshold. Passive income such as pensions, dividends or rent points to the D7 (from €920 a month in 2026). Income from a job or clients outside Portugal points to the D8 (from €3,680 a month). Starting or running a business points to the D2. If a firm recommends a route without asking where your money comes from, be careful.
7. Who is my day-to-day contact, and in which time zone?
Ask who answers your questions, how quickly, and through which channels. Portugal is five hours ahead of New York and Toronto and eight ahead of the West Coast, so clear reporting matters more than constant calls.
8. Do you have people on the ground in Portugal?
Much of the work happens in Portugal: viewing homes, opening accounts, AIMA appointments, utilities and registrations. Ask where the team that does this work is based and whether they will be with you on the day.
9. How do you handle the NIF, bank account and lease?
Your visa file depends on a Portuguese tax number (NIF), a Portuguese bank account and, usually, a lease of at least 12 months. Ask how the firm sequences these so your consulate appointment isn’t delayed.
10. What happens after I land?
The visa is only the start. Ask whether the firm helps with your AIMA residence permit appointment, updating your tax address, registering with the public health service (SNS), utilities and your driving license.
11. Will you coordinate with my US or Canadian tax adviser?
Americans keep filing US tax returns wherever they live, and Canadians usually need to plan for becoming non-residents, including departure tax. A good partner coordinates the Portuguese side with your home-country adviser rather than leaving you to connect the two. See our tax and compliance page and our guide to moving to Portugal from Canada.
12. How many clients do you take on, and can I speak to past clients?
A firm that takes on more clients than it can serve will show it in slow replies and missed steps. Ask how many moves they handle at once and whether they can put you in touch with past clients.
Red Flags to Watch For
- A promise of guaranteed approval or “fast-track” access to appointments.
- No written contract, or a contract that doesn’t name the company you are hiring.
- Vague scope, or a single price with no explanation of what is included.
- No named lawyer or solicitor for the legal parts of your case.
- Pressure to buy property, invest or decide quickly.
- Advice that seems designed to fit you into a visa rather than to fit the visa to your situation.
How Relocate360 Answers These Questions
We wrote this guide because these are the questions we would want answered ourselves. Here is how we work:
- Who you contract with: Relocate360 LLC, a US company registered in Wyoming with an office in Philadelphia. Your service agreement is governed by US law, and you can pay by domestic ACH or international wire.
- Who does the work: our operations team in Porto, with an in-house immigration attorney, accountants, and real estate and insurance specialists.
- What is included: three packages, Settle, Establish and Elevate, with a written scope. You can compare them on our services page.
- Which visa: we match the D7, D8 or D2 to where your income actually comes from.
- After you land: AIMA, banking, housing, healthcare registration and settling in, through our concierge team.
- Meeting in person: our founder keeps a regular presence in the US and travels to meet clients in their state or province once we are engaged.
Every move starts with a free 20-minute briefing. Book yours and ask us all 12 questions.
Moving from Canada? The visas are the same, but departure tax, provincial health cover, CPP, OAS and RRSPs need their own plan. Read our guide to moving to Portugal from Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a lawyer or relocation company to move to Portugal?
No. You can apply for a D7, D8 or D2 visa yourself at the Portuguese consulate or visa center covering your state or province, and many people do. Professional help saves time and mistakes on the document sequence, the NIF, bank account and lease your file depends on, and the steps after you land. If you need legal advice or someone to act for you under a power of attorney, that work must be done by a registered Portuguese lawyer or solicitor.
What is the difference between a relocation company and an immigration lawyer?
An immigration lawyer gives legal advice and can represent you before the authorities. A relocation company coordinates the whole move: the visa file and appointments, your NIF and bank account, housing, and settling in after you arrive. Some relocation firms work with outside lawyers; others, like Relocate360, have an immigration attorney on the team. Ask who will do the legal work before you sign.
Can a relocation company guarantee my Portuguese visa?
No. The consulate decides on your visa and AIMA decides on your residence permit. A good relocation partner can make sure your file is complete, consistent and submitted on time, and tell you honestly if your situation is weak, but no one can guarantee the outcome.
How much does a Portugal relocation company cost?
It varies widely with the scope: visa support only, or the full move including housing, company setup, accounting and concierge. Ask for a written quote that separates the company’s fees from third-party costs such as government fees, translations, apostilles, criminal record checks and insurance. At Relocate360, pricing depends on your package and is shared after a free discovery call; you can compare our packages on the services page.
Should I choose a company based in Portugal or in the US?
What matters is that you have both: a contract you understand and can enforce, and a team that is actually on the ground in Portugal. Some Americans prefer signing with a US company under US law and paying in dollars, while the work in Portugal is done by a local team. Ask any firm where its legal entity is registered, which law governs the contract and who will handle your appointments in Portugal.
Mark Javed, Founder
Mark moved his own family and business to Porto and has since navigated Portuguese residency, company formation, healthcare and the property market first-hand. He founded Relocate360 to give Americans and Canadians the partner he wished he had.
Immigration rules, visa thresholds, tax law and costs change. This guide is general information for education, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Confirm current requirements with official sources or a qualified professional before you act. Last reviewed November 5, 2026.
