Global Residence: reviews & investigation
A Moscow agency promising EU residency and Mexican citizenship in two months. Their LLC was registered in 2023. They claim seven-plus years of experience. Their authorized capital is 15,000 rubles (roughly $170). Something doesn't add up, and this investigation explains exactly what.
Who is Global Residence and what do they actually do
Services: Residency permits and citizenship in EU countries (Portugal, Slovenia, Croatia, Greece, Romania) and Mexico. Also offers visa D7, Digital Nomad visas, and bank account opening assistance.
Location: Moscow, Prospekt Mira 150, office 0522 (Hotel Cosmos VDNH). No confirmed offices outside Russia.
Founded: The LLC behind the brand was registered in 2023. The website claims 7+ years of experience. Those two facts don't match.
Staff: 1 employee on record (as of 2023-2024).
Legal entity: LLC "Vizovye Resheniya" (INN 9717148053, OGRN 1237700793087). The brand name "Global Residence" is not a separate registered entity.
Contact: +7 993 292-55-05, +7 995 151-53-68
Email: [email protected] (public Gmail, not a corporate domain)
Websites: global-residence.ru, globalresidence.ru
Pricing: Not published. Sent on request only. Reportedly starts from around €3,000 for basic services.
Key fact: The company operates through LLC "Vizovye Resheniya" with authorized capital of 15,000 rubles (approximately $170). For a firm handling applications tied to five- and six-figure investments, that's a number worth knowing before you wire any money.
Trust Score: 1.14 / 5
Based on 1.14/5 from verified data points. The indicator sits in the "Risky" zone, close to the left edge.
What we actually found: the full picture
The experience claim that doesn't hold up
The Global Residence website states "7+ years of experience" and "350+ happy clients with a 97% approval rate." Those are specific, confident numbers. So let's check them.
The legal entity behind the brand, LLC "Vizovye Resheniya," was registered in 2023. The main domain global-residence.ru was reportedly registered in 2024-2025. The site itself was built on Tilda (a website builder), and the copyright footer previously showed "2023" to make the project look older than it is. A company registered fewer than three years ago cannot honestly claim seven years of experience unless it's counting someone else's work history. And counting someone else's history without naming them is not transparency.
And the 350 happy clients? We searched Trustpilot, Google Reviews, Otzovik, Irecommend, migrating.pro, and Glassdoor. Zero independent reviews. Every positive comment we found lives on Global Residence's own website, unverifiable.
Mexico citizenship in 2 months: is it real
Global Residence advertises Mexican citizenship in two months, without residency and without a language exam, from €50,000. This is the most alarming claim in their entire offering.
Under Mexican law, naturalization typically requires five years of legal residency. Certain categories (marriage to a Mexican citizen, for example) reduce that to two years. There is no legal program that grants Mexican citizenship in two months to foreign investors without residency. None. The Mexican government doesn't offer it. No other legitimate agency offers it, because it doesn't exist.
When a company promises something legally impossible, there are only two explanations. Either they misunderstand the process entirely. Or they're offering something that works outside legal channels. Both scenarios are bad for you as the client. The first means you pay and get nothing. The second means you pay and potentially get fraudulent documents, which can result in deportation and a permanent bar from the country.
The affiliated sites problem
During our research, we found two additional domains connected to Global Residence.
The first is globalresidenceinvest.com, a site with identical design and the same testimonials as the main site. It appears to be a clone, possibly used to capture additional search traffic or present as a separate entity.
The second is more interesting: globalresidenceindex.com, registered November 2015 with NameCheap. This site presents itself as an "independent international analytics platform" that ranks immigration agencies. And, remarkably, Global Residence scores near the top. The site exists specifically to create the appearance of third-party validation. That's not market analysis. That's reputation manufacturing.
Who's behind Global Residence: checking the paperwork
The brand "Global Residence" is not registered as a legal entity anywhere in Russia. Services are delivered under LLC "Vizovye Resheniya" (Russian: ООО «Визовые Решения»).
INN (Tax ID): 9717148053 (check in Russia's EGRUL state registry)
OGRN (Registration number): 1237700793087
Director: Mikhail Yurievich Serkov
Registered: 2023 (exact date varies by source: March 24 or November 17, 2023)
Authorized capital: 15,000 rubles (~$170)
Staff on record: 1 employee (2023-2024)
Licenses: None found from Russian MIA or any foreign migration authority
None of the above appears on the Global Residence website. You'd have to know to look it up yourself, which most people don't.
Domain global-residence.ru: Owner hidden (private registration). WHOIS check | Web Archive
Private domain registration is legal and common. But a firm that charges thousands of euros for immigration help and simultaneously hides who owns its website creates a question you should answer before signing anything: why?
We also found that office 0522 at Prospekt Mira 150 is shared with another company, First Visa Center (google maps), suggesting this is a serviced or coworking-style space rather than a dedicated firm office. That's not necessarily disqualifying, but it matters when assessing the operation's scale and permanence.
Check the company yourself: BBB search | Trustpilot | Scamadviser
Global Residence risk analysis: 5 things to know before you pay
| Area | Risk | What we found | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | high | No prices on the website. Fees sent only on request in PDF format. Research suggests costs start around €3,000 for basic guidance, separate from any investment required by the program. | You won't know the real total cost until after you've engaged. Hidden add-ons at later stages are a common pattern in this type of agency. |
| Contract | high | Contract language frames services as "consultation" and "information support." This removes the agency's liability if the government denies your application. | If a foreign authority rejects your application, the contract may give you no legal basis to recover your payment. Read every line before signing. |
| Timelines | high | Claims include: Mexico citizenship in 2 months, EU residency in 6 months. Official government procedures for the same programs take 12-24+ months in practice. The Spanish golden visa closed in April 2025. Greece hasn't issued golden visas to Russian nationals since 2022. | Advertised timelines are not realistic under current law. You risk paying for a service that cannot deliver what's promised on the stated schedule. |
| Risks | high | No government licenses found. LLC registered 2023, claims 7+ years. Domain owner hidden. Created a fake "international ranking" site. Authorized capital of $170. Shares office with another brand. | Limited financial accountability. If this entity dissolves or doesn't deliver, your legal recourse against a $170 LLC in Russian courts is expensive and uncertain. |
| Refunds | high | Refund policy is not published on the website. No publicly available contract template. No information on what happens financially if an application is denied. | Recovering funds after a failed application will likely require independent legal action. Don't assume you'll get your money back. |
Global Residence: red flags and green lights
| ✅ | Not in scam databases. Searches across baxov.net, plohotron.online, moshennik.eu, and telltrue.net returned no direct fraud verdicts for the brand or the LLC. |
| ✅ | No court cases found. No open lawsuits or criminal proceedings tied to "Global Residence" or "Vizovye Resheniya" appeared in publicly available records. |
| ✅ | Multiple contact channels. The company provides two phone numbers, a Telegram channel, and an email address. Reaching someone is at least theoretically possible. |
| ⚠️ | Shared office space. Office 0522 at Prospekt Mira 150 is used by at least two brands simultaneously: Global Residence and First Visa Center. The relationship between them is unclear, though they likely share management or ownership. |
| ⚠️ | Pricing is hidden. Fees are only sent on request by PDF. No pricing page exists. This makes it impossible to comparison-shop or spot hidden charges before you're already in a conversation. |
| ⚠️ | Contract language limits liability. The described service model ("consultation," "information support") is structured to avoid accountability for government decisions. This is legal, but it's not in your favor. |
| ⚠️ | Gmail address. A firm that charges thousands of euros per case and claims seven-plus years in business uses a public Gmail address ([email protected]) rather than a corporate domain. It's a small thing. It's also a choice. |
| ❌ | Experience claim is false. The website claims 7+ years of experience. The LLC behind it was registered in 2023 and is fewer than three years old. This is a direct, verifiable misrepresentation. |
| ❌ | Mexico citizenship in 2 months is legally impossible. No such program exists under Mexican law. Promising it signals either total ignorance of immigration law or something far worse. |
| ❌ | Domain owner hidden. The owner of global-residence.ru uses private registration. For a firm handling highly personal documents and large sums, anonymous ownership raises a clear accountability question. |
| ❌ | INN and OGRN not disclosed on website. The legal entity's identity is concealed from visitors. You have to research it yourself to even know who you're dealing with. |
| ❌ | Fake international ranking site. globalresidenceindex.com presents as an independent analytics platform but exists to generate favorable rankings for Global Residence. This is active reputation manipulation. |
| ❌ | Zero independent reviews. With 350+ claimed clients, there is not a single verifiable review on Trustpilot, Google, Otzovik, Irecommend, or any other independent platform. |
| ❌ | No licenses from any government. No accreditation from Russian MIA for overseas employment placement, no confirmed status as a licensed immigration attorney or representative in any target country. |
Global Residence vs alternatives: what you're actually choosing between
The highlighted column is the company under review. best worst mixed
| Parameter | Global Residence ★ | Henley & Partners | DIY (lawyer in target country) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price transparency | Hidden. PDF on request only. worst | Published fee schedules available. best | Varies by attorney. Most post hourly or flat rates. mixed |
| Timeline claims vs. reality | 2 months for Mexico citizenship (impossible). worst | Published realistic timelines matching government schedules. | Attorney sets realistic expectations per official procedure. accurate |
| Government licenses | None found. worst | Licensed in 35+ jurisdictions. best | Local bar-registered attorneys. Legally accountable. |
| Global offices | Moscow only (1 shared office). | 35+ offices across Europe, Americas, Asia. | Attorney in the target country. One location, right country. |
| Independent reviews | Zero on any major platform. worst | Thousands of reviews on Trustpilot and Google. best | Varies. Check Avvo, Google, bar association records. mixed |
| Refund policy | Not published anywhere. | Formally documented in engagement letters. | Depends on the attorney. Ask before you sign. |
| Authorized capital / financial standing | 15,000 RUB (~$170). worst | Established firm, decades of operations. best | Varies. A solo attorney carries personal liability in most jurisdictions. |
What to check before you pay Global Residence anything
- Legal entity: Request the full name, INN, and OGRN of the company you're signing with. Confirm in Russia's EGRUL registry (egrul.nalog.ru) that it matches LLC "Vizovye Resheniya," INN 9717148053. If they give you a different entity, stop.
- Contract scope: Read whether the subject matter is "obtaining residency or citizenship" or "information and consultation services." The second version means they owe you nothing if the government says no. Don't sign the second version.
- Refund terms: Get explicit, written terms covering what happens if your application is denied. Vague language like "we work until we get results" is not the same as a refund clause.
- Timeline commitments: Ask for any promised timelines in writing. If they promise Mexico citizenship in 2 months, ask them to put it in the contract with a financial penalty for missing it. Watch what happens next.
- Licenses: Ask them to show proof of accreditation or licensing in the target country. A legitimate immigration firm operating in Portugal, for example, can show you their registration with Portuguese authorities or their lawyer's bar credentials.
- Office visit: Visit Prospekt Mira 150, office 0522 before paying. Confirm it's a real operation with real staff, not a shared desk rented by the hour.
- Payment method: Pay only to the LLC's official bank account. Get an official receipt (kassa chek or bank transfer confirmation). Never pay to an individual's personal card.
- References: Ask for two or three previous clients who completed the full process and are willing to speak with you. If none are available, that tells you something.
Frequently asked questions about Global Residence
Is Global Residence a legitimate company?
The company operates through LLC "Vizovye Resheniya" (INN 9717148053), registered in Russia in 2023. The brand itself has no separate legal registration. No government licenses were found. Several claims on the website, including seven-plus years of experience and Mexican citizenship in two months, don't hold up against publicly available data. That doesn't automatically mean fraud, but it does mean you should verify everything before paying.
Can you really get Mexican citizenship in 2 months through Global Residence?
No. Mexican naturalization by law requires five years of legal residency in most cases, two years for certain specific categories. There is no investor program that bypasses residency requirements entirely. A promise of citizenship in two months without residency, without a language exam, is not a legal immigration pathway. Agreeing to it risks receiving fraudulent documents, which is a criminal matter in Mexico and can result in deportation and a permanent ban from the country.
What does Global Residence actually charge for its services?
Global Residence doesn't publish its fees. You have to request a price list, which they send in PDF format. Available research suggests agency fees start from roughly €3,000 for basic case management, separate from any investment the underlying government program requires. The actual total cost of investment plus fees can run well into six figures depending on the program.
Is the "7+ years of experience" claim accurate?
Almost certainly not. LLC "Vizovye Resheniya," the legal entity behind Global Residence, was registered in 2023. The main domain global-residence.ru reportedly went live in 2024-2025. That's fewer than three years of operation. Using a copyright footer year or an unrelated predecessor's experience to inflate a track record is a known tactic among newer agencies. The math simply doesn't work.
Are there any independent reviews of Global Residence anywhere?
None were found. We searched Trustpilot, Google Reviews, Otzovik, Irecommend, migrating.pro, and Glassdoor. Every positive comment exists only on Global Residence's own Tilda-built website. A company that claims 350+ successful clients with a 97% approval rate should generate at least some organic feedback somewhere. The complete absence of independent reviews is a significant concern.
What legal entity is behind Global Residence, and why doesn't the website say so?
The operating entity is LLC "Vizovye Resheniya" (INN 9717148053, OGRN 1237700793087), directed by Mikhail Yurievich Serkov. Authorized capital: 15,000 rubles. Staff: 1 employee as of 2023-2024. None of this appears on the Global Residence website. Why? There's no stated reason. But transparency about legal identity is a basic standard in professional immigration services, and it's missing here.
Where can I leave a review about Global Residence?
You can read existing user feedback and submit your own review at proverj.com and at migration.us.com. If you've worked with this agency, your first-hand account helps other people make a more informed decision before they commit money to a process that could take years and cost tens of thousands of euros.
Expert verdict on Global Residence
I've been in the immigration business since 2011, first as someone who went through the process myself, then as the person building infrastructure for others to do the same. I've seen hundreds of agencies across the former Soviet Union. Global Residence fits a recognizable pattern.
The authorized capital is 15,000 rubles. That's $170. If you wire this firm €10,000 and they don't deliver, you're pursuing a legal claim against a $170 company in Russian courts. That's not a theoretical scenario. That's what recoveries look like in this space.
What concerns me most is the Mexico offer. Two months, no residency requirement, no exam. I've spent years watching people get burned by exactly these promises. The client either gets nothing, or gets documents that look real but aren't, and then gets caught at a border. That second outcome is far worse than losing money. It can mean deportation, a criminal record in Mexico, and a permanent bar from reentering.
The "7+ years experience" claim is simply false based on what's in the public record. The LLC is not three years old. Someone decided the real number wasn't impressive enough and wrote a better one. That's not a communication error. That's a choice about honesty.
On the positive side: no scam database has listed them, and no court cases turned up. That's real. But absence of complaints can mean two things. Either the company is fine, or the complaints haven't arrived yet because the process takes 12-24 months and clients haven't hit the wall yet.
My recommendation is straightforward. If you want EU residency, hire a licensed attorney in the target country, not a Moscow middleman with a Gmail address and a Tilda website. The attorney costs more per hour, but they have bar credentials, malpractice exposure, and actual accountability. That's worth the difference. And if someone promises you Mexican citizenship in two months, walk away. The offer doesn't exist in the real world.
Don't get burned on an immigration promise
Marketing copy and impossible timelines don't tell you what actually happens after you pay. Real client accounts do. Read them before you commit.
Read real reviews about Global Residence