Portugal’s Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA) has processed 6,000 of the 46,000 pending Golden Visa applications, representing approximately 13% of the backlog, while scheduling biometric appointments for around 30,000 applicants. Despite these developments, processing delays remain significant, with the average waiting time reaching a record 50.4 months in Q2 2026.

AIMA Progresses with the Golden Visa Backlog

AIMA has processed 6,000 of the 46,000 pending Golden Visa applications and scheduled approximately 30,000 biometric appointments. According to Minister of the Presidency António Leitão Amaro, progress in resolving the wider immigration backlog has allowed the agency to allocate more resources to family reunification and Golden Visa applications. The agency’s workforce has also increased from 723 to 850 employees, supporting efforts to accelerate processing.

Biometric Appointments Do Not Guarantee Faster Decisions

Although the scheduling of 30,000 biometric appointments represents progress, industry professionals emphasize that appointments and completed applications are two separate stages. Werner Gruner of Get Golden Visa suggests that biometric scheduling is no longer the main bottleneck; instead, delays have shifted to the period between biometrics collection and the final decision. João Pedro Oliveira Cunha of MFG Consultants similarly cautions that it is too early to conclude that processing times will consistently improve for all applicants.

Different Timelines for Older and Newer Applications

Golden Visa applications are currently moving through two distinct processing systems. Applications with biometrics submitted before 2025 generally follow the older paper-based procedure and include cases dating back to 2021–2024, which have experienced longer delays. Applications submitted from January 2025 onward follow a fully digital procedure and are reportedly progressing faster. Some firms have already cleared their longstanding backlogs, while newer cases are receiving biometric invitations and residence cards more regularly.

Estimated Processing Times for New Applicants

Industry professionals report more encouraging timelines for recent applications, although these remain estimates rather than guaranteed deadlines. Madalena Monteiro of Liberty estimates that applicants filing now could receive a biometric appointment in May 2027 and obtain a residence card by the end of 2027, representing approximately 14 months overall. Werner Gruner recommends planning for around 18 months from submission to the first residence card, provided AIMA maintains its current focus on investor applications.

Why Average Waiting Times May Continue to Increase

Despite improvements for newer applicants, the published average processing time may rise further before declining. The survey measures completed applications from submission to residence permit issuance, meaning that older, heavily delayed cases continue to influence the figures. In Q2 2026, the average waiting time increased from 43.9 months to 50.4 months, while the shortest reported processing time rose from 14.3 months in Q1 to 36.3 months in Q2. These figures largely reflect older applications, whereas the more encouraging timelines reported by practitioners concern newer cases processed under the digital system.

Impact on Portuguese Citizenship Eligibility

Processing delays also affect the timeline for obtaining Portuguese citizenship. Under the nationality law in force since 19 May 2026, the residence period for citizenship eligibility begins when AIMA issues the first residence permit. For investors from outside the EU and Portuguese-speaking countries, the required period is 10 years from the start of the residence clock. Based on estimated Golden Visa processing timelines of approximately 14–18 months, applicants filing now could reach citizenship eligibility around 11 to 11.5 years after submitting their applications, assuming they meet all other applicable requirements.

Recent Improvements and Remaining Challenges

AIMA has introduced several procedural improvements, including an online renewal portal launched on 16 February 2026 and an online system allowing applicants to monitor the progress of their applications. Industry professionals have also reported an increase in biometric appointments, ongoing approvals, and the dispatch of residence cards. However, the backlog has not yet been resolved, and concerns remain about processing consistency and predictability. The government’s commitment to clearing the backlog in 2026 will depend on whether AIMA can convert scheduled appointments into decisions efficiently and allocate sufficient resources to the remaining administrative stages.

Summary

Industry professionals report improvements for newer applications under the digital procedure, although timelines vary depending on the application stage and whether the case belongs to the older backlog. The government has pledged to clear the Golden Visa backlog in 2026, but progress will depend on AIMA’s ability to turn scheduled appointments into final decisions and issue residence cards.