Is your issue with GCS or the lawyers they referred you two. Not saying that GCS doesnāt have its issues (Iāve been with them since 2021 when we first started looking at the Real Estate investment) but weāve mostly worked with the lawyers they referred us to (adcecija.pt ) for the paperwork (including the property purchase) related to the GV, and at this point, any GV paperwork issues is really a legal issue for the lawyers and not a GCS issues. GCS was mostly about getting things started (attorney referral, finding the purchase, opening bank account from abroad, NIF) and to be there to ask questions/get updates on more general GV issues. Could I have done those things without GCS? Probably. But I wouldnāt have known where to start. If I have problems on the actual GV immigration issues, thatās more an issue with the law firm and less with GCS (though then I guess Iād blame them for referring me to the law firm?)
In my case it was GCSā handling of the SEF process itself - filing for the GV, providing documents, handling biometrics and family reunification, etc. The core immigration stuff they were supposed to be handling 
Thatās interesting because the lawyers at the firm I mentioned handled the actual filing of the GV application and providing documents, not GCS directly. We havenāt gotten to biometrics or family reunification (we applied in August 2022) yet, but again, I would have thought that was a lawyer thing and not a GCS thing. Unless GCS is directing the activity of the lawyers, which I think would be odd. Maybe they changed the procedure between when you started with them and when I did. Sounds like they kept things more inhouse and then changed their process to contracting out to law firms?
Not sure! Our lawyers at least were direct GCS employees working out of their office in Lisbon.
I am a Henley Client. They seem okish. A bit expensive. They were a bit too inefficient but nothing too crazy. My biggest complaint would be that they did mislead us a bit about the processing times. The proposal they sent us had pre approval marked as no more than 3 months.
@sj-to-pt Now that you have switched from GCS to a law firm in Portugal, do you see any value in using an agency like GCS, Henley, etc? @tommigun mentioned this too. Find a good Portuguese law firm familiar with the GV process and skip the agency? Sounds like it would save on money and time. Anyone else have comments about this?
You simply donāt need an extra agency layer on top of the law firm for PT GV. Unless it is a real estate agency that is 
but theyād go in parallel not on top of each other.
Yea I agree with Tommi, the actual GV firms add very little value. Real attorneys can likely handhold you through it. Thomas has already done a lot of the hard work on NomadGate here anyway with listing the investment funds (List of all investment funds qualifying for the Portuguese Golden Visa 2025). With that and a (regular) attorney you are probably fine.
Edit: But @Jean.L if you are contemplating starting a GV now, do be aware itās taking upwards of 3.5 years from application date to actually get the residency card. So if you want to move to Portugal anytime soon there are better visa options available to you (D7, D8).
Well, if the new GVer is prepared to file lawsuits at every stage of the process, they can possibly accomplish their journey to the first card in 1-1.5 years? 
@barbiego - would you mind giving an update on how your experience is going with your process with the Get Golden Visa team as Iām currently interview them. Thx!!
Thank you very much for your post. I equally would appreciate the name of the legal firm that you switched to that has provided better benefit. Thx!!
Thank you for your post as it appears we are on a similar path but I may be a few months behind you. Would you mind sharing what you have learned thus far as to what routes/ firms that you have decided upon. Thx!!
Great discussions!
I was wondering if folks have other law firm recommendations. Thinking about just hiring a law firm without an agency.
Here you can see some of the Portuguese law firms our community members have recommended before.
Hi Dean - Iām considering applying for the Portuguese Golden Visa and am considering GCS. If you donāt mind sharing, can you please let me know if you would recommend them based on your experience over the last 2 years? Thank you!
Hi Courtney - I am looking into the Golden Visa process. If you donāt mind sharing, can you please let me how has your experience been with GCS and if you would recommend them? Thank you!
Hi. Theyāve been fine. Not amazing, just fine. Iāve had to follow up with them a lot, but they have always replied promptly when Iāve reached out. They donāt really update if there is no new information to give you. And when Iāve been in Lisbon, theyāve always been able to meet me in person. I did a real estate investment, which, of course, is no longer available, so I donāt know how they are with respect to other types of GV investments. However, I hope they have been forthright with you about how long things are taking. My familyās applications were submitted in August of 2022, and it still hasnāt gotten pre-approval. We havenāt done a lawsuit yet, though GCS says they have have been successful in that arena.
Thank you so much. Appreciate the feedback.
There is a full reddit feed on this if you search btw! It is not that positiveā¦
Thanks. Will take a look.