Portugal's Immigration Reforms Signal New Era for Citizenship Programs

Portugal introduces a major digital overhaul to manage the rising surge in citizenship and residency applications.

Portuguese authorities have unveiled sweeping digital reforms to address the unprecedented surge in citizenship and residency applications, with the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) at the forefront of these changes.

Government data reveals the scale of Portugal's immigration transformation, with citizenship applications increasing by 366% over six years, totalling 1.4 million requests. The Justice Ministry reports that 2022 marked a watershed moment with 300,000 applications, compared to fewer than 100,000 in 2013.

Revised Golden Visa Procedures

The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) now requires all Golden Visa documentation to be submitted electronically via the ARI portal.

Starting January 15, 2025, biometric appointments will be automatically scheduled. The reforms introduce new fee structures:

• €6,045.20 for certified documents
• €8,060.20 for uncertified documents

The payments should be made by card during biometric appointments.

Additionally, any application that remains inactive for six months may be considered abandoned, necessitating a fresh submission under the new rules

Efforts to Clear Backlog and Improve Efficiency

Pedro Portugal Gaspar, director at AIMA, noted that the agency currently handles 6,000 services daily through close collaboration with local municipalities. Despite these improvements, a 15% no-show rate for appointments continues to affect system efficiency. The government has set a target to resolve the pending backlog of 400,000 cases by June 30, 2025.

Complementing these reforms, the Institute of Registries and Notaries has launched an upgraded processing platform, aligning with Secretary of State for Justice Maria Jose Barros's focus on system modernization.