Portugal Golden Visa Process: Timelines and Milestones

Timeline for Portugal Golden Visa and Citizenship

Updated Timeline for the Portugal Golden Visa as of February 2025

Below is our updated guide to obtaining Portuguese residency and citizenship through the Golden Visa program. This article incorporates the most recent information from our February 2025 blog post — click here to read it in full — and reflects the new government measures aimed at significantly speeding up the issuance of the first resident card.

Key Recent Changes

• Government Commitment to Clear Backlogs by Mid-2025
  A new Portuguese Government, elected in March 2024, has prioritized clearing pending Golden Visa applications. Measures include opening additional immigration centers, hiring new immigration officers, and working with the Portuguese Bar Association so that lawyers may assist the Immigration Authority (now referred to as “AIMA”) in processing application documents.
• Streamlined Online Approval
  AIMA now requires all legally required documentation be submitted online before scheduling immigration appointments. Applicants will receive notification of their appointment date (with an expected 30–90 days’ notice) to collect biometric data. Because the application is already fully processed at that stage, the resident card should be issued soon after the biometric appointment. However, it may take time for these new measures to fully take effect, so in practice, a 12–18 month wait for your first card is more realistic, based on our experience.
• Faster First Resident Card Issuance
  From 2020–2021 onward, many investors experienced delays of 2–3 years between submitting their Golden Visa applications and receiving their first resident card. Under the new measures, we expect this timeframe to drop to said around 12–18 months — and hopefully soon back to the 6–9 months typical of the pre-pandemic era.
• Citizenship Clock Starting at Application
  Please note that, under legislative changes in 2024, the 5-year period required to become eligible for Portuguese citizenship starts from the date of the Golden Visa initial application rather than from the date the first resident card is issued—making the clock independent of when the first card is issued.

Updated Year-by-Year Timeline

Below is a concise overview of the timeline if you submit your Golden Visa application in 2025, based on current procedures and expected waiting times. Please note that it may take some time for the new government measures to have their full effect.

2025: Initial Golden Visa Application

• Select Investment: Choose the investment fund option(s) that best suit your profile. As Portuguese professionals with local expertise, we maintain one of the most comprehensive databases of all funds eligible for the Golden Visa—offering unique, on-the-ground insights that others may not readily access. There are currently over 100 options available, but not all are created equal; these can be complex products that sometimes conceal important details. We recommend consulting our guide for advice on fund selection or scheduling a free call with us.
• Open Portuguese Bank Account & Complete Investment: Our team can assist you remotely, leveraging our local connections so you can finalize your investment smoothly from anywhere in the world.
• Submit Golden Visa Application: Once your investment is in place and the application is submitted to AIMA, your 5-year “citizenship countdown” begins.

2025–2026: Biometric Appointment & First Resident Card

• Expected Timing: According to the government’s plan, your biometric appointment should be scheduled within 30–90 days of your initial application, with the card issued soon after. However, as noted above, it may take time for these measures to fully materialize, so a 12–18 month wait for your first card is more realistic — meaning you might receive it in 2026.
• Collection of Resident Card: Once your biometric data is collected, your first resident card (valid for 2 years) will be issued soon.
• Residency Requirement: You must spend at least 14 days in Portugal during each two-year resident card validity period. To optimize your travel, you can plan these 14 days immediately before your renewal appointment.

2028 (or 2 Years After the 1st Card): Second Resident Card (First Renewal)

• Investment Confirmation: AIMA will check that you still meet the investment requirements. You need to keep your initial investment valid throughout the 5-year period. Although some sources claim you can move to different open-ended funds, redemption and re-investment times can interrupt the required “continuous investment” and therefore jeopardize your application. For this reason, we recommend keeping the same investment the entire time.
• Second Resident Card Issuance: Valid for another 2 years. As before, you must spend at least 14 days in Portugal during this 2-year period.
• Parallel Citizenship Path: By now, your citizenship “clock” (started in 2025) will have run for 3 years.

2030: Third Resident Card (2 Years after the 2nd Card) & Citizenship Application

• Third Resident Card: After applying for citizenship, holding another resident card is optional. If your second card is still valid when you apply, you may let it expire without affecting your citizenship process. You only need a resident card if you want to keep traveling freely in the Schengen Area or relocate to Portugal before citizenship is granted. 
• Citizenship Application: You’re now eligible for Portuguese citizenship. You must either 1) pass an A2-level Portuguese language test or 2) complete an eligible Portuguese language course (150 hours), and also maintain a clean criminal record. We partner with a school that meets the course requirement, though if you opt for the course route, enrolling 6–9 months before your citizenship application is advisable, as requirements may change.

2032–2033: Portuguese Passport

• Citizenship Approved: You can expect to receive your Portuguese passport about 2–3 years after submitting your citizenship application.
• Full Rights as a Citizen: Enjoy the benefits of EU citizenship, including free movement within the Schengen Area and access to the EU single market.

Frequent Asked Questions

Is Citizenship Guaranteed?
Yes, as long as you satisfy the three requirements:

1. Hold the Golden Visa for 5 years
2. Pass a Portuguese A2 test or attend a qualifying language course (150 hours), and
3. Maintain a clean criminal record

citizenship is guaranteed. This rule also applies to other valid residence permits, but the Golden Visa is unique in not requiring full-time residence in Portugal.

Do I Need to Keep My Investment After Citizenship Application?
This is a frequent misconception. The investment is only required for renewing your resident card. If you choose not to renew once you have applied for citizenship, you can divest when the card expires without affecting your citizenship process.

For a deeper dive into these developments, including the new online approval steps and how existing backlogs are being resolved, be sure to read our blog post.

We’ll continue updating this timeline as more official information becomes available. In the meantime, feel free to contact us for personalized assistance.

Disclaimer: This timeline serves as an example based on current indicative deadlines and may vary depending on individual circumstances and any future administrative changes.