Golden Visa Application Process & Timeline

Pre-Application Phase: 2-8 weeks

• Fund research and selection
• Due diligence and documentation
• Legal setup (NIF, power of attorney)

Fund Investment: 1-2 weeks

• Bank account opening
• Fund subscription execution
• Proof of investment documentation

Application Submission: 1-2 weeks

• Document compilation
• Legal review and submission
• AIMA portal registration

AIMA Processing: 6-12 months

• Document review
• Background checks
• Biometric appointment scheduling

Biometric Appointment & Card: 2-3 months

• Biometrics collection
• Card production
• Card delivery

Total Realistic Timeline: 12-18 months

Recent AIMA improvements have reduced processing for some applicants to 9 months total. However, individual cases vary based on documentation completeness and AIMA capacity.

Personal Documents

• Valid passport (certified copies)
• Criminal background check (apostilled, from each country of residence in last 5 years)
• Proof of health insurance valid in Portugal
• Proof of income or savings sufficient for self-support

Investment Documents

• Proof of fund subscription (€500,000 minimum)
• CMVM fund registration confirmation
• Bank statements showing fund transfer
• Fund participation certificate

Legal Documents

• NIF (Portuguese tax identification number)
• Power of attorney for legal representative
• Signed declarations and application forms

Important Notes:

• Documents must be apostilled and translated by certified translators
• Some documents have validity periods (criminal checks typically 90 days)
• Your lawyer should coordinate timing to avoid document expiration

Important Update: In October 2025, Portugal's parliament approved changes to the Nationality Law, extending the residency requirement for citizenship from 5 to 10 years.

What This Means for Golden Visa Holders:

• Residency cards must be renewed every 2 years
• Citizenship application eligibility extended to 10 years
• Minimum physical presence requirements remain (7 days in first year, 14 days in subsequent 2-year periods)

Current Status:
The Constitutional Court approved the extended timeline in December 2025. The new 10-year requirement applies to new applications.

Planning Implications:
When choosing a fund, consider that you may hold the investment longer than the minimum 5 years if you're pursuing citizenship. Fund exit strategies and manager stability become more important under the 10-year timeline.

AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo) has implemented several improvements to reduce processing backlogs:

Digital Improvements

• New online application portal (launching 2026)
• Digital document submission
• Online appointment scheduling

Capacity Expansion

• Additional biometric collection locations
• Increased staffing
• Streamlined document review processes

Impact on Processing Times
Recent reports indicate some applicants submitted in mid-2025 received biometric appointments within 6 months, with cards issued 2-3 months after. This represents significant improvement from the 2+ year delays experienced in 2023-2024.

Realistic Expectations
While improvements are encouraging, individual case timelines still vary. Complete documentation submitted correctly from the start remains the best way to minimize delays.