Portugal Golden Visa Processing Improvements for 2025

The Portugal Golden Visa program has long been one of the most sought-after residency-by-investment programs in the world. However, due to its sheer popularity, the past few years have seen significant backlogs in application processing, leading to extended timelines. Finally, there is great news for investors: AIMA (the Portuguese immigration authority) has implemented major changes to address these delays, paving the way for faster processing times in 2025.

New Golden Visa Biometric Appointment Scheduling

One of the key improvements announced by AIMA is the automatic scheduling of appointments for document verification and biometric data collection. Here are the details of this new process:

• Chronological Scheduling: Once all updated documents are submitted, AIMA will automatically schedule an appointment at a service desk in chronological order based on the updates.
• Start Date for Appointments: Appointments are set to commence on 15 January 2025.
• Lead Time: Applicants can expect a lead time of 30 to 90 days for their in-person biometric appointments after submission.
• Automated Biometric Appointments: Appointment dates will be automatically assigned by the competent authorities, ensuring an organized and transparent process.

How Long Will Portugal Golden Visa Processing Take In 2025?

These changes have been implemented to address the backlog of applications with an aim to clear the accumulation of pending cases in 2025. Once the backlog is cleared, it is expected that future approvals could return to the previous processing timeline of 4-6 months. These improvements are likely to have a positive effect on old and new applications alike, making the process more efficient for all investors.

New investors planning to apply for the Portugal Golden Visa in 2025 should note the overall timeline for preparation and processing is likely to look as follows:

1. Preparation Phase:
   • Allow approximately 2-3 months to open a Portuguese bank account and gather the required documents.
2. Processing Phase:
   • Your lawyer will submit your completed application to AIMA and follow the automatic scheduling system for your biometric appointment, which under the new processing guidelines will be within 30-90 days.

While these enhancements have the potential to improve processing times, investors should note that exact timelines may vary depending on individual cases and administrative factors outside of our control. La Vida will monitor this closely in the coming months and provide accurate updates as further clarity emerges.

These updates signal a renewed focus on efficiency within the Portugal Golden Visa program. For those considering this pathway to European residency, the streamlined processes could offer greater predictability and a faster timeline to approval. However, as these timelines are based on information provided by AIMA, they cannot be guaranteed.

More Good News – 5 Year Pathway to Citizenship

On top of this promising update, we must also remind you that earlier this year Portugal announced that the five year timeline to Citizenship now begins from the date investors submit their Golden Visa application, rather than the date their application is approved. This means that if you have been caught up in the backlog in recent years, your path to citizenship will not be delayed. Portugal’s five year route to citizenship is one of the most flexible in Europe and only requires a minimum stay of 7 days per year – another reason why Portugal’s Golden Visa programme has seen huge success since its inception over 12 years ago.

Start Your Golden Visa Application Today

Don’t wait to take advantage of these improvements. Contact us to begin your Golden Visa application process and ensure you’re well-prepared for the exciting changes ahead.

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