Portugal's Golden Visa Application Process Speeds up

Authorities have announced a transition to a digital application system, which aims to alleviate the significant backlog of pending requests and streamline the process for investors.

The Golden Visa, officially referred to as the Residence Permit for Investment Activity (ARI) scheme, provides foreign investors with the opportunity to gain Portuguese residency by investing in real estate, businesses, or capital transfers. It has been Europe’s most popular residency-by-investment programs, drawing thousands of applicants annually.

However, the program has been criticized for its slow processing times. Currently, between 45,000 and 50,000 applications are still awaiting review, according to Portugal’s Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA).

To address this, Portugal is transitioning applications from paper to a digital system, enabling investors to track their progress online and minimizing administrative delays.

For many investors, the primary frustration has been the wait for biometric appointments, where they submit fingerprints and other personal information. Some have been in limbo for years.

According to Portuguese immigration experts, the new system is “good news for investors,” as it will automatically schedule biometric appointments within 30 to 90 days of application submission. This is a significant improvement that should help reduce the backlog and prevent more investors from resorting to legal action to have their cases processed.

Despite all the delays, Portugal’s Golden Visa remains one of the most appealing residency programs in Europe. Since its inception in 2012, it has generated over €7 billion in investment, with most applicants coming from China, Brazil, and the United States.

With the new system in place, Portugal aims to restore investor confidence and ensure the program continues to attract foreign capital in the future.