Zoark helps U.S. citizens secure Portugal residency through the Golden Visa program, offering expert legal, tax, and wealth protection services with discreet, personalized support from investment to approval.
TEAM — LICENSED & U.S.–FOCUSED
Your U.S.–Portugal Golden Visa Team
Zoark coordinates attorney-led residency filings and U.S.–compliant IRA/401(k)/trust workflows for Portugal’s fund route—clear steps, documented SLAs, and coordination with your existing advisers.
✔️ Portuguese immigration counsel Case strategy, filings, and representation through biometrics and renewals.U.S. tax coordination Processes aligned with IRS rules, FATCA and FBAR reporting; we collaborate with your CPA.
✔️ Investment & custody workflows Rollover and custody setup for IRA, 401(k), and trust structures that participate in eligible funds.
From first eligibility check to residence card, we run one coordinated process so you can move forward confidently.
Zoark was founded by Dean and Ana Fankhauser—global citizens who have lived, invested, and raised a family across Europe’s most coveted destinations.
Their personal journey navigating the complexities of cross-border residency, wealth protection, and relocation has given them a unique, inside-out understanding of what truly matters to discerning clients.
From securing second citizenship in Portugal and structuring investment residency in Spain to establishing a base in London, Amsterdam, and beyond, Dean and Ana have built their lives in the same places their clients aspire to call home. This firsthand expertise fuels Zoark’s mission to deliver private banking-level service and sophisticated, seamless solutions for investors, entrepreneurs, and global families pursuing second citizenship, wealth security, and total international freedom.
Today, Zoark specializes in designing bespoke relocation experiences and investment migration strategies—blending discretion, trust, and uncompromising attention to detail for a clientele who expect nothing less.
Operating Globally — Europe, the Middle East, the Americas, and Beyond
Zoark delivers private client expertise and on-the-ground support in the world’s most sought-after destinations—from Europe’s golden visa capitals to emerging hubs across the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas.
Our global network of advisors and local partners ensures seamless service and insider access, wherever your ambitions take you.
Whether you’re seeking citizenship, residency, investment migration, or wealth protection, we combine international reach with personalized, concierge-level support.
Unlock borderless opportunity with the only partner you’ll ever need for second citizenship and global mobility.
A single, coordinated process for Portugal’s fund route—attorney-led filings, U.S. tax-aware workflows, and documentation first.
Dimension
Zoark
Typical Immigration Firm
General Practice Law Firm
Core Focus
Portugal fund-route residency for U.S. investors
Multiple visa types; broad audience
General legal services; immigration as one practice
U.S. Compliance
Built around IRS, FATCA & FBAR routines; coordination with your CPA
Limited U.S.-specific processes
Outside scope
IRA/401(k)/Trust Workflows
Custody & participation workflows aligned to eligible funds
Not offered
Not offered
Advice Boundaries
No recommendations or ratings; fact-only fund coverage & eligibility checks
May provide introductions; approach varies
N/A
Case Handling
Attorney-led filings with documented SLAs
Volume model; variable oversight
Depends on team; immigration not always core
Privacy
Privacy-first handling; NDA on request
Standard intake policies
Standard firm policies
Fees
Transparent, fixed-scope engagement
Mix of flat + add-ons
Primarily hourly billing
Time to file-ready
Typically ~10 business days after complete documents
Varies
Varies
Ongoing Support
Renewals and audit-trail documentation
Limited
Limited
The Zoark Advantage
Fund-Route Specialists for U.S. Clients
End-to-end coordination—from eligibility and documents to filings and renewals—built for American investors.
U.S. Tax-Aware Process
Workflows designed around IRS, FATCA and FBAR requirements; we collaborate with your CPA and counsel.
IRA/401(k)/Trust Participation
Clear custody and subscription steps for qualified accounts and trusts participating in eligible Portuguese funds.
Privacy & Discretion
Confidential handling, clean audit trail, and NDA availability for family offices and HNW families.
Zoark is not an investment, tax, or legal adviser. We do not recommend or rate funds. Information is factual and for eligibility/process only. Timelines depend on client document completeness and government processing, which are outside our control.
FAQ · Portugal Fund-Route Residency
Straight Answers for U.S. Investors
Eligibility, investment mechanics, timelines, tax coordination, and family inclusion—explained without the fluff.
Is Portugal’s “Golden Visa” still available? What changed?
Yes—the program continues via eligible routes (e.g., investment funds, cultural/innovation, job creation). The real-estate route ended. We keep your file aligned with the current decree and implementing rules.
We provide process and eligibility support only—no investment recommendations or ratings.
Minimum investment for the fund route?
Current rules typically require a fund subscription of €500,000+ in qualifying Portuguese funds. Thresholds and categories can change—your engagement includes a current-rules briefing and document list.
What are the practical steps and expected timing?
A standard sequence for U.S. clients:
NIF & bank onboarding
Subscription docs & funding (custody/trust flows if applicable)
Online filing & fees
Biometrics appointment
Residence card issuance
Typical end-to-end is ~6–12 months depending on authority load and document readiness. Government timelines are outside anyone’s control; our job is to keep your file clean and moving.
Can IRA/401(k) or a family trust participate?
Often yes, via compliant custody and subscription workflows that the receiving fund accepts. We coordinate documents with your custodian, trustee and counsel so the investment remains program-eligible.
Will I become a Portuguese tax resident?
The fund-route residency has minimal physical-presence requirements, so many U.S. investors do not trigger Portuguese tax residence. If you plan to relocate, we set your advisors to cover residency, treaty interaction, and elections before arrival.
How does this interact with U.S. taxes and reporting?
You remain a U.S. taxpayer. We coordinate with your CPA on:
PFIC analysis / elections as applicable
FATCA/FBAR and foreign account disclosures
Basis tracking and audit trail for the subscription
We don’t give tax advice—your CPA does. We make sure the paperwork is complete and consistent.
Who in my family can I include?
Typically: spouse/partner, dependent children (including adult students), and in some cases dependent parents. Evidence of dependency and civil status is required—we prepare the proofs and translations.
Do I need Portuguese language now? What about citizenship later?
No language test is required for residency. For a later citizenship application, plan for A2 Portuguese and meeting the residency/time requirements in force at that time.
What are the major risks or ways files get delayed?
Most delays come from incomplete KYC, bank onboarding bottlenecks, or mismatched subscription documents. Our checklists, pre-clearance and naming conventions reduce rejections and resubmits.
What exactly does Zoark do—and not do?
We manage eligibility, documentation, filings and coordination among bank, custodian, fund admin and counsel. We do not provide investment, legal or tax advice, and we do not rate or recommend funds.
Information above is general, not advice. Program rules and thresholds can change; your engagement includes a current-rules briefing and document list.
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