The year starts brightly for the Portuguese Golden Visa applicants waiting for their biometrics appointment, as AIMA (Agência Portuguesa para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo) aspires to schedule all collection meetings still in 2025. A set of measures are being implemented in an attempt to recover from the delays occurred in the past few years.
New Procedure for Golden Visa Applications Process
New information from AIMA (Agência Portuguesa para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo) brings good news for Portugal Golden Visa applicants waiting for their biometrics appointment to be scheduled, as the agency is establishing new procedures to shorten its backlog of processes.
The recent backstage news suggests that, within the begin of the year, AIMA intends to resolve all Golden Visa pending processes by mid-2025, although that deadline can be expanded until the end of the year. Even though these changes count only for applicants waiting to schedule their biometric appointment, they are bound to fast-track the Golden Visa process for all down the line, as it should clear AIMA’s pipeline and streamline not only current, but also future processes.
Portugal’s Government Boosts Golden Visa with Full Digital Shift
In yet another effort from the Portuguese Government to simplify bureaucracy and to speed up administration services in the country through the power of digitalisation, the Golden Visa process will be adjusted to become fully electronic, following the trend of the citizenship request process, that is now also done entirely online. From now on, a series of procedures that used to be done manually will be automated or totally eliminated, accelerating AIMA’s operation.
Furthermore, the government will also expand the number of locations where the biometrics data can be collected and will increase on the availability of human resources involved in the process, so that approvals and issuance of residency cards are done much faster.
In addition to these government-led measures, AIMA has hired specialised legal teams to help address and clear the backlog of applications. By bringing in lawyers experienced in immigration and residency processes, AIMA tried to further streamline document reviews and resolve any legal complexities that may slow down approvals. This collaboration, announced in March 2024, allowed the organisation to focus on enhancing its digital systems and meeting the newly accelerated service standards.
Applicants Must Resubmit Documents
To enhance the speed of the process even further, main applicants might be required to re-submit key documents like Tax ID, and Criminal Record, not only so they are updated, but also already in line with the new digital procedures. Additional applicants such as spouses and dependents will not need to update their documents immediately, but will have to do so until the biometrics appointment.
It is important to note that the scheduling of data collection will be done in accordance with the order in which applicants update their documents, proving the importance of this action. AIMA expects to book the biometric appointment between 30 to 90 days after the resubmission is complete. Applicants that need a Schengen Visa to enter Portugal should also start that procedure sooner rather than later, so they do not risk missing their appointment.
These are extremely good news for Golden Visa applicants and also another clear demonstration of the Portuguese government's commitment to the programme and an indication that the discontinuation of the Real Estate option was solely an adjustment. These recent changes in the Golden Visa process shows that the programme is not ending, as it is being prioritised.
Read More:
AIMA Agency Updates on Golden Visa and Immigration Data
Portugal’s Migration Plan Begins to Be Executed
