Anna and Start abroad have successfully brought us through our visa application process.
Anna and Start abroad have successfully brought us through our residency visa application. They were able to secure us appointments at VFS in Miami where other people I have spoken to have been unable to get appointments. Their framework for the collection of necessary documents is very well put together and extremely helpful. We are now waiting to go to our AIMA appointments which they not only helped us get but were able to move up to a much more convenient date for us. Emails have been quickly returned and our phone consults have been helpful and effective. We would recommend Start Abroad to anyone beginning their visa process.
Gabrielle Hoyt
Great Experience
Decent conscientious people who want to do the right thing and go the extra mile to ensure that they deliver. I cant speak highly enough of Anna and Mariana. So happy to have got my D7 Visa for Portugal over the line with my wife to follow.
Joe R.
I'm happy that I used StartAbroad…
I'm happy that I used StartAbroad relocation service for my move to Portugal. From start to finish, it was just a matter of a few months. The team understood the importance of my timeframe; we worked together as a team and made it happen! I would recommend StartAbroad to anyone considering a move abroad.Bobbie
Bobbie Harbert
Worth Every Penny!
From the initial call with Zach, to dealing with Anna for our D7 & D8 Visas, this has been a phenomenal service. I really can't imagine trying to do this on our own. Start Abroad has made this move a lot less stressful. We used the Concierge package, and we were glad we did. Anna was always available to answer my many questions and concerns. So glad we used Start Abroad, they deserve 10 stars!!!
Lori Dunbar
Well worth the money
Well worth the money. I heartily recommend the concierge service, especially if you don't yet speak the language of your destination. Anna has been wonderful to work with. My hand was held every step of the way. The people in my destination country who helped me set up a bank account, utilities, and apartment were highly professional and kind. Anyone embarking on this task should remember the importance of time zones, deadlines, and bureaucratic time frames. Take it step by step. Do not dither, but also do not expect instant responses or results. It is a process that Startabroad understands and will guide you through.
K. A. Bachus
Seattle to Lisbon Visa Process
Anna and her team made the D8 visa process for Portugal so seamless! She answered all the questions I had and was able to get information for my individual case. I really appreciated the additional in-person support from a StartAbroad partner in Portugal to accompany me to my AIMA appointment. I don't think I would've gotten my residency card so quickly if I hadn't had a representative to attend the appointment with me. All in all the whole process took almost a year. From booking my VFS appointment in San Francisco in February to when I got my visa and passport back in May to moving with my cat in June and having my AIMA appointment in October, I received my residency card only two and a half weeks after that appointment. Truly record time!
Kieryn
We engaged Start Abroad to assist us in our move to SPAIN
We engaged Start Abroad to assist us with relocating to Spain by obtaining the non-lucrative visa (NLV) for a family of 3. We worked with Anna who is a wonderfully engaged professional, responsive, knowledgeable and a lovely calming force. Preparing to move to another country is very document intensive and stressful especially for a family, when even more documents are required (as compared to going solo). It takes several months to get things gathered in the specific manner required by each Consulate. Anna was great in calming my nerves and providing reassurance as we prepared for the Boston Consulate NLV appointment and then waited for the decision. 3rd parties cannot assist with obtaining appointments with the Consulate (Boston does not use BLS) but we were able to ask Anna to review any communications and to get practical tips. After our NLV visa approval -Big YEAH-Anna’s assistance continued as she connected us with great “boots on the ground” support within Spain. We were able to secure a lovely apartment to our liking before arrival; open a bank account in Spain before arrival; and we even had our “Padron” appointment scheduled for all 3 of us within a day of our arrival in Spain! We cannot convey how much all of this support and guidance alleviated our anxiety and really made our transition to Spain go so smoothly. Anna and Start Abroad really aided in making our journey here a success!
Kimberly Lawrence
Reduced My Stress & Anxiety INSTANTLY!!
Almost as soon as I started researching moving to Portugal I knew I'd need help! As the owner of 2 small businesses in a niche field, applying for the digital nomad visa felt even more complicated! I had a ton of questions and kept getting conflicting answers. As soon as I had my first consultation with StartAbroad I knew I was in good hands. I especially appreciated how up to date Anna was about the changing landscape of the visa application process! It feels like things are changing every day, and Anna could always shed some much needed light on the situation!With the help of Anna and StartAbroad, we were prepared for our interview (even as people around us were turned away!), and we knew what to expect with the waiting and moving process. A HUGE thank you to Anna and StartAbroad! I would recommend hiring them to anyone starting the visa application process.
Allyson Dykhuizen
We had an excellent experience
We had an excellent experience with the Start Abroad service when moving to Costa Rica. Zach and Pablo were invaluable in helping us before, during and after arriving in country to accomplish all of those logistical things that are difficult when you are unfamiliar with a new place. They are very knowledgeable on everything you might need and were very professional in helping handle all of our issues. I am so happy that I chose to use their service and would highly recommend them to anyone wanting to relocate to Costa Rica.
Keith Krauterbluth
So Glad We Chose StartAbroad!
StartAbroad made our move to Portugal incredibly smooth. From the very beginning, Anna was responsive, knowledgeable, and genuinely supportive. They answered every question we had (no matter how small) and guided us through each step with clarity and confidence. What could have been a stressful process turned into an exciting adventure thanks to their help. Highly recommend to anyone relocating internationally!
Sara Wood
Success with StartAbroad
StartAbroad has been a lifesaver for me throughout this process. The team was knowledgeable, quick to respond to emails, provided relevant process information and clear steps to follow. Working with Anna and Marília (rental search) alleviated a good bit of stress and moments that I felt overwhelmed. StartAbroad is a great service/team to work with and the cost was also very reasonable. They did exactly what they promised!
Takesha Matthews
Five Stars!
From helping us a gather all the documents for our D7 application to helping us find a home, open a bank account, and finally move into our new place in Portugal, Anna and the StartAbroad team delivered truly five-star service. Their expertise gave us complete confidence that everything would work out smoothly—and it did. Thanks to their guidance, we’re now happily settled in Lisbon and enjoying this exciting new chapter of our lives.
Alex LemeThompson
Moving Abroad to Portugal
Zach and Anna helped me to achieve my dream of obtaining a digital nomad visa for Portugal. Anna provided gentle guidance, detailed outline of the steps for applying, continuous support and responsiveness. The process was so much less stressful with their knowledge and support. They also connected me with a wonderful Portuguese tax lawyer and a lovely realtor. Soon I will be moving to Portugal, all thanks to Zach and Anna.I would not hesitate to use their services.
Beryl Johnson
Exceptional Guidance
I had an amazing experience with StartAbroad while applying for permanent residency in Portugal. Anna was incredibly professional and supportive, always present throughout the process, answering all my questions, and guiding me step by step. My visa was approved very quickly, and their help made a huge difference. An international move involves so much to organize, and StartAbroad truly made everything easier. Definitely worth investing in their services!
Nathalia Jatoba
Outstanding Support for Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa
I had an incredible experience with Start Abroad while applying for my Costa Rica digital nomad visa. The immigration site was having technical issues and wasn’t processing applications properly, but Zach and his team stepped in and guided me through every step of the process.They were professional, responsive, and truly went above and beyond. A special shoutout to Pablo, their amazing translator, who made the in-person visits seamless and stress-free.I can’t recommend Start Abroad enough — if you’re considering applying for a visa in Costa Rica, this is the team you want by your side!
Justin Plute
Anna and the StartAbroad team are…
Anna and the StartAbroad team are superb. I chose the Get-to-Portugal package and it was indeed a streamlined process as marketed. From the initial consultation with Zach to the first step into my Porto apartment, the StartAbroad team made my move to Portugal a wonderful experience. Anna was extremely professional and supportive throughout my D7 visa application process. She provided clear guidance and responded promptly to my numerous emails. When I encountered a minor hiccup along the way, Anna was quick with a solution. The team helped me to secure the D7 visa, NIF, bank account, and an apartment before I arrived in Porto. RE agent Declan Oecguera was very thoughtful and helpful in the rental search. The StartAbroad team has my utmost respect for their expertise, efficiency, and professionalism. Muito obrigada Anna and Declan!!!
Evelyn Idoko
Knowledgable and trustworthy
We're giving a high rating because we're very happy with the home and neighborhood that Start Abroad helped us find. That said, the process didn't exactly work out how we expected, perhaps due to misunderstandings on both sides. We had hoped Start Abroad would help us find a home to rent *before* moving to Costa Rica, but walkability was one of our highest priorities, and we weren't given enough information about the location/surroundings of each listing to select a home. Since most expats plan to buy a car here, this probably won't be an issue for most people.When we mentioned our disappointment to the Start Abroad team, they offered to give us a full refund, which we appreciated. But we decided to stick it out with the Start Abroad team, and we are glad we did! Within a few days of us landing in Costa Rica, they showed us four or so houses, including one that was absolutely perfect for us. They also helped us with the contract, deposits, and coordinating with the homeowner. The team is very knowledgable and trustworthy, and we've already recommended them to other recent arrivals to CR. Thank you, Zach and Pablo!
Sarah
StartAbroad Concierge Service is Amazing
We cannot thank Anna and the StartAbroad team enough for making our move to Portugal seamless.Their Concierge Client Service helped us find a residence, set up utilities, set up health insurance, transport our dog, set up our Portuguese mobile service and so much more. We walked off the plane in Portugal and StartAbroad had a driver waiting to take us to our new home. StartAbroad saved us so much time and headache. We could not have made this move without their assistance. THANK YOU STARTABROAD!
Roger
StartAbroad-don't leave home without them
From the first Teams chat to getting our D7 Visas approved, including helping us with documentation, setting up bank accounts, consulting with tax and insurance professionals and helping us find housing, Anna and the StartAbroad team have made our move to Portugal so much easier.While the steps to getting a D7 visa may not look difficult at first glance, we would have been overwhelmed without the expertise provided by Anna as well as Kylie Adamec, who guided our housing search. Working with skilled, friendly and encouraging people makes an enormous difference. StartAbroad rocks!
David Harry, Jan Matthews
StartAbroad was an incredible help with…
StartAbroad was an incredible help with my move to Costa Rica. They guided me through both getting a car and securing my digital nomad visa. I would have been completely lost without them, as neither process is straightforward for someone coming from the U.S. and unfamiliar with how things work in Costa Rica. They are friendly, professional, and completely trustworthy. I recommend them without hesitation.
Quintin Anderson
