Vlad Shifter
Founder
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Our 99.2% Success Rate: The Methodology Behind the Number
Every immigration firm quotes a success rate. Almost none explain how it is calculated. Here is exactly what our 99.2% means: which cases count, over what period, broken down by country, with the caveats stated plainly.
- 7,000+ cases handled
- 99.2% completed-case rate (2022-2026)
- 30+ nationalities served
- Free re-file on direct cases (PT, ES, FR, IT)
- 7,000+ cases handled
- 99.2% completed-case rate
- 30+ nationalities served
- Free re-file on direct cases (PT, ES, FR, IT)
Why this page exists
The immigration market has a transparency problem. Competitors publish figures like 99%, 98%, or "high success" with no definition attached: no sample size, no time window, no statement of what counts as a success. A number with no method behind it is marketing, not evidence.
We take the opposite position. This page is the full accounting of our 99.2% figure so you can judge it yourself before you pay for anything.
What a "completed-case success rate" means
Our 99.2% is a completed-case rate, not an application-submitted rate. The distinction matters.
A case is completed when the relevant authority (consulate, immigration service, or endorsing body) issues a final decision on it. We measure the share of those completed cases that ended in an approved visa or residence permit.
- Numerator: completed cases that received an approved visa or residence permit.
- Denominator: all cases that reached a final authority decision in the measurement window.
- Window: cases with a final decision between 2022 and 2026.
We report the completed-case rate because it reflects the only outcome you care about: did the authority say yes.
Completed-case rate for the routes we file directly
| Completed-case rate | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Portugal | 98.4% | Largest case volume; D2, D3, D7, D8 routes |
| Italy | 96% | Digital nomad and elective-residence routes |
| Germany | 100% | Smaller sample; Blue Card and related routes via licensed partner EOR |
| Blended (all direct routes) | 99.2% | 2022-2026 completed cases |
Germany's 100% sits on a smaller case count than Portugal's, so we show the country figures rather than hide them inside the blended number. A high rate on a small sample is worth less than a high rate on a large one, and you deserve to see which is which.
What does not count in the number
Cases still in progress
Anything without a final authority decision is not in the numerator or the denominator yet.
Cases the client withdrew
Withdrawn before a decision, for a change of plans or a cancelled relocation.
Incomplete client document sets
Cases where the client did not complete their own document requirements despite reminders.
Investment and Golden Visa programs
These run through separate partners and are not part of this completed-case pool.
Partner-jurisdiction routes
Germany EOR aside, plus UK and US, which follow their own provider processes.
Excluding in-progress and withdrawn cases is standard; stating it out loud is not. We do.
What happens if a case is refused
No consultancy can promise a visa outcome, and we never will: guaranteed approval does not exist in immigration. What we can control is what happens next if an authority says no.
1. We review the refusal at no extra fee
We review the refusal grounds with you and your case manager at no extra fee.
2. We prepare a free appeal where it fits
Where an appeal is the right move, we prepare the free appeal.
3. Or one free re-file where it fits
Where a fresh submission is the right move, we prepare one free re-file, on the condition that your original document set was complete and provided on time.
Our refusal policy, for cases we file directly
The steps above apply to cases Relovisa files directly: Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy. This is a concrete, written commitment. None of the eight global competitors we benchmarked publishes a refusal policy at all. Where this policy does not apply: Golden Visa and investment programs (separate partners); and Germany, United Kingdom, and United States routes (partner jurisdictions with their own provider terms).
How we compare to the rest of the market
Three things set this number apart from the rest of the industry.
- It has a definition. Completed cases, final decisions, a stated 2022-2026 window.
- It is broken down by country, not hidden inside one blended figure.
- It is paired with a written refusal policy, so the number is not the end of the conversation.
We would rather show you a defensible 99.2% with the method attached than an undefined 99% you have no way to check.
Let your personal case manager and lawyer handle all the paperwork
No more dealing with bureaucracy — we take care of every detail.
1. Understand Your Immigration Options
During a consultation, our expert evaluates your profile and outlines pathways, helping you make an informed decision.
2. Tailored Strategy for Approval
Lawyer analyzes your case, identifies challenges, and creates a step-by-step roadmap to maximize success.
3. Complete Document Preparation
With minimal input from you, we handle certificates, translations, and applications.
4. Smooth Application Process
Your manager schedules appointments, ensures compliance, communicates with authorities, and tracks progress.
5. Bureaucratic Tasks Solved
We handle finding housing, tax registrations, and residence permits, eliminating paperwork stress.
See how the policy applies to your case
Bring your situation to a paid consultation (€40). We will tell you honestly whether your case fits a route we file directly, what the realistic path looks like, and how our refusal policy would apply to you.
About “Relovisa Advisors”
Relovisa is a premium full-service immigration consultancy (HQ Portugal, "Made in Portugal"). It is not a law firm: it works with licensed immigration lawyers and tax advisors per jurisdiction. Relovisa delivers EU/UK/US residency and citizenship to founders, skilled professionals, investors, and remote workers, handling the paperwork end-to-end. Distinctive: its own Portuguese EOR/payroll entity, packaged with the Portugal D3 and Spain DNV routes, plus deep specialist depth on the France Talent (Passeport Talent) innovative-project route, including DRIEETS dossiers and the no-incubator route with two letters of support.
99.2%
Average success rate
99.2% of clients get their visas and residence permits
7000+
Cases · 30+ countries
Clients across North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the CIS
80+
Experts and lawyers
Professionals from around the world
8 years
Average experience
In immigration law & consulting
Our team, lawyers and partners
Our legal experts and professionals take care of everything — from document preparation to final approval — with 24/7 support, so you don't have to worry about a thing.
Olia Nemirovski
COO
10+ years specialist in client and partner relations, driving innovation through deep customer understanding.
Evgenia
Immigration lawyer
Licensed lawyer with deep knowledge of UK immigration law, she excels as a case manager for Talent Visas with 99.8% success rate.
Vladimir
Immigration consultant
Over three years of project management experience in German work immigration processes.
Daniela
Immigration Lawyer
Her expertise includes legal representation in court proceedings, expedited solutions for delayed residence processes, and all visa programs.
Petra
Immigration consultant
Specializes in D visas: Digital Nomad, D7, D2, D3, etc. She has experience working with various types of income.
Marilia
Immigration Attorney
Lawyer with 4 years experience works with global mobility processes for self-employed individuals through D8, D2, or IT workers through D3/Blue Card.
Thiago
Immigration Attorney
Relocated more than 300 high-qualified professionals to Portugal since 2018. Currently holding 100% success in lawsuits against AIMA (200+).
Vladislav
Tax Advisor
A licensed tax consultant with thousands of cases handled worldwide, from EU countries to Hong Kong and the USA. Specializes in finding solutions in the most unique and challenging situations.
Thomas
Tax Advisor
Thomas specializes in crypto business consultancy, with notable projects including market research for Bit2Me, a major Southern European cryptocurrency exchange.
Reviewed by the Relovisa case-management team, HQ Portugal. Published July 2026. Updated July 2026.
Sources: Internal completed-case records, 2022-2026 , Relovisa refusal policy, decisions log 2026-07-04
FAQs
What exactly is a "completed case"?
A case where the consulate, immigration service, or endorsing body has issued a final decision. Cases still under review are not counted until a decision lands.
Is 99.2% the share of applications approved?
It is the share of completed cases (final decisions) that were approved, over 2022-2026. Cases still in progress are excluded from both the numerator and denominator.
What time period does the figure cover?
Cases with a final authority decision between 2022 and 2026.
Why is Germany at 100%?
Germany's rate sits on a smaller case count than Portugal's. We publish the per-country figures precisely so you can see sample differences rather than trust one blended number.
Do withdrawn or abandoned cases count against the rate?
No. Cases a client withdrew, or where the client did not complete their own document requirements, are excluded rather than counted as failures. We state this so the figure is not quietly inflated.
Are Golden Visa and investment cases in this number?
No. Those run through separate partners and are not part of the completed-case pool behind 99.2%.
Can you guarantee my visa will be approved?
No. No firm can, and any firm that promises guaranteed approval is misleading you. We commit to process quality and to a free appeal or one free re-file on direct cases if a refusal happens.
What is the free re-file policy, precisely?
For cases we file directly (Portugal, Spain, France, Italy): a free appeal where appropriate, or one free re-file, provided your original document set was complete and submitted on time. It does not apply to Golden Visa, investment programs, or the Germany, UK, and US partner routes.
Why don't you just publish one big number like everyone else?
Because a number without a method is not evidence. The country breakdown and exclusions are what make 99.2% checkable.
How can I verify this applies to my case?
Book a consultation. We will tell you whether your route is one we file directly (and therefore covered by the refusal policy) or a partner route with different terms.