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Blue Ocean Immigration · Lisboa 🇵🇹
New directions begin with a secure choice.
A safe crossing begins with direction and method.
Blue Ocean Immigration is a consultancy specialized in Golden Visa processes for investors and international families who wish to establish themselves in Portugal with security.
Portugal continues to be chosen by families, investors and global talent — but the journey is no longer just bureaucracy. Today, overcoming complexity requires the right route, solid evidence and disciplined timing. This is where Blue Ocean Immigration comes in: we deliver local legal execution from day one.
About Us
Founded and led by lawyers
Founded by lawyers with deep experience in immigration law and Golden-Visa-eligible investments, Blue Ocean operates in a consultative, personalised and highly technical manner — supporting each client from the decision-making stage to the consolidation of residency.
Luiza Couto
CEO — Chief Executive Officer
Ícaro Couto
Founding Partner · Lawyer & Author
The Blue Ocean Experience
We go beyond processes and documents. Our commitment is to deliver an experience built on trust. With us, you will have:
Direct access to specialists
You speak directly with the lawyers handling your case — no intermediaries, no call centres.
Clear, ethical and transparent communication
Straight answers, realistic timelines and full visibility at every step.
Integrated legal and financial planning
Immigration, tax and investment aligned into one coherent strategy.
Human support at every stage of the journey
From the first decision to the consolidation of your residency, you are never alone.
The journey is complex. Our mission is to make it safe.
Partner bank
The banking solution we recommend to our clients.
Working alongside leading investment funds, banks and immigration firms
Expertise
Expertise That Builds Predictability
At Blue Ocean, every step is guided by method, clarity and predictability — turning administrative requirements into clear, executable decisions, reducing friction and strengthening certainty across the immigration journey.
- Golden Visa & residency
- Tax & investment planning
- Family relocation
- Citizenship pathways
Our Book
Immigrating to Portugal
A Legal Guide for Foreigners · 2025
Written by Ícaro Couto, a practical legal guide focused on structure, clarity and predictable pathways for foreigners — a reference designed to reduce friction and strengthen certainty.
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The Blue Ocean ecosystem
Everything you need, in one group
Platforms and services that complement each other for your life in Portugal.
NIF Express
Reside Portugal
The app that organises your move and residency in Portugal.
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Mobile app
Your case, in your pocket
Follow your immigration process, receive your documents and reach your team — any time, from your iPhone.
- Track your case Follow each stage of your process as it moves forward.
- Documents & mail Upload what we ask for, receive your files and read your physical mail, digitised.
- Talk to the team Message your Blue Ocean team directly, without leaving the app.
Point your camera to download.
Global presence
Where we are and where we reach
Based in Lisbon, we support clients and partners worldwide.
Lisboa
Barcelona
Abu Dhabi
Dubai
Brasil
Partners
Who we collaborate with
We work with trusted partners to support our clients at every step.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What does Blue Ocean Immigration do?
Blue Ocean Immigration is a Lisbon-based legal team that helps foreign nationals move to and settle in Portugal — residence visas (such as the Golden Visa, D7 and the Digital Nomad visa), residence permits, family reunification, citizenship and the NIF. We guide each case from the initial assessment through to approval.
Do you offer a free initial consultation?
Yes. We offer a free 15-minute initial consultation to understand your case and assess its viability. You can book a time directly on this website.
Which languages does your team speak?
We assist clients in Portuguese, English, Spanish, Russian and Chinese.
Where are you based and which clients do you serve?
Our office is on Avenida da Liberdade in Lisbon, Portugal. We support clients and partners worldwide who are relocating to Portugal.
Is your immigration work handled by a lawyer?
Yes. Our immigration work is led by a Portuguese-qualified lawyer (advogado), and services are provided under a formal engagement agreement.
Resources
Guides & resources
Practical articles on immigration, residency, citizenship and tax in Portugal.
Moving to Portugal 2026
Moving to Portugal in 2026 means making decisions in the right order: choosing the correct residence route, handling the essential bureaucracy and setting realistic expectations about timing. This guide maps the process end to end — no empty promises, just legal precision.
Read moreCost of Living
In 2026, Portugal remains one of Western Europe's most sought-after destinations for people who want to pair quality of life with a manageable cost of living. But the national average is misleading: living in Lisbon or on the Algarve coast is very different from living in Porto, on the Silver Coast or inland. This guide explains how living costs vary by region, what to expect for housing, healthcare and family budgets, and how all of it shapes your choice of visa and where you settle.
Read moreHealthcare & Schools
For anyone moving to Portugal with a family, two questions matter as much as the visa: what healthcare will we have, and where will our children study? This guide explains how SNS access works for residents, when private health insurance makes sense, and how to choose between public schooling and international schools in Lisbon, Cascais and Porto.
Read moreOpening a company in Portugal
Opening a company in Portugal as a foreigner is entirely feasible — and, in most cases, simpler than people expect. The secret is the right order: get the NIF, choose the right company type, incorporate the company and obtain the NIPC. This guide maps the process from the ground up, with legal precision and no empty promises.
Read moreAIMA: appointments & timelines
AIMA is the authority that decides most immigration cases in Portugal — from residence permits to family reunification. This guide explains what AIMA does, how appointments work and why timelines are variable, with no empty promises and full legal precision.
Read moreIFICI (ex-NHR)
IFICI — the Tax Incentive for Scientific Research and Innovation — is the regime replacing the former Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) status. Often called "NHR 2.0", it is far more selective than its predecessor: it targets those carrying out qualified activities in research, innovation and high-value-added sectors. This guide explains what changed and how to assess your eligibility, with legal precision and without figures that quickly go stale.
Read moreCPLP visas & residence
The Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) opened a dedicated mobility route for lusophone citizens who wish to live in Portugal. For nationals of Brazil, Angola, Cape Verde or another member state, this can be the most direct way to regularise residence — but there are nuances worth understanding. This guide sets out the essentials, with legal precision and no empty promises.
Read moreLiving in Lisbon
Moving to Lisbon is more than choosing an address: it is finding the right neighbourhood, understanding the real cost of living, settling into an international community and handling the bureaucracy that makes it all legal. This guide gathers the essentials for newcomers — precise, and without generic figures that won't apply to your case.
Read moreGlobal mobility with trust and strategy.
Schedule a confidential initial assessment with our team and map the safest route for your move to Portugal.
Book
Book your free consultation
Pick the best time for a free initial consultation (15 min) with our team — to understand your case and assess viability.
Contact
Let’s talk about your project
Schedule an initial assessment or leave us a message — we reply within one business day.
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