Portugal’s Judicial Police (PJ) have arrested a 58-year-old lawyer in Odivelas on suspicion of embezzling approximately €1.2 million from foreign clients.
The suspect allegedly diverted funds from overseas bank accounts, claiming the money was necessary to expedite the processing of Golden Visa applications.
The fraud scheme operated between 2023 and 2026, with the attorney exploiting the trust of investors seeking Portuguese residency through the country’s investment visa program.
According to reports, the lawyer accessed clients’ foreign bank accounts under the pretext of streamlining bureaucratic procedures, a common pain point for applicants navigating the Golden Visa system.
This case highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in the third-party service ecosystem surrounding Portugal’s residency-by-investment scheme.
While the Golden Visa program remains a key driver of foreign direct investment, incidents of fraud by intermediaries pose reputational risks and could prompt tighter regulatory oversight of legal and consulting firms handling applicant funds.