Scale of the Golden Visa Backlog
The Golden Visa program has been one of the most severely impacted categories in AIMA's overall backlog. Thousands of investors who made qualifying investments in Portugal have been waiting years for their applications to be processed. Some applicants who submitted their Golden Visa applications as far back as 2021 and 2022 are still waiting for final approval and permit issuance in 2026. The delays have affected not only the principal investors but also their family members included in Golden Visa applications, compounding the human impact.
The backlog stems from multiple factors: the transition from SEF to AIMA disrupted processing workflows, the volume of applications exceeded staffing capacity, and policy changes created uncertainty about which applications would be processed under old versus new rules. AIMA asked all Golden Visa applicants in early 2025 to resubmit documentation, with promises of 30 to 90-day approval timelines. These promises were not met, and the resubmission requirement actually created additional work for both applicants and the agency, further slowing the already overwhelmed system.
Government Promises and Deadlines
During the 2026 State Budget hearings, Minister António Leitão Amaro announced that AIMA would finalize the Golden Visa backlog by the end of 2026, estimating a potential €85 million revenue boost from processing the pending applications. This promise followed previous commitments that went unfulfilled, creating a pattern of raised expectations followed by disappointment that has eroded investor confidence in the program.
Immigration lawyers have denounced the timing of these announcements as politically motivated. The criticism centers on the perception that the government uses backlog clearance pledges to generate positive media coverage while failing to allocate the resources necessary to actually deliver on these commitments. The €85 million revenue estimate, while highlighting the economic cost of delays, has also been seen as evidence that the government treats Golden Visa processing as a revenue opportunity rather than an obligation to applicants who have already made substantial investments in Portugal.
The New Digital Golden Visa Platform
The fully digital Golden Visa platform launched in January 2026, representing one of the most tangible improvements for investors. The platform enables complete online application submission, eliminating the previous requirement for in-person document delivery. Applicants can upload all required documents, track their application status in real time, and make payments through integrated processing. The platform also supports authorized representatives, allowing lawyers to manage applications on behalf of their clients.
While the digital platform is a significant step forward, early adopters have reported issues including slow load times during peak usage, document format restrictions that require additional preparation, and occasional system errors that disrupt the submission process. AIMA has been releasing patches and updates to address these issues, and the platform's stability has improved since launch. For investors with pending applications from the pre-digital era, their cases have been migrated to the new system, though some report discrepancies between their records and what appears in the new platform.
Biometric Scheduling Progress
AIMA has been actively scheduling biometric appointments for Golden Visa holders from January through March 2026. This is a positive development, as biometric collection is typically the final step before permit issuance. However, the scheduling process has not been without problems. Some applicants report receiving appointment notifications with very short notice, making it difficult to arrange travel to Portugal for those who do not reside in the country. Others have experienced last-minute cancellations or rescheduling of their biometric appointments.
Under the new system, biometric data collection occurs only after preliminary application approval, which means that receiving a biometric appointment invitation is generally a positive sign for your application. After biometrics are collected, the actual permit card is typically issued within four to six weeks. If you have been waiting for a biometric appointment and have not received a notification, checking your status through the digital platform or contacting AIMA through official channels should be your first step. Some applicants have found that their contact information in AIMA's system was outdated, causing notifications to be missed.
Legal Options for Stuck Investors
For Golden Visa applicants who have been waiting beyond all reasonable timeframes, legal action has proven to be one of the most effective remedies. Filing an administrative action against AIMA can compel the agency to process your application within a court-ordered timeline. Courts have consistently ruled in favor of applicants in these cases, recognizing that the delays violate administrative law principles requiring timely decision-making by government agencies.
The one-year deadline to file legal action is particularly important for Golden Visa applicants to understand. This deadline starts when AIMA's statutory period for making a decision on your application expires. If you miss this window, you lose access to this judicial remedy. Given the complexity of Golden Visa cases and the amounts of money involved, working with a lawyer who specializes in both immigration law and administrative litigation is strongly recommended. The cost of legal action is typically modest relative to the investment amounts involved in Golden Visa applications, and the success rate in court has been very high.
Impact on Investment and Revenue
The prolonged Golden Visa backlog has had broader economic consequences beyond the individual applicants affected. Potential investors have been deterred by reports of multi-year processing times, diverting investment to competing programs in other European countries. The €85 million in pending revenue highlighted by the government represents fees and processing charges that remain uncollected while applications sit in the queue, money that could be contributing to public services and infrastructure.
For existing investors, the delays have created uncertainty about the value of their investments and the reliability of the Portuguese immigration system. Some investors have explored the possibility of withdrawing their investments after obtaining their permits, while others have reconsidered their long-term plans for residence in Portugal. The nationality law changes extending the naturalization period to ten years for non-CPLP nationals have added another layer of complexity, as investors who originally planned to obtain citizenship after five years now face a significantly longer timeline. These factors combine to create a challenging environment for the Golden Visa program's future competitiveness.