Our team of consultants, application specialists, and paralegals brings deep experience across the areas we specialise in. We combine rigorous legal insight with practical, results-driven strategy to protect your interests and deliver the results you deserve.
Started by people who had to work it out themselves
Bureaucracy was born from a real challenge. When co-founder Jasper Akkerman, a Dutch lawyer,
moved to Spain, obtaining his NIE was far more complicated than expected. Frustrated by
unclear, opaque, and overpriced services, he saw the need for a better way.
Together with co-founder Marina Henestrosa, a Spanish migration expert who had navigated
immigration herself in Mexico City, they turned that frustration into a mission: to simplify
immigration with professionalism, transparency, and empathy.
Today, that mission is carried out by a team of specialists dedicated to providing
high-quality, personalised service to every client.
Management team
The people running it
The founders and the managers who lead each side of the business.
Marina Henestrosa
Co-Founder / Public Relations
Originally from Andalusia, Spain, Marina is currently based between Spain and the Netherlands. Having extensive experience working with international clients and expatriates, she understands the emotional and practical challenges that often come with relocating to Spain and navigating immigration processes.Marina experienced the immigration journey firsthand while living in Mexico City for more than five years. During that time, she discovered how important it is to have the right documentation in place in order to fully enjoy a country and truly feel that you belong there. At Bureaucracy International Group, Marina leads Public Relations, ensuring that every client feels supported, informed, and confident throughout their journey. Her approachable personality and deep understanding of Spanish culture and administration help create a more human and personalized experience for clients from all over the world. Fun fact: Marina makes the best Spanish omelette in the world — and amazing chipotle tacos too! She loves connecting with Latin America and learning about different cultures and languages, especially the diversity of the Spanish-speaking world.
Jasper Akkerman
Co-Founder / IT
Originally from the Netherlands, Jasper is currently based between the Netherlands and Spain. Having gone through the relocation journey himself, he understands how exciting but also overwhelming the process of moving to Spain can feel. At Bureaucracy International Group, he focuses on building and improving the systems that make the visa process clearer, smoother, and more transparent for clients and case managers.With a background in Data Science, Computer Science, Law and Automation, he helps turn complex Spanish bureaucracy into a more structured and client-friendly experience. Fun fact: Outside of work, Jasper is improving his Spanish and fully embracing life in Spain, from the sunshine and food to the culture and people. His connection to Spain became even more personal when he married Marina, the other co-owner of Bureaucracy.
Gabriella Mello
Director
Originally from Brazil and currently based between Portugal and Spain, Gabriella has built her career around helping people navigate international mobility and immigration processes with clarity and empathy. Having gone through relocation experiences herself, she understands both the emotional and practical sides of starting life in a new country.Her academic and professional background is in Law, and she is a qualified lawyer with practical experience in both Brazil and across the Iberian Peninsula. Over the years, she has combined her legal expertise with leadership and operational management, focusing strongly on team development, people management, and building client-centered international operations. She currently leads Bureaucracy International Group, overseeing operations, sales, and client experience while supporting the growth of an international and multicultural team. Fun fact: Gabriella is passionate about Spanish cuisine and, whenever she is based in Portugal, she is always on the hunt for a great Spanish restaurant where she can find the perfect tapas.
Marta Lisbona
Digital Strategy Manager
Originally from Malaga, Spain, Marta is currently back in her hometown after spending several years living in Scotland. She knows exactly how stressful relocating can be; she navigated the UK's complex post-Brexit immigration system, and when her family moved back to Spain, she had to tackle the Spanish bureaucracy all over again to sort out her Croatian husband's residency! Marta has been with Bureaucracy for nearly three years, starting hands-on as an Immigration Expert before moving into leadership. Today, she bridges the gap between IT, marketing, and partnerships to ensure the firm's digital tools make the relocation journey as seamless as possible for clients. Fun fact: Between her Spanish roots, her husband's Croatian background, and their daughter being born in Scotland, their home is a lively mix of languages and cuisines—Marta is used to juggling three different cultures before she even has her morning coffee!
Bianca Gaytan Burrell
Operations Manager
Originally from the United States and currently based in Spain, bringing more than 20 years of experience leading multicultural teams, managing complex day-to-day operations, and creating exceptional client experiences across international environments.Having watched her parents navigate the American immigration process in pursuit of the American dream, she’s always felt connected to the immigrant experience. Now, as she builds her own life in Spain, she understands firsthand both the challenges and rewards of starting over in a new country while pursuing her own Spanish dream. With a background in analytics, Bianca takes a thoughtful, data-informed approach to problem-solving — identifying patterns, improving efficiency, and balancing business needs with the human side of operations. Fun fact: Bianca has visited every Disney park in the world. Beyond being a Disney fan, she deeply appreciates the company’s approach to customer experience, innovation, and storytelling.
The wider team
15 specialists on your side
Every application is handled by a named person you can reach — not a ticket queue.
Between them the team has navigated immigration in a dozen countries, most of them
their own.
Legal & Case Management 11
Marcela Gironi
Immigration Advisor
Originally from Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, Marcela has been calling Portugal home since 2015, following a formative period living in Barcelona in 2012. Having navigated the relocation process herself multiple times, she possesses a deep, firsthand understanding of the complexities and emotions involved in moving abroad. Marcela holds a Law degree from Brazil and further specialized her expertise with a Master’s in International Law and International Relations in Lisbon, Portugal.With six years of dedicated experience in Portuguese immigration law before expanding her professional reach into Spain. As a Case Manager, she focuses on providing detail-oriented oversight of client applications, ensuring that every legal requirement is met with precision. Her background allows her to bridge the gap between complex international regulations and the practical needs of our clients. Fun fact: Long before she began navigating the intricacies of immigration law, Marcela spent her time sharing her rhythm and discipline as a tap dance teacher for kids!
Luiza Delgado
Immigration Advisor
Originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Luiza has been living in Porto, Portugal, for the past years. She is a qualified lawyer in both Brazil and Portugal, with extensive experience in the field of migration and international mobility, including working closely with refugees and individuals navigating complex relocation processes.Having gone through the relocation process herself, Luiza understands both the practical and emotional aspects of starting a new life abroad. She is passionate about helping clients navigate immigration processes with clarity, empathy, and attention to detail. Fun fact: Coming from Rio de Janeiro but living in Porto for so many years, Luiza has mastered the art of balancing Brazilian warmth with Portuguese practicality— usually with a coffee and a pastel de nata by the Douro River
Marianna Di Pilla
Immigration Advisor
Originally from Italy and currently based in Spain, Marianna understands firsthand the challenges and excitement that come with relocating abroad. Having experienced international moves herself, she knows how overwhelming immigration processes and Spanish bureaucracy can sometimes feel for clients and their families. Before joining Bureaucracy International Group, she worked as a Global Mobility Consultant in the relocation industry, supporting international clients through corporate mobility and relocation processes. Today, she combines that experience with immigration case management and customer success, helping clients feel informed, supported, and confident throughout their visa journey.Fun fact: Marianna can spend hours planning the perfect trip itinerary… and still somehow end up choosing destinations based entirely on where she wants to eat.
Stéphanie Valencia
Immigration Advisor
Originally from Cali, Colombia — proudly known as the salsa capital of the world — and now based in Barcelona, Spain. Her relocation journey started when she was 19 and moved to France to study, later spending time in Lisbon before eventually making her way back to Barcelona. Having gone through residency and immigration processes herself in both France and Spain, she understands firsthand that moving countries is about much more than paperwork — it’s about building a new life.Her connection to immigration started early while working at a student visa center during university, and since then she´s had the privilege of helping many people turn their dream of living in Spain into reality. Although she studied interior design and art, she brings more than 10 years of experience in client care and communication, which shapes the way she supports people through their journey. Her goal is always to make the visa process feel simpler, less overwhelming, and as human as possible — because behind every application there is a person, a story, and a future. Fun fact: She´s also a pet sitter, so her days can be a mix of immigration paperwork and furry adventures. One of her most memorable work moments was explaining the Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) process to a client while one of the dogs she was sitting suddenly decided to throw up on her leg — a perfect reminder that both immigration and pet sitting require patience, problem-solving, and staying calm under pressure!
Ana Carolina Agudo
Immigration Advisor
Originally from Brazil, where she graduated and worked as a lawyer, and is currently based in Madrid. She moved to Spain after receiving a major scholarship funded by the Spanish government and the UN. Since then what started as an academic experience quickly became something much bigger. She fell in love with Spain, its culture, and the lifestyle here — and decided to stay.She arrived in Spain without speaking Spanish at all, and learned the language in the south of Spain while living in Cádiz — which people jokingly say is one of the hardest Spanish accents to understand! She started working in the immigration field and have since helped many individuals and families relocate to Spain and build their lives here too. Her goal is always to make immigration processes feel clearer, smoother, and less overwhelming for the people going through them. A Fun Fact: Ana loves exploring and spent about 9 full months traveling around the country and exploring as much as possible. She´s participated in countless Spanish festivities — especially in southern Spain — and completely fell in love with the culture, food, traditions, and different regions of the country. Traveling around Spain honestly became one of her biggest passions!
Fátima Murillo
Immigration Advisor
Originally from El Salvador, Fátima moved to Spain to pursue her studies in Law and quickly developed a firsthand understanding of the realities of navigating a new country and its administrative systems.As an Immigration Advisor, she focuses on guiding clients through each stage of the process with precision, attention to detail, and a strong commitment to meeting every legal requirement. At the same time, she believes immigration is never just paperwork. Behind every application, there is a person, a family, and an important life project. Having experienced adapting to a new country herself, she always strives to support clients with empathy, patience, and understanding. Fun fact: when she’s not working, you’ll probably find her carrying her digital camera around, hunting for a new food spot like it’s a serious investigation, or getting unusually excited about supermarkets in foreign countries. She also has a soft spot for aesthetic photography and turning ordinary moments into camera-roll memories.
Vinicius Dornellas Lott
Immigration Advisor
Originally from Brazil and currently based in Barcelona, Spain, Vinicius has built his career around supporting international clients through immigration and relocation processes in Spain. As both a Brazilian and Spanish citizen, and having personally experienced the challenges of adapting to life abroad, he understands both the administrative and emotional aspects involved in starting a new chapter in another country.With an academic background in Law and professional experience as a lawyer in Brazil, he specializes in Spanish immigration procedures, residence permits, and international mobility support. He is currently completing a Master’s degree in Spanish Immigration Law and Citizenship, further strengthening his expertise in the field. His approach combines legal knowledge with empathy and clear communication, helping clients feel supported and confident throughout their relocation journey. Fun fact: Outside of work, Vinicius enjoys fitness training, discovering new restaurants in Barcelona, spending time with his dogs, exploring art and outdoor activities, and being surrounded by friends.
Jéssica Tinoco
Immigration Advisor
Originally from Belo Horizonte, Brazil (a city famous for its incredible food and warm-hearted people) Jéssica is a dual-qualified lawyer in Brazil and Portugal, now writing her next chapter based in Spain. Having lived abroad for over seven years, with chapters in the Netherlands, Turkey, and Portugal, she deeply understands the personal journey of relocating and firmly believes there should be no physical barriers between people. With over a decade of legal experience and years dedicated specifically to immigration law, she brings an empathetic, welcoming, and strategic perspective to guiding clients through their own moves. She is also completing her Master’s in International Law of the Sea. Fun fact: Despite writing her master's thesis trying to find a solution for the delimitation of maritime boundaries between Turkey and Greece, she never learned how to swim growing up in landlocked Belo Horizonte; though she has officially set a goal to conquer the waters before submitting her final thesis!!
Douaa Elamrani
Citizenship Lawyer
Douaa specialises in Spanish citizenship applications, guiding clients through legal requirements and documentation with precision and care.
Fernanda Souza
Immigration Advisor
Originally from Belém do Pará, in northern Brazil, Fernanda is currently based in Lisbon, Portugal. She moved to Lisbon to pursue a master’s degree in artificial intelligence and data protection, an experience that also gave her the opportunity to live in Madrid for two months, discover more about Spanish culture, and fall in love with the country, which she has continued to visit since relocating to Europe. As a lawyer qualified in both Brazil and Portugal who has experienced relocation firsthand, she understands the practical and emotional aspects of starting a new life abroad. She has extensive experience assisting international clients with immigration and relocation matters. Fun fact: Outside work, Fernanda has been trying to improve Spanish over the years, Fernanda loves taking dance classes and drawing, and, as a true native of Pará, her all-time favourite food is açaí.
Giovanna Torres
Client Success Manager
Originally from the US and Mexico, Giovanna is currently based in Madrid. With her bicultural background and personal experience navigating the immigration process herself, she understands both the excitement and the challenges that come with making Spain your new home. She studied at university and began her career working in consular environments, gaining valuable experience in visa and civil registry matters before bringing that knowledge to the client-focused world of immigration services. As a Client Success Manager, Giovanna works closely with clients throughout their immigration journey, helping them navigate what can often be an overwhelming process with clarity, empathy, and a personal touch. What she finds most rewarding is knowing that her work can make a meaningful difference in someone’s life, whether by helping them settle into Spain or simply being there to provide guidance and support when they need it. She is passionate about creating a client experience where people feel genuinely heard, supported, and confident every step of the way. Fun fact: When she isn't helping people navigate Spanish bureaucracy, you can find Giovanna in the outdoors hiking or camping, painting, or probably thrifting at her favorite vintage shops in Madrid!
Sales & Relocation 2
Eleftherios Miliarakis
Immigration Specialist
Originally from Greece (with a first name that fittingly means “freedom”), Eleftherios is currently based in Barcelona. Beyond Spain and Greece, he has also lived in Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, giving him firsthand experience with the challenges and excitement of building a life abroad. Having personally navigated the often complex bureaucratic systems of multiple countries, he deeply understands the complexity and overwhelm that can come with international relocation.With a strong professional background in Customer Experience, helping others has always been at the heart of his career. He transitioned into the immigration field to support people in achieving their dream of living in Spain—without the unnecessary bureaucratic headaches. Known for his empathetic and client-focused approach, he tailors his guidance to each individual’s unique situation, helping make the process as smooth and reassuring as possible. Fun fact: Eleftherios loves art so much that he once had to be politely asked to leave the Picasso Museum at closing time—despite his own drawing skills remaining firmly at kindergarten level. And although years of living around the world have given him a wonderfully mixed cultural identity, he’s still every bit as passionate (and unapologetically loud) as a true Greek!
Sabine Steinberga
Immigration Specialist
Originally from Latvia and currently based in Spain, Sabine has experienced the real meaning of culture shock firsthand — and has never looked back. Having built both her personal and professional life abroad, she understands how exciting, overwhelming, and emotional the relocation journey can be.Her professional background has always been centered around listening to people, understanding their needs, and helping them find the right path forward. Today, she applies that experience to the relocation and immigration process, guiding clients with empathy, clarity, and practical knowledge so they can feel more confident about starting their new life in Spain. Outside of work, Sabine is passionate about everything she does, even if it is just making the perfect morning coffee. Fun fact: As she is trilingual, Sabine sometimes invents words because there simply isn’t always one language that matches each part of her personality.
Content & Technology 2
Ana Carolina Dias
Content Coordinator
Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, Ana Carolina Dias has always been drawn to new horizons — a curiosity that led her from an exchange program in New York to Portugal, where she earned a degree in Communication Sciences and specializations in Digital Marketing and Graphic Design.With experience in marketing agencies and immigration-focused companies, she transforms complex bureaucratic topics into content that is clear, engaging, and genuinely useful. Having gone through the relocation process herself, her work sits at the intersection of strategy and creativity — and feels personal. As Content Coordinator at Bureaucracy Spain, Ana is passionate about helping others feel informed, empowered, and a little less overwhelmed as they take their first steps abroad. Fun fact: After years as a competitive swimmer, Ana now spends her weekends cycling, lifting weights, and shooting film — all before a well-earned brunch. She loves the outdoors, and the mosquitoes, without exception, love her back. Deeply. Aggressively. Allergically
Chidubem Amechi
Junior IT
Originally from Ireland, Chidubem is currently based in Dublin. Having gone through a relocation journey himself, he understands firsthand the mix of excitement and uncertainty that comes with moving to a new country — and that experience gives him a genuine appreciation for the work Bureaucracy does every day. As a recent graduate, he brings fresh technical knowledge and a modern perspective to the team, focusing on the systems and tools that keep everything running smoothly. Before joining the team, he balanced his studies with work as a barista — proof that he thrives under pressure! Fun fact: Ask him to pick a sport and he'll tell you he's good at all of them.
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Bureaucracy?
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