Golden Visa Portugal › Process and timeline
Process and timeline · Updated 2 Nov 2026Portugal Golden Visa process in 2026: every step from NIF to citizenship
- Nine stages: route, NIF and documents, investment, AIMA submission, biometrics, card, renewals, permanent residence and citizenship.
- Planning estimate: 18 to 24 months from submission to biometrics. The legal decision deadline is 90 days.
- Stay 7 days in year one and 14 days per later two-year period. Renewals are online on AIMA's portal since 16 Feb 2026.
Plan your Golden Visa dates
Enter your submission date to see the legal deadline, the planning window for biometrics, and your earliest permanent residence and citizenship dates. Add your card date once you have it.
Choose your submission date to see your timeline.
Planning estimates, not official deadlines. The 18 to 24 month window is a market estimate for new files; the 90-day period is the legal decision deadline, which AIMA frequently exceeds. Citizenship years are counted from the first card's issue date under Lei Orgânica 1/2026.
The Golden Visa process, stage by stage
| Stage | What happens | Where to go next |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Choose your route | Compare the five routes against your budget and goals. Check the investment, the risk and the exit. | Use the route picker and ask a lawyer to review the plan before you invest. |
| 2. NIF and documents | Get your Portuguese tax number (NIF) and prepare identity and supporting documents, with apostilles and certified translations where needed. | NIF · apostille · legalisation |
| 3. Make the investment | Complete the qualifying investment and keep the proof AIMA requires for your route (fund, cultural, research, company or jobs). | Real estate no longer qualifies for new applications. |
| 4. Submit to AIMA | Submit the application for each person, and pay the government fees. | See the costs and fees page. |
| 5. Biometrics | AIMA schedules a biometrics appointment. This is where most of the wait happens. | Planning estimate: 18 to 24 months after submission. |
| 6. First card | You receive your first ARI card. Its issue date starts the clock for permanent residence and citizenship. | Minimum stay: 7 days in year one, then 14 days per two-year period. |
| 7. Renewals | Renew on AIMA's online portal before the card expires. | Portal ARI · renewal guide |
| 8. Permanent residence | Apply after 5 years of residence. Unchanged in 2026. | Separate from citizenship. |
| 9. Citizenship | 10 years of legal residence, or 7 for EU and CPLP nationals, counted from the first card's issue date. | See the citizenship guide. |
Golden Visa documents checklist
Tick what you already have. The exact list depends on your route and nationality, so confirm it against AIMA's checklist for your file.
Get your documents right the first time
- Apostille documents issued abroad, or legalise them at the consulate: apostille service
- Use certified translations for anything not in Portuguese or English
- Check names and dates match across every document
- Keep proof of every payment and every submission
Stay requirements, renewals and what comes next
7 and 14 days
At least 7 days in Portugal in the first year, then 14 days in each later two-year period, per AIMA's ARI FAQ.
Online portal
Renewals moved to AIMA's online portal on 16 February 2026. Renewal fees are on the costs and fees page.
5 years, then 10 or 7
Permanent residence after 5 years. Citizenship after 10 years, or 7 for EU and CPLP nationals. Citizenship guide
What slows a Golden Visa file down
Things you can control
- Incomplete or inconsistent documents
- Missing apostilles or translations
- Weak proof of the qualifying investment
- Late answers to requests from AIMA
Things you cannot
- AIMA's backlog: about 46,000 Golden Visa files were pending on 7 October 2026
- Appointment scheduling: about 30,000 biometric appointments were scheduled
- If the legal deadline passes, see AIMA delays and litigation
Source: Minister of the Presidency, in Parliament, 7 Oct 2026; AIMA Migration and Asylum Report 2025.
Process and timeline: frequently asked questions
How long does the Portugal Golden Visa process take in 2026?
Planning estimates for new files are 18 to 24 months from submission to biometrics. The legal decision deadline is 90 days, but AIMA has a large backlog: on 7 October 2026 about 6,000 of 46,000 pending Golden Visa files had been processed.
What are the steps of the Golden Visa process?
Choose your route, get your Portuguese tax number (NIF) and prepare your documents, make the qualifying investment, submit to AIMA, attend biometrics, receive your card, then renew, and later apply for permanent residence (5 years) and citizenship (10 years, or 7 for EU and CPLP nationals).
Do I need to live in Portugal to keep a Golden Visa?
No. AIMA's ARI FAQ sets a minimum stay of 7 days in the first year and 14 days in each later two-year period.
Do I need a Portuguese NIF before I apply?
Yes, you need a Portuguese tax number (NIF) for the investment and the application. We can help you get one from abroad.
Where do I renew my Golden Visa?
Renewals moved to AIMA's online portal (Portal ARI) on 16 February 2026.
When can I apply for permanent residence?
After 5 years of Golden Visa residence. This is unchanged in 2026 and is separate from citizenship.
When can I apply for citizenship?
Under Lei Orgânica 1/2026, naturalisation generally needs 10 years of legal residence (7 for EU and CPLP nationals), counted from the first card's issue date. Applications filed by 18 May 2026 keep the old 5-year rule.
What if AIMA takes longer than the legal deadline?
The legal decision deadline is 90 days, and applicants can go to the administrative court with an intimação. See our guide to AIMA delays, and ask a lawyer to review your file before you act.
Official sources
Figures on this page were checked on 2 November 2026. Always confirm amounts and dates with the official source before you act.
Talk to a lawyer about your Golden Visa
Tell us your route, dates and questions. We usually reply within one working day. Your results above are added to your message.
