If you’re thinking about moving to Portugal, you may be wondering whether you should use a lawyer or just do it yourself? After all, working with a lawyer could end up costing you anywhere between €1,000 and €3,000 for a single person. Wouldn’t it be better to do it yourself.
In this article, we’ll look at the pros and cons of using an attorney to handle your visa application. More specifically, we highlight some of the quirks about moving to Portugal and Portuguese bureaucracy, and why it makes sense to know what you’re doing.
Reasons to Use an Immigration Lawyer
The following are some of the main reasons to use an immigration lawyer or relocation company.
Understanding Bureaucracy
The immigration process is often mired in bureaucracy that can vary significantly not just from one country to another but even from one consulate to another within the same country. For instance, some consulates might require a 6-month lease for visa applications, while others demand a 12-month lease.
Lisbon-based lawyer, Sandra Gomes Pinto, notes that Portugal is the country of “unstandardised bureaucracy.” But what does this mean in practice?
According to Sandra Gomes Pinto, “The process for applying for a residency visa varies from country to country and consulate to consulate. Canada, for example, requires more paperwork than the US.
“Similarly, there was a place that would only accept appointments at the beginning of the month.”
But what if you manage to get the list of requirements from that consulate? Sandra says there’s sometimes a difference between what’s asked for in theory and what’s required in practice.
“Sometimes the list of requirements is different to what’s actually asked for in practice. When we work with a client, we try to make sure they’re prepared for every eventuality but without overburdening the client unnecessarily.”
Time and Stress Reduction
Many people submit applications themselves and are successful. However, it can take a lot of time and effort to actually get the information you need. You will need to hunt down people who’ve applied for the same visa and through the same consulate. More importantly, you’ll want to make sure they’ve done this recently.
Case in point: you’ll see a lot of articles talking about the D7 that are now out-of-date. Many suggest you can apply for this visa with a remote job or that the requirement is somewhere around €760 per month. Even articles talking about the Digital Nomad Visa, the new visa for those with remote jobs and freelancing work, can become out of date within a few months.
Dealing with AIMA
There are several steps to moving to Portugal. Most visas require you to visit your consulate first and then move to Portugal where you’ll have an appointment with AIMA (previously known as SEF).
However, there can be two challenges here:
- The interview itself: While this goes smoothly for many people, it really can depend on the interviewer. Some don’t speak great English, for example, which is why you want to have a Portuguese speaker with you. Others may ask for paperwork you didn’t think you needed (and sometimes you don’t need). That’s why it’s a good idea to have an immigration lawyer with you when you apply.
- Getting the interview: Sometimes just getting the appointment itself can be a challenge. While some consulates schedule the appointment for you, others don’t, which means you have to contact AIMA to arrange it. Unfortunately, just getting through to AIMA can be near impossible, and many people spend months in limbo, trying to arrange this. Having a lawyer take care of this can make your life considerably easier.
Dealing with Complications
What happens if your application is rejected? How do you appeal?
Sandra notes that there is a process in place if it looks like you might be rejected.
“It’s important to understand that, according to Portuguese administrative law, whenever the authorities are planning to do something that might jeopardise your chances of approval, you are always entitled to defend yourself before that actually happens.”
However, as there’s a high possibility of rejection at this point, this is a point where you really want a legal professional fighting your corner.
Reasons Against Using an Immigration Lawyer
There really is only one reason not to use a lawyer and that’s cost.
Using a lawyer will set you back anywhere from around €1,000 to €3,000 for a single applicant, with the cost often based on the level of service: those at the higher end of the scale are more likely to attend the AIMA interview with you, for example.
There is a middle ground, which is to just a low-cost service like visas.pt, which charges a flat rate of €1,195 (or €895 with the code plvisa). As their website notes, this is more “document checking & guidance,” however it is better than trying to do it yourself.
If, however, you’re looking for a more hand-held approach, please get in touch for suggestions.
Have a question about moving to Portugal?