The SEF agent asked for proof of my travel when my family did their biometrics (Madiera; March 2023). A copy of the boarding pass seemed to satisfy her.
On the other hand, I was not asked (Lisbon bio; also Mar 2023). It all seems completely random.
When i did my bio in Lisbon in 2022, the official specifically asked to see my Schengen entry stamp on my passport after shown my boarding pass from CDG to Lisbon. Anyway, proof of legal entry is a stated requirement.
During my biometrics appointment in Lisbon on January 31, 2023, I was requested to provide copies of my passport, Schengen visa, ticket, boarding pass, and the entry stamp on my passport. The lawyers submitted all these documents along with my police certificate.
Not when you follow the “old” AIMA process, you need to pay it from a Portuguese bank account.
I don’t think Wise has any daily limits for transfers, though if you haven’t moved substantial amounts through there before they may ask for some source of funds documentation for anti-money laundering purposes.
Interesting that they were able to verify this. My lawyer just stated:
It is not possible to ask where an application is physically being analyzed since it is an internal process and not disclosed to the public.
Some PT lawyers/immi consultants have been working with the same SEF/AIMA people for years, and have been known to quietly enquire about such things.
Lots of work gets done in PT via personal relationships.
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Today is the 2 year anniversary of my biometrics appointment in Lisbon. My application was accepted on November 23, 2021. Preapproval came on July 7 2022. In my experience a lawsuit accomplishes nothing. Last summer (June) I got a judge to accept my complaint and demand that AIMA respond and they did, but responded by issuing me a redundant (second) biometrics appointment. I think at some point last year they were getting so many lawsuits they started to just mechanically respond to them by scheduling biometrics appointments without looking at the particulars of the case, perhaps because many of the lawsuits were to demand biometrics appointments. I had already done biometrics in on February 7 2023 and they offered me another appointment for November 5 2024. I went anyway, with my attorney, and after waiting for 2 hours past the appointment time they informed us that my file had been transferred to the Azores office (that very day! What a coincidence!) as part of a scheme to distribute the backlog to less busy offices. They said we could expect final approval by the end of November. Of course nothing has happened since. The only good news is that my attorneys were able to get my NIF address changed and get me into the old NHR tax regime before the end of 2024.
Same page as you, I started to think about lawsuits last summer, but at that time my lawyer told me the lawsuits still need to wait 3-6 months to get feedback, so I did not do it as I’m January 2023 biometrics, it seems that it is almost us to get the final approval. But till now, already more that 2 years, still no feedback yet. It is likely that most of Jan-Feb 2023 non lawsuits cases were spread to other offices while Lisbon office is dealing with Mar 2023 cases, that sounds make sense.
That’s precisely what my lawyers advised me. I wish our cases had stayed with the Lisbon office—we would have been approved by now.
Have a question regarding the first residency card: How do you know that your card was issued? I mabe the payment like 2 months ago with no info till now on the card. Any insights on the card issuing process will be highly appreciated.
This is completely anecdotal, but someone who went through the investment route said that it can take around 90 days for the card to be issued; however, if you haven’t heard anything after the 90 days, have your lawyers reach out to AIMA to check the status as their cards were sitting in a pile and had yet to be mailed out!
Thank you, so there are no tracking mechanism or website for cards. The only path is to follow by email with AIMA through the lawyer?
Hi Rawad,
I am on the same boat. I made the DUC payment on 6th of November 2024 after the approval, I was told that in 2 months I will get my first card but already more than 3 months no news.
My lawyer sends email to AIMA frequently but also no response from them.
There is nothing to do other than waiting.
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This is not exactly true.
You may still harass a lot of people within AIMA and beyond instead of just waiting.
Whether it’s going to speed up your card delivery or not, no one can predict, but at least you are increasing your chances by taking some action.
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I wish I cpuld do that, but I never contacted AIMA directly, only through my lawyer.
I can only harress them.
Hi All,
I am very happy to state that,
By coincidence, 15 minutes after writing the above message, I received an email from my lawyer informing me that they received my card today. Issued on 03.02.2025 for 2 years.
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Put me on your list of people who want to buy you a beer in Lisboa!
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Not 3 years???
The day has come! Wow I can’t believe it 
Applied: December 21st, 2021
Paid: December 27th, 2021
Pre-Approval: June 5th, 2023
Biometrics: August 25th. 2023 (Coimbra)
Approved: February 11th, 2025 (Today!)
No lawsuit. Need to pay my €6k now and they said the card takes a few weeks (let’s see if that’s true).
My dependents are still waiting for pre-approval because they applied September 2022. Now they’re in purgatory because they aren’t in the new electronic document system for primary investors + their dependents, but supposedly my lawyers sent AIMA a list of all these people and they’ll hear back soon.
Thanks to everyone on this forum for keeping me sane. Genuinely couldn’t have done it without you!
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For real estate investments your initial card is 2 years and at renewal it converts to a special D2 and you get a 3 year card.
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