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Exciting News: Shorter Waiting Times for Portugal Golden Visa Applications!

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The Portuguese Immigration Agency (AIMA) has announced significant changes to streamline the Golden Visa process, making it faster and more efficient. Here’s what you need to know about these improvements and how they could benefit your application.

These changes represent very good news, with the goal of completing all pending applications by the first semester of 2025, which significantly reduces the waiting period for the final approval!

Major Changes to the Golden Visa Process

1.  Simplification of Procedures

Old Process:

  1. Online application + Analysis fee payment
  2. 1st Analysis period
  3. Notification of Admission
  4. Biometric appointment scheduling
  5. Biometrics collection + Submission of updated documents
  6. 2nd Analysis period (document validation)
  7. Notification of Approval
  8. Payment of card issuance fee
  9. Residency card issuance

New Process:

  1. Online application + Analysis fee payment
  2. Analysis period
  3. Acceptance and notification of biometric appointment
  4. Biometrics collection + Original document verification (if necessary) + Card issuance fee payment
  5. Residency card issuance

Impact: Steps 6 and 7 have been eliminated; steps 3 and 4 combined; steps 5 and 9 combined, reducing both time and complexity!

2. Automatic Biometrics Appointments

To streamline scheduling, AIMA will assign biometric appointments automatically after their analysis for approval cases on a first-come, first-served basis. Notifications will be sent 30 to 90 days in advance.  We heard that there are 6000 appointment slots per day, the aim is to get all qualifying applicants booked by the first semester of 2025.  

3. Simplification of Documentation 

With the simplified steps, now applicants only need to submit the documents once (at the time of online submission), instead of twice (at the time of online submission AND at the time of biometric appointment).

While applicants who have submitted their applications earlier, would have to resubmit with new documents (all documents must meet the following validity periods: 3 months for criminal records, 6 months for marriage certificates, and 12 months for birth certificates at the time of resubmission), but it also means that you no longer need to submit documents at the time of biometric appointment, and you are now on the faster and quicker process!

As for all new applications, you would only need to submit once.

Benefit: This eliminates the need to provide updated documents during the biometric appointment, simplifying the overall process.

4. Simplified Approval

Once clients receive their biometric appointment, they are considered finally approved for the Golden Visa.

It should be noted that with the new procedures, clients can have 2 options:

  • Present originals during the appointment.  With this option, applicants will pay a higher fee of  €8060.20 
  • Have documents certified by a Portuguese Lawyer.  With this option, applicants will pay a lower fee of €6045.20 euros.  Unlike many company who is charging €45+VAT per document, The Golden Portugal is offering this extra service free of charge for our clients that uses our legal services. 

Exclusive Benefit with The Golden Portugal: We provide this extra service of document certification services free of charge to our clients.

Key Dates and Recommendations

  • Resubmit required documents by June 1, 2025, to avoid delays or potential cancellation under Portuguese administrative law.  Contact your lawyer for detail informations according to your specific case!
  • While some clients have been thinking about suing AIMA, we don’t recommend it with this new procedures in placed.  Because if you resubmit your case quickly, you could be getting your final approval / resident card by mid 2025!
  • Start your application process now to maximize benefits from these new changes!

Why Now Is the Best Time to Apply

All in all, we are super happy with this new changes and we anticipate all clients that have submitted their application before the end of 2024 will get their final approval by end of 2025, likely sooner (if they resubmit accordingly)!

For all clients that have been putting off the decision by the long waiting time of the Portugal Golden Visa procedure, this is the best time to start your application.  On average, we are able to complete online applications within 3 months from the kick-off (and in some cases, it can be done as short as 2 months).   

We anticipate those who start their application process now may be able to get their final approval and resident card by end of 2025!!

Get Started Today!

Don’t miss this opportunity to take advantage of the improved procedures for the Portugal Golden Visa. Our experienced team at The Golden Portugal ensures a smooth, stress-free application process from start to finish.

Click Here for a free consultation or fill the form below to start your journey to a better future in Portugal!

With warmest regards,

Susana Yang
Founder & CEO, The Golden Portugal

We have helped more than 500 families on their Portugal Golden Visa journey. 

We are also the pioneer firm to help clients to invest through funds back from 2020 until now. Come talk with us.

Book a consultation with us
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