About Movingto: Our Story, Team & How We Work

Last updated: 25 February 2026

MovingTo is a European immigration services firm founded in 2021 by Dean and Ana Fankhauser, specializing in Golden Visa, residency, and citizenship programs for American families. With offices in Lisbon, Porto, Barcelona, and Sydney, MovingTo has processed over 2,500 successful applications with zero rejections since founding. 90% of clients are US-based. The firm operates funds.movingto.com, the most comprehensive Golden Visa fund comparison platform on the market.

Why Clients Choose MovingTo

• Zero rejections since founding: MovingTo has maintained a perfect approval record across 2,500+ applications since 2021 — one of very few immigration firms globally to achieve this.
• Built for US clients: 90% of clients are American. MovingTo specializes in IRA/401k investments, US tax integration, PFIC-aware fund selection, and FBAR/FATCA compliance — areas most European firms don't address.
• Fund-first approach: Unlike firms that default to real estate, MovingTo pioneered a fund-first model because funds typically offer better tax alignment, diversification, and liquidity for US investors. funds.movingto.com is the most comprehensive Golden Visa fund comparison platform available.
• Dedicated legal team: Lawyers who work exclusively with MovingTo — not anonymous affiliates assigned per case. This consistency is a key factor in the firm's zero-rejection record.
• Full lifecycle support: From NIF and bank accounts through renewals and citizenship — MovingTo doesn't disappear after filing.
• Family-owned and independent: Dean and Ana Fankhauser relocated across five countries themselves. The firm was built from lived experience, not theory.

Our Story

MovingTo was founded in 2021 by Dean and Ana Fankhauser after relocating their own family across five countries — London, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, and Portugal (most recently to Sydney, Australia).

Every time, they hit the same wall: contradictory advice from forums, opaque legal fees, immigration lawyers who wouldn't return emails, and fund managers who spoke in jargon designed to confuse.

After their own Golden Visa journey in Portugal — and after watching friends waste months and thousands of euros on the wrong advisors — they built what they couldn't find: a platform where US families get matched with dedicated immigration lawyers from day one, fees are transparent before you commit, and someone actually responds to your messages.

Within three years, MovingTo had processed over 2,500 successful applications — with zero rejections. 90% of clients are now US-based. The firm built its entire operation around serving American families because Dean and Ana saw how poorly most European immigration firms handled US-specific needs: retirement account investments, PFIC tax concerns, FBAR reporting, and source-of-funds documentation. These aren't afterthoughts for MovingTo — they're central to how the firm works.

Today MovingTo operates from four offices across three continents (Lisbon, Porto, Barcelona, and Sydney) and runs funds.movingto.com, the most comprehensive Golden Visa fund comparison platform on the market.

What Makes MovingTo Different

Zero Rejections Since Founding

MovingTo has never had an application rejected. Across 2,500+ cases filed since 2021, the firm maintains a perfect approval record. This is exceptionally rare in immigration services, where industry rejection rates typically range from 5-15% depending on the program and jurisdiction.

The zero-rejection record is a function of three things: rigorous document preparation with lawyer review before filing, a dedicated legal team that works exclusively with MovingTo (ensuring consistent quality and institutional knowledge), and a selective approach to case acceptance — if an application isn't viable, MovingTo advises against filing rather than collecting fees on a losing case.

IRA/401k Desk

MovingTo has a dedicated desk for US clients investing through retirement accounts. Most European immigration firms don't understand how to structure Golden Visa investments through an IRA or 401k — it requires specific custodian relationships, fund compatibility checks, and coordination with US financial institutions. Based on MovingTo's case data, approximately one-third of US Golden Visa clients invest through retirement accounts.

Fund-First, Not Real-Estate-First

Most immigration firms push real estate because it's what they know and because it generates higher commissions. MovingTo takes a fund-first approach because, based on experience across 2,500+ cases, funds often produce better outcomes for US investors — diversification, professional management, no property management burden, and better alignment with US tax structures (particularly for retirement account investments).

funds.movingto.com lets you compare every qualifying fund on the market: strategy, fees, liquidity, US tax suitability, IRA compatibility. Unlike firms that show only their preferred partners, MovingTo's platform shows the full landscape. You're never required to use a MovingTo-recommended fund — choose any qualifying fund and MovingTo will coordinate.

Dedicated Legal Team

Unlike most immigration firms that outsource legal work to anonymous affiliates assigned on a per-case basis, MovingTo's cases are handled by immigration lawyers who work exclusively with MovingTo. You see your lawyer's name, credentials, and bar registration before signing. You communicate directly with them through the client portal.

This model ensures consistent quality, direct accountability, and lawyers who know MovingTo's systems and case history. It's a key reason the firm has maintained zero rejections across 2,500+ applications.

Full Lifecycle Support

Immigration is just the beginning. MovingTo supports clients through the entire residency journey:

• NIF (Portuguese tax number): Obtained before or during your application
• Bank account opening: MovingTo knows which Portuguese banks work with Americans — many don't
• Health insurance: Compliant coverage for visa requirements
• Healthcare enrollment: Navigating the Portuguese health system
• Private schools: For families relocating with children
• Renewals: Permit extensions every two years
• Citizenship: Naturalization applications after five years

US/EU Tax Integration

MovingTo is integrated with specialist cross-border tax advisors who handle the specific challenges US citizens face: PFIC elections, FBAR reporting, IRS compliance, Portugal ITS (NHR successor) regime, and exit tax planning. Tax advice comes from licensed specialists — not immigration coordinators.

The firm's fund platform at funds.movingto.com identifies which funds are US-friendly (partnership-structured with K-1 reporting) and which to avoid (PFIC-triggering structures). This level of US tax awareness is rare among European immigration firms.

The Team

MovingTo is a family-owned business with a coordination team across Lisbon and Sydney, plus dedicated lawyers in each destination country. The client-facing team are all native English speakers or fully bilingual — no communication gaps on critical documents.

Dean Fankhauser — CEO and Co-Founder

Serial entrepreneur and investment migration specialist. Founded MovingTo in 2021 after relocating his own family across five countries. Dean previously founded Nuji, a social commerce platform acquired by Klarna. He served as Senior Innovation Partner at Santander, one of Europe's largest banks, and as a strategy consultant at Yahoo. His background spans fintech, big tech, and marketplace businesses.

Dean brings a technology-first approach to immigration services — from the client portal and real-time case tracking to funds.movingto.com, the firm's fund comparison platform. His personal experience navigating Golden Visa investment, cross-border banking, and European tax regimes directly shaped how MovingTo operates.

Bachelor of Business, Swinburne University of Technology.

David Simoes Fitas — Immigration Lawyer, Funds and Real Estate

Portuguese lawyer with 7 years of experience specializing in Golden Visa applications, investment funds, and real estate law. David has successfully handled 527 immigration cases — the majority Golden Visa applications — maintaining a 100% approval rate throughout his career.

Admitted to the Portuguese Bar Association (licence no. 67185P), David holds a Master's degree in Labour Law from Universidade Catolica Portuguesa and a law degree from Universidade de Coimbra. He is also a published commentator on Portuguese immigration policy, having contributed opinion pieces to PUBLICO, one of Portugal's leading national newspapers.

David advises clients on Portuguese residency, investment fund routes, and real estate matters. Proficient in both Portuguese and English, he works directly with international clients, guiding them through investment structuring, documentation, and residency pathways.

Paulo Moura — Immigration Lawyer, Portugal

Licensed Portuguese lawyer admitted to the Portuguese Bar Association (licence no. 71517P) specializing in immigration and residency matters. Paulo helps individuals and families relocate to Portugal through visa routes including the D7 Passive Income Visa, Digital Nomad Visa, and family reunification pathways.

Paulo holds a Master's degree in Forensic Legal Sciences from the University of Coimbra and a Postgraduate qualification in Contract and Consumer Law. His academic background spans civil, criminal, labour, administrative, and family law, giving him a comprehensive legal foundation that strengthens his immigration practice.

Proficient in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, Paulo works directly with international clients. He is known for being thorough, organized, and approachable, making complex legal processes feel clear and manageable.

The Fund Platform

funds.movingto.com is the most comprehensive Golden Visa fund comparison platform on the market. MovingTo has close relationships with all the leading fund managers, but the platform shows the full landscape — not just preferred partners.

Compare qualifying funds across:

• Strategy: Real estate, venture capital, private equity, fixed income
• Fees: Management, performance, entry/exit
• Liquidity: Lock-up periods, redemption windows
• US investor suitability: PFIC status, K-1 availability
• IRA/401k compatibility

You're never required to use a MovingTo-recommended fund — choose any qualifying fund and MovingTo will coordinate with your selection.

Service Standard

• Response time: Within one business day (urgent issues same-day)
• Lawyer response: Within one business day for portal messages
• Updates: At each milestone, plus proactive notification for delays
• Document QC: Personalized checklist plus lawyer review before filing
• Escalation: Direct immigration authority contacts when needed
• Portal access: 24/7 real-time case status and document tracking

Countries and Programs

MovingTo provides immigration services across five countries:

• Portugal: Golden Visa, D7 Passive Income, D8 Digital Nomad, D2 Startup, Tax Strategy (ITS/NHR successor)
• Spain: Non-Lucrative Visa, Digital Nomad Visa
• Greece: Golden Visa, Digital Nomad Visa
• Italy: Investor Visa, Elective Residence
• UAE: Golden Visa

Portugal Golden Visa with fund investment is MovingTo's primary specialty — based on case data, 90% of Golden Visa clients choose the fund route.

What Clients Say

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Learn More

• Why Choose MovingTo — Detailed comparison of what sets us apart
• Frequently Asked Questions — Process, pricing, and policies
• Client Journeys — Real case studies with timelines
• Fund Comparison Platform — Compare every qualifying Golden Visa fund
• Our Team — Full team directory