Portugal says 6,000 of 46,000 golden visa files processed

IMI Daily reports that Portugal's immigration agency AIMA has dealt with about 6,000 of the 46,000 golden visa applications waiting for a decision and has booked biometric appointments for roughly 30,000. The figures come from Minister of the Presidency António Leitão Amaro, who briefed a parliamentary committee on 7 October; Portugal Resident, citing the Lusa news agency, gives the same numbers. He said the older regularisation backlog is down to about 5,000 of 445,000 cases, freeing resources for family reunification and golden visas.

An appointment is not a decision. Lawyers quoted by IMI say the bottleneck has moved from scheduling biometrics to the stage before the final decision. Two firms mention roughly 14 to 18 months from filing to a first residence card for new applications (IMI only), but one stresses these are client experiences, not guaranteed times. IMI's own second-quarter survey found a record average of 50.4 months for completed files, partly because the oldest cases are now closing.

Since 19 May 2026, most non-EU investors need ten years of residence before applying for Portuguese nationality, and IMI says the clock starts at the first permit (IMI only). As of 7 October 2026, the golden visa still runs through a EUR 500,000 qualifying fund, as real estate has been excluded since October 2023.