Key Takeaways
- The Portugal Golden Visa offers residency rights in Portugal, with the possibility of permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years of residence under the framework approved in October 2025.
- The approval notification period runs from application submission to issuance of the first residence card and is part of a broader Golden Visa process that usually spans 12 to 18 months.
- Accurate documentation, regular updates to time-sensitive records, and support from an experienced lawyer are essential to reduce delays and keep your application on track.
- Portugal remains one of the few European options that combines a path to citizenship without full relocation, a light physical stay requirement, and visa-free travel across the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
- VIDA Capital advises investors in the VIDA Fund and coordinates closely with legal teams to help manage the Golden Visa process from investment selection through the approval notification period. Contact VIDA Capital to discuss your Portugal Golden Visa strategy.
Understanding the Portugal Golden Visa Program and Its Appeal
The Portugal Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program designed to attract foreign capital while offering investors and their families a structured path to long-term residency in Portugal and, eventually, potential citizenship.
After approval, you receive a temporary residency permit that is valid for two years. You then renew it for two additional two-year periods, as long as you maintain the qualifying investment and meet the residency requirement of at least 14 days in every two-year period. At the five-year mark, you may apply for permanent residency.
In October 2025, Portugal’s Parliament approved a new citizenship framework with longer timelines. Investors now need 10 years of residence in Portugal before applying for citizenship, while nationals of Portuguese-language countries and EU citizens have a reduced requirement of seven years. The new law is expected to apply to Golden Visa participants, except those who have already submitted their citizenship application before the law is formally published.
The Golden Visa grants residency rights in Portugal only. During the residency period, you can live, work, and study in Portugal, and you can travel visa-free across the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Once you obtain a Portuguese passport, you gain the right to live, work, study, and access public healthcare and education across the European Union and Schengen Zone countries.
Portugal remains one of the few European options that offer a path to citizenship without full relocation. The low physical stay requirement of 14 days in every two-year period makes the program attractive as a long-term “Plan B” for global mobility and security.
Start building your Portugal Golden Visa plan with focused advisory support from VIDA Capital. The team helps you structure a qualifying, asset-backed investment strategy aligned with your residency goals.
Demystifying the Approval Notification Period: What to Expect After Application Submission
The approval notification period covers the full timeline from when your lawyer submits your application to Portugal’s Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA) until you receive your first temporary residency card.
Your lawyer submits your online application for you and each eligible family member. Having a lawyer is essential at this stage, as they confirm that documents, translations, and legalizations meet current AIMA requirements. After submission, AIMA analyzes your file, issues pre-approval when requirements are met, and invites you to a biometrics appointment. Once biometrics are collected and the review is completed, AIMA issues your temporary residence cards.
Each phase of this period requires coordination between your legal counsel, the investment fund, and Portuguese authorities. Clear expectations about these steps help investors plan travel, manage family timelines, and understand where they are in the path toward residency and, later, citizenship eligibility.
Current Timelines and Factors Influencing the Approval Notification Period (2026 Outlook)
The overall Portugal Golden Visa process typically spans 12 to 18 months, from the initial online submission to the issuance of the first residence cards. The approval notification period sits within this window and can vary by case.
Processing times depend on several factors, including AIMA’s capacity, the volume of applications, and the completeness of each file. AIMA has been moving to a more electronic process, expanding biometric locations, and increasing staff, with reforms initiated to reduce the backlog that was targeted for resolution by the end of 2025. In practice, some delays still occur when high volumes meet system changes.
The time spent waiting during this period counts toward your five-year residency requirement for permanent residency and also toward the 10-year residence period for citizenship under the new framework. As the approval card issuance usually takes about a year, you will most likely only need to complete one renewal instead of two during the five-year residency period.
Strategic Approaches to Mitigate Delays and Manage Expectations
Thorough preparation with an experienced lawyer is the most effective way to keep the approval notification period on track. Your legal team should work from an up-to-date checklist that reflects current AIMA rules and any recent procedural changes.
Time-sensitive documents, such as criminal record certificates, often expire during long processes. You and your lawyer should monitor validity dates and refresh documents when requested so your application remains compliant. Active engagement throughout the process is more effective than treating it as a one-time submission.
Several government bodies are involved in background checks and administrative reviews, so some delays relate to system-level coordination rather than individual files. Recent digitalization and staffing measures have aimed to address these structural issues, but applicants still benefit from realistic expectations and contingency plans.
VIDA Capital supports investors during this period by staying in close contact with your legal team and the VIDA Fund. The advisory team provides regular updates on investment-related documentation and helps you understand where your application sits in the overall process, so you can focus on your business and family commitments.
How VIDA Capital Streamlines Your Golden Visa Journey
VIDA Capital’s Personalized Advisory Service
VIDA Capital offers investor-focused advisory support from the first conversation through the approval notification period. Each investor in the VIDA Fund has a dedicated point of contact at VIDA Capital who coordinates with the chosen law firm and the fund’s administrators.
The advisory team explains the Golden Visa rules that apply to investment funds, clarifies the documentation expected from the fund side, and helps align your investment choice with your family’s long-term residency objectives. This structured support helps reduce misunderstandings and keeps all parties aligned as your application moves forward.
The VIDA Fund’s Secure, Asset-Backed Investment Approach
The VIDA Fund focuses on acquiring undervalued hospitality assets in Portugal, transforming and repositioning them to give these properties a second life. The fund does not build hospitality assets from the ground up. Instead, it buys existing properties and improves them.
This strategy creates an asset-backed investment where tangible properties underpin value, which can help mitigate some of the risks associated with purely financial or non-tangible investments. With over €20 million raised in VIDA Fund I and more than 100 Golden Visa applications submitted by its investors, the fund operates under regulation from the Portuguese Securities Market Authority (CMVM) and is audited twice a year by Deloitte. Historical returns are not a guarantee of future returns.
Comparison Table: Golden Visa Programs – Portugal vs. Others
|
Feature |
Portugal Golden Visa |
Greece Golden Visa |
Spain |
|
Investment Focus |
Investment funds |
Property purchase |
Program discontinued |
|
Citizenship Path |
10 years of residence with low physical stay requirements |
7 years of residence and tax presence in Greece |
N/A |
|
Minimum Stay or Residency Requirement |
14 days every 2 years to maintain residency |
Must live in Greece to keep long-term residency |
N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the Approval Notification Period
What factors can cause delays in the Golden Visa approval notification period?
Typical causes include incomplete or outdated documentation, background checks across multiple agencies, high volumes of applications, and technical changes within AIMA’s systems. Historical backlogs still influence some current processing times.
How long does it take to get a biometrics appointment after pre-approval?
The time between pre-approval and biometrics varies by period and location. AIMA has been expanding biometric capacity, but your lawyer is best placed to provide current expectations based on your specific situation.
Does the time spent waiting for approval count toward my citizenship eligibility?
Yes. The period starting from the formal submission of your application counts toward the five-year residency requirement for permanent residency and also toward the 10-year residence period required for citizenship under the new framework, provided you maintain your investment and meet minimum stay rules.
What happens if my temporary residency permit is close to expiring during a delay?
Portuguese authorities have issued temporary extensions during periods of processing backlog. Your lawyer will guide you through the applicable extension measures and ensure continuity of your legal status.
How does VIDA Capital assist during the approval notification period?
VIDA Capital stays in regular contact with your legal team, coordinates investment-related paperwork, and provides structured updates, so you know how your Golden Visa application is progressing. This support helps you respond quickly to document requests and reduces avoidable delays.
Have recent governmental reforms improved processing times?
AIMA has implemented digital tools, expanded biometric locations, and increased staffing, with measures that started rolling out before and during 2025. These changes aim to reduce backlogs and gradually shorten the approval notification period for new applications.
Conclusion: Managing Your Golden Visa Approval Journey with Clarity
The Portugal Golden Visa approval notification period can feel lengthy, but clear information and the right partners make it manageable. Understanding how the timeline fits into the broader 12 to 18-month process, and how it contributes to your five-year residency and 10-year citizenship objectives, allows you to plan with confidence.
By combining a regulated, asset-backed investment in the VIDA Fund with specialized advisory support from VIDA Capital and a qualified Portuguese lawyer, investors can approach the Golden Visa journey in a structured and informed way.
