One of the questions we hear most often is surprisingly simple.
"Can I just ask a few questions before booking a consultation?"
Of course you can. The challenge is that immigration law rarely allows simple answers.
Every week, people contact us asking whether they qualify for a Portugal visa. They mention their nationality, their savings, or perhaps that they are planning to retire in Portugal. What they cannot see is that, from a legal perspective, those few details tell us almost nothing.
A lawyer does not build an immigration strategy around assumptions.
As a Portuguese Immigration Lawyer, my responsibility is to understand the complete picture before giving advice. Where does your income come from? Are you planning to become a Portuguese tax resident? Are you moving alone? Do you intend to work after arriving? Small details often determine the entire legal strategy.
That is exactly why we begin with a consultation.
Not because asking questions has a price.
Because giving responsible legal advice has value.
Most people would never expect a physician to diagnose them over email after reading a few sentences. Lawyers face the same responsibility. Professional advice requires context, analysis and judgment.
There is another reason we believe consultations matter.
Viana Consultancy is a private law firm. Every hour spent providing free legal advice is an hour that cannot be dedicated to clients who have already entrusted us with their cases. Respecting their time is part of respecting the service they have chosen to invest in.
The consultation is also not an additional cost for clients who decide to move forward with us. The €120 consultation fee is deducted from the legal fees if you retain our firm.
More importantly, it is often the smallest investment of the entire relocation.
Many couples spend around €5,900 on legal services alone during their relocation to Portugal, depending on the visa category and the assistance required. Compared with the overall investment involved in moving abroad, a legal strategy session is often what prevents expensive mistakes before they happen.
Our clients include retirees, entrepreneurs and high income individuals from all over the world. What they have in common is not the visa they choose, but the decision to begin with a strategy rather than assumptions.
Whether you are exploring a Portugal visa or looking for comprehensive Portugal relocation services, the first step is always the same: Understand your options before making your decisions.