Thanks for the update. Both of those documents seem to be related to the parent dependent family application.
@rbook12 My husband and I did biometrics in Lisbon on Sep 1 & 2 of 2022. On Nov. 9 our lawyer was asked for further info, to provide from us: “proof of legal entry in the country at the time of the biometrics appointment”. So it seems they are indeed processing Sep now. No word since then though.
@hay1733 it appears they are completing the basic checking. But final approvals seem to be stalled because of either absence of approving authority or they are awaiting new guidelines for the amended law.
With staff expected to be on holidays in December, it appears that the wait will spill over to 2024.
Hello. I did my biometrics in Lisbon on January 20 2023 but still didn’t hear back on approval and residence card. Anyone else did their biometrics early 2023 and got an update?
No, Lisbon is currently processing Aug+Sep 2022 biometrics. You probably won’t hear anything until March/April next year
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Thanks Chris, I was really hoping to get something before this year ends. What is usually the next step after biometrics are taken? Should I be waiting another level of approval or its just a matter of card issuance now?
Some people are asked to provide updated documentation (police checks etc), which is a clue that you’re getting close. Eventually your lawyer will advise that you’ve got your final approval, and ask you to make payment to AIMA (about €5,800 per applicant). Cards seem to follow within a month or two.
I keep a log of people in the Lisbon queue based on their postings on Nomadgate, and I put updates in this forum. Sadly, there’s been little to update for many weeks.
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Thanks for the info. So techically the program says that the applicant needs to keep his visa for 5 years before applying for citizenship. Does this mean that the clock started ticking already for me since I got my application approved or I can only start counting after I get my card?
Sorry to be continually the bearer of bad news, but the clock starts with the card issuance
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How long does it take to receive the card after final approval/DUC payment? Will AIMA notify you when it is ready or you need to write to them asking about it? Thanks
60+ days.
No notification.
Yourself or your lawyer will receive the card in the post.
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Here is the latest from my lawyer. I was not able to get anything useful from it. Maybe one of you will.
“Please note that we were at the SEF of Portimão and asked an update from the regarding to your application status.
They informed us that, all the applications which weren’t duly analysed and approved until the end of October are now pending approval, after the new agency (AIMA – which succeeded SEF in their competencies to approve, and issue residency cards to foreign nationals living in Portugal) have all of its organization duly in place and effective to approve all the pending applications now waiting, including yours. They didn’t give us any time prediction on when this will be ok.”
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As I read this, they are basically saying that the new AIMA staff is in place and ready to start analyzing applications which were not already approved by SEF before the transition. In other words, nothing new to report but we will use 193 words to communicate this to you.
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Thank you and LOL! I read it as they are NOT yet ready to approve as they are still standing the New organization up. I like your version better.
Anyone successfully filed a lawsuit recently to get the final approval? We’ve got a quote from our lawyers, but can’t decide if to proceed or not. We don’t live in PT yet. Don’t really feel like throwing more money at this venture but at the same time it really bothers us that we may have to wait another year, if not more (our biometrics was in Feb-23 in Lisbon).
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I’ve asked my lawyers to file a lawsuit for this - I did biometrics in March 2023 in Lisbon and still no news at all about the card. They are drafting the action right now, but it’s too soon for me to have any news to report about it.
Sorry if I missed this somewhere, but is there a lawsuit tracking spreadsheet?
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Good idea!
please keep us posted 
More than one lawyer has said you now need to live in PT for a lawsuit to help. They are rejecting those from people who dont live there.
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