Portugal
Spain
Italy
Greece
Grenada Citizenship by Investment
Legal Verification
Every legal claim published on MovingTo.com is reviewed by a licensed immigration lawyer practising in the relevant jurisdiction. This page explains what legal review means at MovingTo, who conducts it, what it covers, what it does not cover, and what triggers a re-review. Our goal is not to replace personalised legal advice — it is to ensure that the general immigration information on this site is accurate, current, and aligned with the law as it stands at the date of review.
What Legal Review Means
When an article on MovingTo.com carries a "Fact-Checked by [Lawyer Name]" designation, it means a licensed immigration lawyer has:
1. Verified all legal claims
Visa requirements, eligibility criteria, investment thresholds, processing timelines, and documentary requirements have been checked against current legislation and official regulatory guidance in the relevant jurisdiction.
2. Confirmed regulatory accuracy
References to government bodies, regulatory authorities, application portals, and official processes have been verified as current and correct at the date of review.
3. Assessed procedural accuracy
Descriptions of how applications work in practice (submission procedures, biometrics scheduling, approval timelines, renewal processes) have been reviewed against the lawyer's direct professional experience handling these applications.
4. Flagged scope limits
Where content describes general requirements that may vary based on individual circumstances (e.g., dual nationality implications, specific source-of-funds requirements, country-specific tax treaty interactions), the reviewer ensures the article includes appropriate qualification so readers understand they need personalised advice.
What legal review is not: Legal review does not make an article a substitute for personalised legal advice. Our content describes general requirements, standard procedures, and typical timelines. Individual applications involve factors — personal history, nationality, family composition, source of funds, tax residency — that can only be assessed through direct consultation with a qualified professional.
Our Legal Reviewers
Legal review is conducted by licensed immigration lawyers practising in the jurisdiction the content covers. Each reviewer is identified by name on the articles they review, with a link to their professional profile on our team page.
Portugal
Inês Cabral Almeida
Senior Immigration Lawyer
Licensed Advogada, Portuguese Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados, Licence No. 61676P)
5+ years specialising in immigration, residency, and citizenship law
View Profile
David Simões Fitas
Senior Immigration Lawyer
Licensed Advogado, Portuguese Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados, Licence No. 67185P)
7+ years specialising in Golden Visa, investment funds, and real estate law. 527 immigration cases with 100% success rate.
View Profile
Paulo Moura
Immigration Lawyer
Licensed Advogado, Portuguese Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados, Licence No. 71517P)
Specialises in D7 Visa, Digital Nomad Visa, and family reunification pathways
View Profile
Spain, Italy, Greece
Reviewer details for these jurisdictions will be published when confirmed. MovingTo appoints a licensed local lawyer as content reviewer for every jurisdiction it covers. Content is not published for any jurisdiction without a qualified reviewer in place.
Scope of Legal Review
Content that receives full legal review before publication:
- Visa and residency program guides (requirements, eligibility, investment thresholds, timelines)
- Application process descriptions (how to apply, documentation requirements, submission procedures)
- Legal requirement explanations (tax obligations, residency rules, renewal conditions, citizenship pathways)
- Investment structuring content (fund requirements, qualifying investments, minimum thresholds, regulatory compliance)
- Country-specific regulatory content (AIMA procedures, SEF legacy processes, government portal guidance)
- Comparative content that includes legal claims (e.g., "Portugal vs Spain Golden Visa" comparisons)
Content that receives editorial review but not formal legal review:
- Lifestyle and relocation guides (cost of living, neighbourhoods, schools, healthcare overviews)
- Index and ranking content (Liveability Index, Passport Index, Digital Nomad Index)
- Company information (about us, team pages, service descriptions)
- News commentary and analysis that does not make legal claims
Even content that does not receive formal legal review is written by specialists with immigration experience and follows our full editorial process. The distinction here is about the additional step of licensed lawyer verification, not about the overall quality standard.
Review Cadence and Triggers
Initial review: Every article in the legal review scope is reviewed by the relevant jurisdictional lawyer before first publication. No legal immigration content is published without completing this review.
Scheduled re-review: All legally reviewed content undergoes a scheduled re-review at minimum every 90 days. During re-review, the assigned lawyer checks the article against current legislation, recent regulatory changes, and any procedural updates from the relevant authorities.
Triggered re-review (unscheduled): The following events trigger an immediate re-review of all affected content, regardless of the scheduled review cycle:
Legislative change
New law, decree, or regulation affecting visa requirements, investment thresholds, eligibility criteria, or application procedures in any covered jurisdiction.
Regulatory restructuring
Changes to government bodies or processing authorities (e.g., the transition from SEF to AIMA in Portugal).
Official policy update
Published guidance from immigration authorities that changes how existing legislation is interpreted or applied in practice.
Threshold revision
Any change to investment minimums, fee structures, or financial requirements.
Correction trigger
A confirmed correction on one article triggers a review of related articles for the same or similar issues (cross-referenced with our corrections policy).
Client case intelligence
When our operational team encounters a procedural change during a live application that has not yet been publicly announced, we flag it for editorial review and verification before updating content.
How Reviewers Are Identified
Every article that has completed legal review displays:
- "Fact-Checked by [Full Name]" — the name of the licensed lawyer who reviewed the article, linked to their profile on our team page
- Reviewer jurisdiction — the country in which the reviewer is licensed to practise
- Review date — the date on which the legal review was most recently completed
Clicking the reviewer's name takes you to their profile, which includes their professional credentials, bar association membership, areas of specialisation, and a list of articles they have reviewed.
If an article does not display a "Fact-Checked by" designation, it means the article either falls outside the scope of legal review or has not yet completed the legal review cycle. We are transparent about this distinction — we do not imply legal review where it has not occurred.
What Legal Review Does Not Cover
Laws change. Our content reflects the law as it stands at the date of the most recent review. Immigration legislation can change between reviews — investment thresholds can be revised, processing authorities can be restructured, and eligibility criteria can be modified by new regulation. We monitor for changes and update content within 48 hours of confirmation, but there may be brief periods where published content does not yet reflect a very recent change.
Individual circumstances vary. Our content describes general requirements and standard procedures. Your specific situation — nationality, family composition, source of funds, tax residency, professional background, dual citizenship status — may affect your eligibility, documentation requirements, or timeline in ways that general content cannot address. This is why we recommend speaking with a licensed lawyer about your specific case.
Operational timelines are estimates. Processing times published on this site are based on our operational experience and official published guidance. Actual timelines vary depending on application volume, government processing capacity, and individual case complexity.
Cross-border interactions are complex. Articles covering a single jurisdiction's requirements may not account for interactions with your home country's tax, immigration, or citizenship laws. Cross-border implications — including tax treaty effects, exit tax obligations, and dual residency rules — require personalised professional advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are MovingTo's articles reviewed by lawyers?
Every article containing legal immigration claims is reviewed by a licensed immigration lawyer practising in the relevant jurisdiction before publication. Reviewers are identified by name on each article with a link to their professional profile and credentials.
Who reviews MovingTo's Portugal content?
Portugal content is reviewed by our team of licensed Portuguese lawyers: Inês Cabral Almeida, David Simões Fitas, and Paulo Moura — all members of the Portuguese Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados).
What does "Fact-Checked by" mean on a MovingTo article?
It means a licensed immigration lawyer has verified all legal claims in the article — including visa requirements, investment thresholds, eligibility criteria, processing timelines, and documentary requirements — against current legislation and official regulatory guidance.
How often are articles re-reviewed by lawyers?
All legally reviewed content undergoes scheduled re-review at minimum every 90 days. Legislative changes, regulatory restructuring, or confirmed corrections trigger an immediate unscheduled re-review of all affected content.
Does MovingTo's legal review replace personalised legal advice?
No. Our content describes general requirements and standard procedures. Individual circumstances — nationality, family composition, source of funds, tax residency — can affect eligibility and requirements in ways that general content cannot address. We recommend speaking with a licensed lawyer about your specific situation.
What happens if a MovingTo article does not show a "Fact-Checked by" label?
Articles without the "Fact-Checked by" designation either fall outside the scope of legal review (such as lifestyle guides or index content) or have not yet completed the legal review cycle.
Does MovingTo review content for jurisdictions outside Portugal?
Yes. MovingTo appoints a licensed local lawyer as content reviewer for every jurisdiction it covers. Content is not published for any jurisdiction without a qualified reviewer in place.
Speak With a Licensed Lawyer
Our legal reviewers verify published content. For advice specific to your situation, book a free consultation with a licensed immigration lawyer in your destination country.
Your consultation is with a licensed immigration lawyer — not a salesperson.
Related: Editorial Process · Corrections Policy · About Us
