Cross-border Work (US/PT): where is social security due?
Addressing social security implications resulting from cross-border work has been a significant challenge for companies, employees and contractors alike, partic...
At SBPS legal, we understand that navigating an unknown legal landscape can often feel daunting and overwhelming, especially when it comes to investing or living in Portugal. Our mission is to make the entire process easy and effortless for our clients. With honesty, transparency, and a commitment to excellence, we provide the peace of mind you need to confidently pursue your goals in Portugal.
We specialize in providing outstanding and continuous support throughout the life cycle of your legal needs. Our team works tirelessly to take away the bureaucratic headaches and stress of managing the hurdles of the legal process in Portugal.
Addressing social security implications resulting from cross-border work has been a significant challenge for companies, employees and contractors alike, partic...
Is the family home an attachable asset? Yes. The law allows the family home to be seized. However, it must be deemed the last resort, with special attention giv...
You do not, but you should. At the time of the appointment with AIMA to apply for a resident permit, applicants need to either submit proof of being registered ...
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Partner
Labour Law / Public Law / Real Estate / Immigration
Partner
Immigration / Real Estate
Partner
Corporate Law / Litigation / Real Estate
From the lips of our cherished clients, heartfelt tributes for the bond forged through exceptional service, mutual trust, and the shared triumphs of our journey together.
Services provided: Visas & Immigration, Real Estate, Estate Planning
“Marlise was very supportive and outlined the process of obtaining our residency visa in a step-by-step fashion, keeping us apprised of the process at all times. This was especially useful to me since I was unable to be fingerprinted and she assured me that she would be able to help and work with the Consulate to complete the process, even with this unexpected obstacle.
Vasco helped me to complete the purchase of my apartment in downtown Lisbon and again it was a smooth and uneventful process. Next, Vasco will be helping me with my Portuguese will.”
Services provided: Visas & Immigration, Corporate, Tax
"The team's exceptional care and attention have consistently impressed us. This is a 5 star law firm. Not only has our family depended on their expertise for immigration support, but I’ve also personally reaped the benefits of their adeptness in tax and business planning. The team's collective breadth of expertise is truly remarkable, with each member we've engaged proving themselves as a subject matter expert in their respective field."
Services Utilized: Visas & Immigration, Real Estate, Portuguese Citizenship
“The firm, and specifically Vasco Barreira, has become our go-to legal partner in Portugal. Initially, they helped my wife and I immigrate to Portugal, and they really went the extra mile for us in every way. We immigrated during COVID-19, so it was a particularly challenging time with a lot of unusual obstacles, but Vasco and the team always made us feel very comfortable.
We also asked the firm to assist us in a recent real estate transaction, and they handled that beautifully as well.
Their professionalism is top-notch, their English excellent, and their communication speed up to American business standards (a rare and much-appreciated characteristic in Portugal). I couldn't recommend them more.”
Services provided: Visas & Immigration
“Marlise Barbosa and her assistants where a pleasure to work with right from the initial immigration consultation. Her team was very clear and responsive to my every need. They made the D7 application process, through interview, very smooth.”
Services provided: Visas & Immigration, Customs, Real Estate, Portuguese Citizenship
"SBPS legal have helped us with just about everything: from the visa application, to immigration tasks before and after we arrived in Portugal, to a customs issue with the container we shipped, to making sure our lease agreement protected us to every bit of bureaucratic nonsense once you get to Portugal, and finally to our home purchase contract and deed signing.
We honestly can't say enough good things about SBPS legal!
We’ve been working with them for over three years now and have been thrilled with them every step of the way. The partners and associates at SBPS legal are honest and full of integrity and really work hard to make sure the transition here is as seamless as it can be. They’ve been a dream to work with and have made our transition here so much easier and they treat their clients like gold."
Services provided: Real Estate, Visas & Immigration, Corporate
“I have been impressed at every stage of working with this firm. They originally handled my immigration, which felt like a white glove 5 star service, and have since handled real estate transactions and other business related legalities. I have recommended them numerous times to others because they deliver on their word with rock-solid reliability.”
Services provided: Visas & Immigration, Real Estate
“Our family moved from California to Lisbon in 2023. Immigrating to Portugal can be a very laborious and complicated process but I am amazed at how well it all turned out for our family. Looking back, one of the best decisions we made was choosing SBPS legal to help us navigate this process. While the online expat groups were useful, they required too much time to analyze and were filled with conflicting information and varied expectations. Working with SBPS legal dramatically reduced risk associated with our processes and made the effort seamless and easy.
Our attorney, João Gonçalves, always exceeded our expectations by making sure papers were filed, appointments were made, helping us purchase our home, and has been a consistent reliable resource for our family as we got settled. It was like we were on rails with well-planned stops. João and his team spoke perfect English and always responded promptly - we were never left guessing. One of the things I like best about SBPS legal is that they either directly handle or have reliable recommendations for just about every hurdle we had including immigration, taxes, advice on schools for our son, community integration, language, getting a loan for a home, and even transporting our big dog (50kg) into the country.
At the end of the day we are under tremendous pressure as parents and professionals so ensuring things went smoothly was of the utmost importance and SBPS legal delivered. If you are thinking of moving to Portugal or are already here and are struggling with the details, I highly recommend working with SBPS legal . They are the one-stop shop you won’t regret.”
Services provided: Visas & Immigration, Real Estate, Estate Planning
“We are very grateful to SBPS legal (formerly Cruz Oliveira & Associados) for their professional guidance, advice, support and achievement of our journey from the USA to obtaining our resident visa to live in Portugal in our retirement.
Joao Pinto Goncalves and the firm took absolute care of us through this process with every legal detail. We also requested their assistance to attain our Portugal drivers license, draw up our Portugal Wills and complete the purchase of our apartment. The entire firm was responsive in every way necessary in the process. We were totally at ease knowing that we were covered every step of the way and that their efforts would end in a successful result. We highly recommend their firm and services!”
Services provided: Visas & Immigration, Real Estate, Portuguese Citizenship
“From the moment we embarked on our journey to immigrate to Portugal, João Gonçalves has been an indispensable part of our family’s transition. His expertise and guidance in navigating the complexities of acquiring residence visas were the first steps in our successful relocation to Lisbon. João's counsel has been pivotal as we've built a new life here, providing clarity and confidence at every turn.
As we begin the process of acquiring permanent residence, I cannot imagine having anyone but João by our side. His knowledge of the legal landscape in Portugal is unparalleled, and his commitment to our family's well-being and success is evident in every interaction. Moreover, João played a crucial role in helping us purchase our first home in Lisbon. His ability to simplify the intricate details of property law and his willingness to go above and beyond in ensuring a smooth transaction underscored his dedication to our success.
João Gonçalves is not just a lawyer; he is a trusted advisor and a steadfast supporter of our journey in Portugal. We are deeply grateful for his assistance and are confident in recommending his services to anyone looking to build a life in this beautiful country.”
Services provided: Visas & Immigration
“My spouse and I went to see João for some immigration and visa related questions. Joao was professional, knowledgeable, and very experienced in this area of the Portuguese law. He was very engaging, and clearly has a lot of experience working with foreign clients, which was appreciated!”
Services provided: Visas & Immigration, Tax
“With the great help of Joao Goncalves and Miguel Rocha we have been able to successfully navigate all of the immigration and tax requirements for gaining Portuguese residency. Everyone at the firm has been approachable, professional and responsive to all of our needs, answering questions and providing guidance. Frankly, I don’t know where we would be without them and their resources.”
Services provided: Golden Visa, Real Estate, Tax
“João Goncalves and his team were speedy, professional, efficient and a pleasure to work with when they acted for us on a house purchase and advised us on immigration and tax matters.”
Services provided: Visas & Immigration, Real Estate, Estate Planning, Portuguese Citizenship
“The firm's expertise in immigration law was instrumental in helping make my move to Portugal as smooth as possible. From the initial consultation going over the requirements of the available options, to helping prepare the visa application, and then finally accompanying me to receive the first residence permit, I was guided through every step of the process. Once I had settled in and decided to make my stay more permanent, I once again turned to the firm to help with the purchase of a new home.”
Services provided: Corporate, Labour, Disputes & Litigation
“We consider SBPS to be a true business partner, with a team of excellent professionals who are always available and willing to help us overcome not only the constant day-to-day challenges our company faces, but also our private life ones. I would especially like to thank Mr João Oliveira for his latest successful endeavour, which has taken us across the border to Italy."
Services provided: Visas & Immigration
“When we decided to move from the United States to Portugal in 2018, we quickly found ourselves intimidated by the large amount of documentation required and unfamiliar protocol to follow. Did I mention that neither of us spoke a lick of Portuguese?
We knew we would need help, and were lucky enough to be connected with João Gonçalves at SBPS Legal (formerly Cruz Oliveira). João helped us to navigate the difficult and complicated process of obtaining a residence permit from our initial meetings with the Portuguese consulate in the US, all the way through receipt of our documentation here in Portugal. All the while, João has been professional, responsive, and a truly calming presence. He has gone above and beyond, anticipating potential issues before they arose and even helping us to get settled in our new home. His presence enabled us to focus on the important stuff - the fun and excitement of life in a beautiful new place. He saved us countless hours of work and stress.
We are so grateful for João’s assistance in making our move to Portugal and transition to life abroad smooth and painless. We’d happily and enthusiastically recommend João and SBPS Legal services to anyone looking to make a similar move.”
Services provided: Visas & Immigration
“I am very much thankful and grateful to you guys. Because I didn’t feel you guys are treating me like a client. It feels like sharing my problems to a family member, who is there to help me as far as possible. Best of luck to SBPS Legal (formerly Cruz Oliveira & Associados) to your upcoming success.”
Services provided: Litigation, Visas & Immigration, Portuguese Citizenship
“While visiting Portugal, an unforeseen accident required us to secure legal support resulting in a long, difficult process in which we had to navigate legal, medical, and immigration issues simultaneously. SBPS Legal (formerly Cruz Oliveira and Associados) responded quickly and was invaluable in all aspects of managing our complex situation. No one expects to need expert legal support while on vacation in a foreign country. We could not have managed the process without Vasco e João.”
Services provided: Real Estate
“João and his team were a lifesaver when we had problems with our rental contract. He found us an expert to document all of the problems and resolve the lease issues.”
