Hello, my name is
I am a Lawyer with 20 years of experience.
My work in Brazil and Portugal, spanning Administrative, International, Humans Rights and Immigration Law, combines science and practice.
You will be able to clear up all your doubts and clarify all your possibilities in the context of your situation regarding Immigration.
I help you gather and organize all the necessary and essential documents for your process, in accordance with legal requirements.
a) You can hire me to gather documents and file the application at the Registry Office or
b) I can also monitor the application at the Registry Office, where I will request that the legal deadlines be met and, if necessary, I will attach new documents;
c) Ultimately, I can verify the viability of legal action to ensure that the legal deadlines are met and
d) I can also file an administrative appeal in case the application is denied, as long as there are grounds for doing so.
You want to move to Portugal, but you don't know where to start? I can help you find out about the necessary documentation, as well as provide you with an overview of what it's like to live in Portugal, helping you step-by-step so that you have a good experience and a safe immigration project with as few surprises as possible, considering that in addition to my experience as a lawyer, I have lived in Portugal for 7 years.
Unfortunately, it is known that the bodies of the Portuguese Public Administration, especially AIMA and the Registry Offices, sometimes do not provide information, schedules or analysis of cases within the deadlines described in the legislation, which may be the subject of Legal Proceedings, and an analysis of each case and its feasibility will be required.
I will help you organize all the necessary documentation so that you can go to your appointment with AIMA with peace of mind and confidence.
I can also accompany you on the day of your appointment to explain correctly what your case is about and what documents you will be presenting at that time.
If you intend to attend University, whether for a Bachelor's, Master's or Doctorate degree and prefer advice on all the documentation, I can help you.
If you need assistance with other documents such as NIF (Finance), NISS (Social Security), Passport, Marriage Certificates, Criminal Record, among others, I can show you how to obtain these documents or I can even assist you in resolving these issues.
If you want to work in Portugal and need diploma recognition or simply want to have your Master's or Doctorate degree recognized in Portugal, I can check the feasibility with public agencies and provide you with an idea of how to proceed.
If you are a doctor and want to practice your profession in Portugal, I can provide you with complete consultancy on the subject.
Support in the process of applying for a residence permit based on refuge and asylum, as well as guidance on obtaining other documents and legal actions, if necessary to safeguard these rights.
Dr. Ana Sofia Godinho Vasconcelos is a jurist with 20 years of experience. With a solid academic background, Ana Sofia combines scientific rigor with extensive practical experience.
Her experience in Brazil includes working as a Tax Law Attorney, handling highly complex cases through all levels of appeal, preparing legal documents, and meeting deadlines. Additionally, she has experience in import and export. Ana Sofia is a specialist in Labor Law, holding a Post-Graduate Lato Sensu Specialization Course in "Labor Law" from PUC COGEAE in Brazil.
Regarding International Law and Immigration Law, she has almost two years of experience working at a renowned law firm with branches in São Paulo and Lisbon. This experience provided her with a global and strategic vision to support residency and integration processes with security and agility.
Ana Sofia's experience in Public Administration in Brazil as a Technical Advisor in the Legal Department of the Municipal Secretariat for the Promotion of Racial Equality demonstrates a strong aptitude in Administrative Law and an unwavering commitment to Human Rights. Her work was fundamental in the development and monitoring of public policies to combat racism and religious intolerance.
Beyond her extensive practical experience, Ana Sofia also has a Trainer Certification. With a profile marked by resilience in problem-solving, dynamism, transparency, and humanism in teamwork, Ana Sofia adopts a solution-focused approach.
Academic background:
Bachelor's Degree in Law — Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo, Brazil (August 1995 – August 2000).
Post-Graduation in Labor Law — PUC COGEAE, São Paulo, Brazil (March 2007 – July 2009). Monograph "Third-Party Intervention in Labor Proceedings" received the highest grade. View publication
Master's Degree in Political Science, Citizenship and Governance — Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisbon, Portugal (March 2019 – March 2023). View dissertation
The application for Portuguese nationality is filed with the Central Registry Office, gathering the documents required by law depending on the ground for the application (residence, marriage, ancestry, among others). A lawyer can gather and organize the documentation, monitor the legal deadlines of the process at the Registry Office and, if necessary, assess the viability of legal action or an administrative appeal in case of refusal.
When AIMA or the Registry Offices exceed the legal deadlines for scheduling, information or case analysis, it is possible to assess, case by case, the viability of legal proceedings due to the Public Administration's delay, in order to compel the body to decide within the deadlines set by law.
The documents vary depending on the type of residence permit (work, study, family reunification, among others), but generally include a valid passport, proof of means of subsistence, health insurance, criminal record and proof of address. A legal consultation allows the exact documents required for each specific situation to be identified.
Yes. Bachelor's, Master's or Doctorate degrees obtained abroad can be recognised in Portugal through higher education institutions or the Directorate-General for Higher Education, and it is possible to verify beforehand the viability of recognition with the competent public bodies.
The application for international protection (refuge or asylum) is filed with AIMA and requires close monitoring of the deadlines and stages of the process, including the possible need for legal action to safeguard the applicant's rights while the request is being analysed.
