Just as important as the increase from 5-10 years for me is the date that starts the clock. If it isn’t returned to the date of application for those already in the system, I am done. If the government finds a way to violate our trust so badly, Portugal is not a nation I wish to have power over my life and future.
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The 5 v 10 timeline and capricious change in start date is exactly the legitimate expectations problem and is what lawyers expect the court to have issue with.
What I worry about is the President vetoing the legislation based on the Constitutional Court assessment of unconstitutionality, and the Parliament over-riding the veto. What happens then?
they can override a political veto from the president but to override the constitutional court like that would require a constitutional amendment. that’s never happened in post-Salazar Portugal but who knows. Again, as of now, the judicial and executive branches seem to be operating in good faith so it looks like this legislation is going to be hung up for a while and will likely require revision. There are red lines but I don’t think we’re there just yet and now is the time for advocacy not panic.
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Never until the last month or so did I imagine I would be disappointed to announce that I received final approval today, just shy of four years since applying via investment. Actually, although this was not apparent to me from the email I received from AIMA, my lawyer told me that today’s final approval is only for my wife. They contacted AIMA to inform them they never received my final approval. I’m inferring it was issued (without notification) in early November since my lawyer says payment must be made by December 9. I’m disappointed since I didn’t want to have to decide whether to pay the large fee while the time to citizenship is still up in the air. Anyway, here is our time line:
Dec. 12, 2021 - main application filed
Dec. 13, 2021 - payment made
Dec. 16, 2021 - wife’s application filed
Dec. 17, 2021 - wife’s payment made
Dec. 15, 2022 - pre-approval
Mar. 28, 2023 - biometrics invitations received for both applicants
May 23, 2023 - biometrics appointments in Lisbon for both applicants
Apr. 4, 2025 - AIMA requested new declarations from our bank and investment fund
Apr. 16, 2025 (approximate) - declarations submitted
Dec. 2, 2025 - final approval received (apparently just for my wife)
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I agree with you 100%. I also received notice of approval for my GV which I first applied for in May of 2021 on the day I arrived in France with a French long stay visa in hand.. I am also unwilling to pay the DUC while the date for starting the clock and the time until nationality in Portugal are still very much up in the air. France is my Plan B.
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2,092 days after my GV application was approved on March 2020, and 100 days after my first card was printed, I finally received my first residence card.
But here’s the new lesson I learned:
For months, I kept pushing my lawyer to follow up, telling her that the long delay after paying the DUC on July 4th was not normal. She kept insisting everything was normal. Eventually, I came to Lisbon myself — and once my lawyer finally checked, what happened?
The card had already been issued, sent to her office by post, returned because the office had moved, and was sitting at AIMA the entire time. It only needed a simple follow-up.
Apparently, many cards are being returned to AIMA. So if your card still hasn’t arrived long time after paying DUC, ask your lawyer to go to AIMA. And if they don’t do it, go yourself in person.
For me it took almost 6 years to receive the first residence card, while we should have the citizenship now! No news from my family DUC yet.
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Despite the prolonged delays and numerous obstacles, you’ve successfully reached the finish line. Congratulations.
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That is some lazy lawyering! Anyway, congrats on getting your card. Hopefully you have your A2 language certification and can push your lazy lawyer to file your citizenship application ASAP while the old rules are still in effect. Good luck!
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Agreed. Can highly recommend Madalena Monteiro having worked with her the last week, you’ll need someone that can move fast and isn’t going to drag their feet.
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Found out that the AIMA portal now lists my application as “Transferido SIISEF.” Under the old (pre-2025) process, this was thought to mean that you had received final approval and were transferred for card printing. Hopefully, it means the same for the new (2025 and after) process. Cautiously optimistic.
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That’s wishful thinking. I can tell you very clearly that the current “transferred” refers to a transfer to an AIMA office, which could be in Faro, Coimbra, Funchal, or other ones… but it still requires a lengthy formal approval process…There is no longer any pre-approval process. Formal approval only begins after biometrics appointment and all required documents are submitted at the appointment. Good luck.
Hi - I’m “old process” (next week will be a year since our Bios in Lisbon) and have been at least 68 days in “Transferido SIISEF” state… I’m checking the SEF website at least twice a day 
It’s hard to know what “Transferido SIISEF” really means these days, other than more of the usual maddening AIMA randomness. What I’ve read is…
4-Sept '25:
24-Oct '25:
And finally from our PT lawyer…
[“Transferido SIISEF”] is typically when AIMA starts the final verification, which can still take a few months because it requires consultations with SIS (Shengen Area information System) and with the Government in order to check the inexistence of a criminal record in Portugal… and those consultations are also suffering delays.
Congratulations! Wait DUC. AIMA sent it to me quickly, literally 1-2 days after changing the Accepted status to Transferred.
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Congratulations! When this happened to me in May, my lawyer told me it meant final approval. It took 21 days for the DUC to be issued, which I paid immediately, and then another 82 days for the card to be printed.
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Application: 16 Nov 2021
Biometrics: 20 Jan 2023 (Lisbon)
Final approval: 28 Nov 2025
DUC Issuance: 29 Nov 2025
DUC Paid: Dec 1 2025
With lawsuit on July 5 2024
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Hi everyone, here it is:
Application submission: Nov 9th, 2021
Pre approval: May 16th, 2022
Biometrics for all of the family: February 13th, 2023
Lawsuit: May 2025 (not sure if it was of any help)
Final approval: October 28th, 2025 (only main applicant)
DUC paid: October 29th, 2025
Not sure on when i am supposed to receive the card…mystery
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Received dependant applicant card, roughly four weeks after DUC payment for dependant.
Dates are:
Application: 6 March 2023
Pre-approval: N/A
Biometrics: 6 Jan 2025 (Porto)
Final approval: 22 Sep 2025
Residence card for primary received: 18 Nov 2025 (card printed on 5 Nov 2025)
Residence card for dependent received: 12 Dec 2025 (card printed on Nov 28 2025)
Biometrics was sped up due to lawsuit filing in September 2024.
It’s truly a miracle by AIMA standards, because the DUC for the dependent was paid on Nov 10th, and the dependent card printed two weeks later!
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One more update. Spouse got the final approval on December 4th, DUC paid on December 9th. Mom’s final approval still pending.
Still no card received for the primary applicant yet.
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FINALLY!!! Got my approval. Spouse hopefully soon. What a journey. High level timeline.
Applied November 21st. 2021
Biometrics February 6th. 2023
Final approval main applicant:Dec. 14th. 2025
Paid DUC: December 15th. 2025
Our application was in total limbo till I contacted one of the best lawyers in town in my opinion -Sara Ferreira de Oliveira. No body was able to track or give me any feedback on where our application was or any hope for a time line. Once I contacted Sara we got our approval in approx. 1 month. If anyone is looking for a great action oriented lawyer with fantastic communication you can DM me. All the best to those still waiting. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Take care
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