Okno.Agency: reviews & investigation
Okno.Agency is a Lisbon-based immigration agency for Russian-speaking clients moving to Portugal. The legal entity is real. But Scamadviser flags the site with a very low trust score, the founder's public biography has a 2017-2018 gap that no one has explained, and the review sites promoting the agency may not be independent. Before you wire EUR 1,000, read what we found.
Who is Okno.Agency and what do they actually do
Main services: Portugal residency permits (D7, D2, Digital Nomad, D8, Golden Visa), NIF registration, bank account opening, real estate search, business registration, full relocation support
Location: Largo Machado de Assis, Lote 2, Porta E, Lisbon 1700-116, Portugal
Founded: Claims 6+ years of experience; the legal entity registered around 2018-2019 (the 12-13 year claim in some marketing materials does not match)
Founder: Andrey Mikhalevych (Andre Mykhalevych), CEO
Phone: +351 936 813 640
Email: [email protected]
Website: okno.agency
Social: YouTube @oknoagency (22,800 subscribers), Telegram @okno_agency (7,758 members)
Key fact: Scamadviser rates okno.agency as a site with a "very low trust score" and "high probability of being problematic." The agency's Google Reviews tell a different story (4.6 from 45 reviews). That gap is worth thinking about before you decide anything.
Trust Score
Based on 1.71/5 from verified data points. Scamadviser warning, founder biography gaps, and suspected affiliated review sites pull the score down significantly.
Who's behind Okno.Agency: checking the paperwork
Legal entity
The registered legal entity is OKNO - DOCUMENTACAO E PRESTACAO DE SERVICOS, LDA (formerly MSIRS - DOCUMENTACAO E PRESTACAO DE SERVICOS, LDA). Portuguese tax number (NIPC): 515122750. Activity code CAE 82100 covers administrative and consulting support, not legal services. Share capital: EUR 250. The company files financial reports regularly with Portuguese authorities, which is a basic sign of operational legitimacy.
The founder also operates as an individual entrepreneur under NIF 278314457. Payments go to both the company and the individual depending on the service. That dual structure is legal in Portugal but can complicate any dispute over refunds.
Domain and web presence
The domain okno.agency went live around 2020-2021, based on available RDAP and archive data. This conflicts with the agency's marketing claim of 12-13 years of experience. The site runs on Cloudflare, which is standard and says nothing about legitimacy on its own.
The review site proverj.com, which first published this company profile, was registered on 2021-04-25 according to RDAP records (registrar: Internet Domain Service BS Corp, expiry: 2033-04-25). Competitors have publicly accused proverj.com and the related site pevizor.com of operating as affiliated review platforms, not independent ones.
Scamadviser signal
Scamadviser gives okno.agency a very low trust rating. See the full Scamadviser report. Automated tools like this use domain age, traffic patterns, backlink profiles, and hosting data. The result here is consistent with the confirmed SEO backlink spam we found: bot-posted links to okno.agency on Japanese blogs, African forums, and other completely unrelated sites. Legitimate businesses don't do this.
Founder background: the 2017-2018 gap
Andrey Mikhalevych publicly states he has lived in Portugal for 13 years. But Russian administrative records from 2017-2018 mention an Andrey Mikhalevych as the head of the Fisheries Agency of Kaliningrad Oblast. If that's the same person, the "13 years in Portugal" timeline doesn't hold. This discrepancy has not been addressed publicly. It could be a different person with the same name, or it could be that the backstory used in marketing has been stretched. Neither option is reassuring when you're considering handing over EUR 1,000.
Check the company on einforma.pt and review the Web Archive history of okno.agency yourself.
Okno.Agency risk analysis: 5 things to know
| Area | Risk | What we found | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | medium | Consultation: EUR 75-150. Full-service package: EUR 5,000 per family. EUR 1,000 advance upfront. Pricing is published on the website. | Translations, apostilles, and future permit renewals are billed separately. Budget EUR 6,000-9,000 for a realistic total on a standard family case. |
| Contract | high | Services registered under CAE 82100, administrative consulting. No legal representation is included. Contract text is not published on the website. | No permit outcome is guaranteed under this structure. Refund terms for the EUR 1,000 advance were not found in any public document. Get both in writing before signing. |
| Timelines | high | AIMA (Portugal's migration authority) processes D7 applications in 4-12 months, longer for D2, Golden Visa, and some nationalities. Agency marketing implies faster results. | No agency controls AIMA's processing queue. Verbal timeline promises aren't enforceable. Ask for written estimates with specific conditions attached. |
| Reputation | high | Scamadviser: very low trust score. Founder biography has a documented 2017-2018 Russian government role that contradicts the "13 years in Portugal" claim. Confirmed SEO backlink spam. Suspected affiliated review sites. | Google Reviews show 4.6 from 45 reviews and Migrating.pro shows 4.9, which suggest real clients with positive outcomes exist. The disconnect between those scores and the Scamadviser rating is unusual and worth investigating independently. |
| Refunds | high | No public refund policy found for the EUR 1,000 advance or the full EUR 5,000 package. The website mentions "force majeure" scenarios but terms remain vague. | Assume no refund unless you negotiate it explicitly into the contract before signing. Don't rely on verbal assurances from a chat window. |
Okno.Agency: red flags and green lights
| ✅ | Registered legal entity. OKNO - DOCUMENTACAO E PRESTACAO DE SERVICOS, LDA (NIPC 515122750) is active and files financial reports with Portuguese authorities. This is a verifiable fact, not a marketing claim. |
| ✅ | Physical office confirmed. The address at Largo Machado de Assis, Lote 2, Porta E, Lisbon 1700-116 is a real location, not a virtual mailbox. This matters when you need someone to show up on your behalf. |
| ✅ | Publicly identified founder. Andrey Mikhalevych maintains an active YouTube channel (@oknoagency, 22,800 subscribers, 1,400+ videos) and a Telegram group (7,758 members). Someone building a long-term content presence is less likely to vanish with your deposit than an anonymous operator. |
| ✅ | Clean legal record in Portugal. No lawsuits, criminal cases, or warnings from Portuguese financial regulators were found in public records. The Ordem dos Advogados also shows no disciplinary action against the company. |
| ⚠ | Consulting contract structure. CAE 82100 means administrative consulting, not legal services. The agency can't legally guarantee a permit outcome, and the contract likely won't include that either. Understand what you're actually buying. |
| ⚠ | EUR 1,000 advance with no public refund policy. The deposit is required before substantial work begins. What happens if AIMA rejects the application or you change your mind after paying? That answer isn't on the website. |
| ⚠ | No AMI real estate license found. Okno.Agency offers to help find and rent property in Lisbon, but a licensed real estate agent credential (AMI number, issued by IMPIC Portugal) was not found in public records. Lawyer services run through third-party partners. |
| ⚠ | Slow communication reported. Clients on IntOtzyvy.com note that manager responses can take until the next day. For a time-sensitive visa process, that matters more than it might seem. |
| ❌ | Founder biography contradiction. The founder claims 13 years of living in Portugal. Russian public records from 2017-2018 list an Andrey Mikhalevych as director of the Fisheries Agency of Kaliningrad Oblast. That's a direct timeline conflict. No public explanation exists. |
| ❌ | Inflated experience claims. Marketing materials reference 12-13 years of experience. The legal entity dates to around 2018-2019. The domain okno.agency went live around 2020-2021. The math doesn't work. |
| ❌ | Suspected affiliated review sites. proverj.com and pevizor.com present themselves as independent review aggregators. Competing agencies have accused both of publishing paid content tied to Okno.Agency. The same editorial team appears to run both sites. proverj.com is where this review was originally published. |
| ❌ | Scamadviser: very low trust score. The platform rates okno.agency as having a high probability of being problematic. Full report at scamadviser.com. The score aligns with the confirmed backlink spam we found. |
| ❌ | Confirmed SEO backlink spam. Links to okno.agency appear in bot-posted comments on Japanese blogs, African forums, and other completely unrelated sites. This is a classic black-hat SEO tactic. No legitimate agency needs it. |
Okno.Agency vs competitors: which gives you more for your money
The highlighted column is the company under review. Legend: best worst mixed
| Parameter | Okno.Agency ★ | Licensed Immigration Lawyer (Portugal) | DIY via AIMA Portal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | EUR 5,000+/family expensive | EUR 2,000-6,000/case | EUR 80-200 (state fees only) cheapest |
| Timelines | 3-12 months (AIMA controls this) | 4-14 months | 6-18 months slowest |
| Legal guarantee | Marketing claims only none | Professional indemnity insurance available best | None |
| Physical office | Lisbon confirmed confirmed | Multiple cities available | Not applicable |
| License type | CAE 82100, consulting only no legal license | Ordem dos Advogados registration licensed | Not applicable |
| Public pricing | Yes, on website transparent | Usually on request only mixed | Yes (AIMA fee schedule) |
What to check before paying Okno.Agency
- Contract: Request the full contract text before transferring the EUR 1,000 advance. Check that it lists specific deliverables with dates, not just "consulting services." If the agent won't share the contract before payment, walk away.
- Refund policy: Ask in writing what percentage of fees returns if you cancel or if AIMA rejects your application. Get the specific conditions in the signed contract, not in a Telegram message that can disappear.
- License check: Ask whether a licensed lawyer registered with the Ordem dos Advogados de Portugal will handle any legal steps in your case. If real estate is involved, request the AMI license number from the person handling your property search.
- Payment stages: Do not pay EUR 5,000 as a lump sum. Negotiate installments tied to specific milestones: appointment booked, documents submitted, visa interview scheduled, card received. Any agency that refuses this is telling you something.
- Founder's biography: If the founder's claimed experience is a selling point for you, ask for documentation. The 2017-2018 Kaliningrad timeline gap hasn't been publicly explained. You're entitled to ask about it directly.
- Independent reviews: Before deciding, read reviews on Google Maps and Migrating.pro. Both show strong ratings (4.6 and 4.9 respectively) from accounts that look real. But treat anything on proverj.com or pevizor.com as potentially partial.
- Total cost estimate: Ask for a written itemized estimate that includes translations, apostilles, state fees, and anticipated renewal costs. The EUR 5,000 headline figure often doesn't reflect what you'll actually spend.
- Communication SLA: Ask who your assigned manager will be and what the response time guarantee is. Clients report next-day replies. For a timed visa process, that can cost you appointments. Get a specific SLA in writing.
Frequently asked questions about Okno.Agency
Is Okno.Agency a scam or a legitimate company?
The legal entity is real. OKNO - DOCUMENTACAO E PRESTACAO DE SERVICOS, LDA (NIPC 515122750) is registered in Portugal and files financial reports. The physical office in Lisbon is confirmed. But Scamadviser rates the site with a very low trust score, the founder's biography has a documented 2017-2018 contradiction, and the review ecosystem around the agency looks potentially orchestrated. It's not a textbook scam, but it has enough red flags that independent verification before paying is non-negotiable.
How much does Okno.Agency charge for Portugal immigration services?
The published rates are: EUR 75 for a standard consultation (30-60 minutes), EUR 150 for a consultation with the founder, EUR 5,000 for the full-service family package. A EUR 1,000 advance is required upfront. Document translations, apostilles, state fees, and future permit renewals are billed separately. Realistic total for a standard family case: EUR 6,000-9,000.
What does the Scamadviser warning about okno.agency mean?
Scamadviser scores sites automatically using signals like domain age, backlink profiles, traffic sources, and hosting reputation. The very low score for okno.agency is consistent with something our investigation also found: confirmed SEO backlink spam, with bot-posted links to the site appearing on Japanese blogs and African forums. That practice triggers automated risk signals. It doesn't prove fraud, but it's not normal behavior for a reputable agency either.
Does Okno.Agency guarantee a Portugal residency permit approval?
No. No immigration agency can legally guarantee a government approval. AIMA (Portugal's migration authority) makes the final decision, and its processing times and approval rates depend on the applicant's specific circumstances, nationality, visa type, and current backlog. Okno.Agency's marketing uses phrases like "100% legality" and "first-time approval," but the contracts are classified as administrative consulting (CAE 82100), which carries no legal guarantee of outcome.
Who is Andrey Mikhalevych and what are his actual qualifications?
Andrey Mikhalevych (Andre Mykhalevych) is the publicly identified founder and CEO. He's active on YouTube (@oknoagency, 22,800 subscribers) and Telegram (@okno_agency, 7,758 members). He claims to have lived in Portugal for 13 years. Russian public records from 2017-2018 list an Andrey Mikhalevych as director of the Fisheries Agency of Kaliningrad Oblast. That's the timeline gap we flagged. Whether it's a different person with the same name or a stretched founding story, it hasn't been addressed publicly.
Where can I read or leave a review about Okno.Agency?
You can read aggregated feedback and leave your own review at proverj.com/okno-agency/. For independent platforms, check Google Maps (4.6 from 45 reviews) and Migrating.pro (4.9). If you've worked with them and want your experience on a neutral platform, visit migration.us.com. And as noted above: treat reviews on proverj.com and pevizor.com with appropriate skepticism given the suspected affiliation.
Expert verdict: Okno.Agency
I've been in the immigration business since 2011. I've watched dozens of agencies rise, some fall, and a few disappear with client money. Okno.Agency doesn't fit neatly into any of those categories, which actually makes it harder to assess than something obviously fraudulent.
The legal entity is real. The Lisbon office is real. The YouTube channel has 22,800 subscribers and over 1,400 videos, which you don't build overnight. And the Google Reviews score of 4.6 from 45 accounts that look genuine suggests real clients had real positive experiences. That's not nothing.
But here's what concerns me. First, the Scamadviser signal. A very low trust score combined with confirmed bot-posted backlink spam isn't a coincidence. Agencies that don't need shortcuts don't take them. Second, the founder biography gap. Russian public records from 2017-2018 show an Andrey Mikhalevych running a government fisheries agency in Kaliningrad. That directly contradicts the "13 years in Portugal" origin story. Maybe it's a different person. But no one has addressed it publicly, and that silence is telling.
Third, and this one is specific to what I know about this corner of the market: the proverj.com and pevizor.com affiliation is a real problem. If the sites reviewing you are also affiliated with you, every score and testimonial on those platforms is suspect. That's not how independent review platforms work.
My practical advice: go ahead and book the EUR 75 consultation. It's a reasonable price to get a real read on what they're offering. But before you hand over the EUR 1,000 advance, have an independent Portuguese lawyer review the contract. Not one recommended by the agency. One you find yourself. Make sure the refund terms are in writing, the deliverables are specific, and the payment milestones are tied to actual outcomes. If the agency objects to any of that, you have your answer.
The low rating here reflects transparency problems and documentation gaps, not necessarily poor service. But in immigration, transparency problems become your problem the moment something goes wrong with your application.
Don't get burned
Marketing copy is easy to write. Client experiences are harder to fake. Read what real people say about Okno.Agency before you commit EUR 1,000 to anything.
Read real reviews about Okno.Agency