Hundreds of Portugal Golden Visa Applicants Stuck in Limbo Due to Lengthy Processing Times

Hundreds of Portugal Golden Visa Applicants Stuck in Limbo Due to Lengthy Processing Times

Key Points

1. Lengthy visa processing times have left hundreds of Portugal Golden Visa applicants in uncertainty.
2. Some applicants are taking legal action against Portugal over excessive delays in processing their Golden Visa applications.
3. In September, AIMA reported issuing 2,901 residence permits under the program.

Hundreds of individuals applying for Portugal's Golden Visa Program are facing significant delays, with long processing times leaving many stuck in a state of uncertainty.

Some applicants have begun to regret their decision to invest in Portugal in exchange for a golden visa, due to the extensive wait times.

According to statistics from Portugal’s Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) for September 2024, Chinese nationals remain the top beneficiaries of the program, with 306 permits issued. However, many are frustrated with the slow processing times.

A Chinese applicant, Renhai Wang, shared his dissatisfaction with Bloomberg, explaining that three years have passed since he applied, and he has yet to receive any updates regarding his application status.

“If I knew it would take this long, I wouldn’t have invested in Portugal. There are other countries where obtaining a golden visa is easier,” Wang said.

Legal Action Against Delays in Portugal's Golden Visa Program

Bettino Zanini, an immigration lawyer who has successfully handled multiple cases against Portugal’s AIMA, explained that about half of his 50 Golden Visa clients have sued the country due to the extended processing delays. When these cases are successful, AIMA can be compelled to make a decision on an application within three months, as opposed to the typical three-year wait.

Portugal’s Golden Visa Program grants residency to foreigners who invest through various options available in the program.

Recent data from AIMA shows that a total of 2,901 residence permits were granted in September 2024. The largest number of permits went to nationals from the United States (567 permits), followed by China (306), the United Kingdom (234), Brazil (219), and India (199).

Although AIMA did not disclose details on the specific types of investments made under the Residency by Investment scheme, Global Citizens Solution revealed that in 2023, Portugal recorded €70.9 million in Golden Visa investments, with €50 million through real estate and €20.8 million in capital transfers.

Earlier this month, Immi Daily reported a significant surge in Golden Visa approvals in 2023, particularly in family applications, which saw an 83% year-over-year increase.

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