Over 45,000 investors' processes are late, and thousands are waiting even three years to get their Portugal Golden Visas.

More than 50 tired and frustrated investors sued Portugal's Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) because of the lengthy immigration procedure. The main reasons for the slow processing are the still paper-based process and the enormous number of applicants who wish to become residents of the EU through investment in Portugal.

The AIMA announced that they are starting to digitalise the processes, and an online application option will also be available. Another reason for the time lags is the queuing for biometric checks, such as fingerprints.

One of the EU's key advantages is the principle of equal treatment. However, immigrants from third countries or even the EU can prepare for queuing; the Portuguese authorities set a date of two years from now for the start of the settlement procedures. There are dozens of programs and rights for investors, EU citizens, applicants from Lusofonic (Portuguese-speaking) countries, and third-country citizens.  

According to the AIMA, the authorities will have 30 to 90 days to schedule the biometric checks after the successful online application. They will also accept documents and applications in English, French, and Spanish.

Portugal's two—or even three-year waiting time is more than any other EU Member State with a residency by investment program. Greece managed to speed up the process; the same cases take only three months to process, while other applicants must wait 20 months. The new Hungarian Guest Investor Program seems the fastest now because 3-4 months is enough to become a resident in the EU.

The Portuguese Golden Visa is one of the most attractive solutions for third-country nationals who want to move to Europe. According to predictions, most applicants will arrive in 2025 from the US, China, and the UK.

Click here for detailed information on how to obtain the Portuguese Golden Visa in 2025! 

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