I submitted my application however I don’t know how to pay.
One website suggests to wait for 2 business days.
Other websites suggest I should have a Portuguese online bank account for this.
Do I need to open an international bank account just for this?
Wow are you applying by yourself? Without using a lawyer?
There is a chap on this forum who came here two weeks ago, have not yet submitted his own application, but tells everyone that lawyers are too expensive and everyone should go solo just like him.
Looks like some folks believe him 
@michelle.watson.mda - to actually answer your question, there are two ways of paying your analysis fees:
By the way, I hope you know that you need a payment reference number, which is found printed on the DUC document, which is generated on the AIMA portal (again, can be done by yourself or by your lawyer).
Note also that If coming from the US, there are regulatory requirements that banks need to comply with which can shortlist who you can use.
More broadly, there are particulars to the banking system that warrant having a local bank. For example here are a couple screen shots from my online portal illustrating that there is a special function for paying the State’s fees. This, when combined with the reference ID Tommygunn referenced makes it simple.
There are numerous guides published that outline the general process, but establishing a taxpayer id (NIF) begins the process and leads to the establishing the bank. A local attorney really helps, especially when a walk to the banker/AIMA, etc is needed.
@anon46532550 please stop attacking respected forum members.
You also violate forum rules in addition to being incredibly disrespectful to denigrate people who are contributing to help others.
I prefer to think of it as “helping to stimulate the local Portuguese economy”
Sure it’s some money but compared to the overall GV fees, not that much.
I’m curious how @michelle.watson.mda even made their GV investment without a PT bank account.
The optimize fund?
I thought my lawyers told me the investment has to be made from a PT bank account so that the PT bank can provide a statement to SEF/AIMA that your funds are all from legit sources or something. But maybe I’m misremembering.
Exactly right 
The SEF manual, which presumably AIMA is still basically following, says (in the case of a fund investment):
O Requerente deve apresentar os seguintes documentos:
Declaração de instituição de crédito autorizada ou registada em território nacional junto do BP, atestando a transferência internacional (e efetiva) de capitais no montante igual ou superior a 500 mil euros, para conta bancária que seja titular;
Certificado comprovativo da titularidade das unidades de participação, livre de ónus e encargos8;
Declaração emitida pela sociedade gestora do respetivo fundo de investimento, atestando a viabilidade do respetivo plano de capitalização;
When I applied, I was told that meant I needed my own Portuguese bank account, that I should transfer funds from outside Portugal into that account, and that the bank would issue a certificate to that effect.
Thank you for your response! No believing anyone. I just didn’t know I needed the lawyer until I got to the final stage and just stumbled on this forum looking for an answer. Pretty depressing with so many people trying to convince not to start the process today, knowing what they know now. 
I tried to open the Atlantico bank account today but the application’s camera couldn’t’ recognize my passport’s scan no matter what.
I feel silly reaching out to the lawyers now, but I plan to engage them 1-2 years down the line when my application is approved. 
Thanks! My investment is completed and I have all the papers, I just need 500 euro for my application fee 
We are not taking the investment route. We did the donation and it doesn’t require the intermediate bank involved. We used Wise for the transfer.
OK - but the Manual has the same text for donations as for the investment route:
“Declaração de instituição de crédito autorizada ou registada em território nacional junto do BP, atestando a transferência internacional de capitais no montante igual ou superior a 250 mil Euros para conta bancária de que seja titular”
So I’m guessing at some stage - possibly not until the formal application bundle is compiled prior to biometrics a year or two from now- AIMA will want to see such a declaration from a Portuguese bank. I’d be a bit concerned what happens if you can’t produce one at the time. But perhaps I’m worrying unnecessarily.
My lawyer was clear that you want the transfer to go through a Portuguese bank, so that they can certify it to AIMA. There were one or two other “gotchas” that the lawyer warned me against that saved me a lot of grief. If it is done incorrectly, the AIMA can reject your application. I’m not sure that they would, just that they could.
See also this useful post:
Without going into the details, the company we worked with had their own bank so they provided the statements.
Michelle - the forum has a wealth of input and contributors with varying experiences. There is a lot to read and digest. Indeed, many contributors are rightly frustrated with the pace and meandering path the journey has taken. Politics exist in PT just like everywhere and in there has been some dumbassery on the various PT administration’s part that have impaired the GV/ARI Process.
But, keep your eye on the prize:
You are seeking something that few people on this planet achieve - dual citizenship with access with the EU. Freedom of choice of where to live and why. Something you and/or your kids (if any) will benefit from. Truly a generational gift. Why would one not expect some challenges in pursuit of this aspiration?
Who reasonably thinks one just walks up to the Citizenship order desk, pays some fees, and walks away with a passport? My family has been visiting Portugal since 2009 and views this opportunity as an immense privilege to live in an exceptionally wonderful country, and dealing with some bureaucracy is just part of the journey.
That said, like traversing any unfamiliar terrain, having a guide who is fluent in the local customs and affairs can ease the journey. This is the use-case for a decent attorney. If one is already expecting to invest several hundreds of thousands in this, a couple extra for expert assistance would generally be viewed as an astute investment. Pay for some quality help and ease your burden. Cheap out at your own expense.
An old proverb I would offer to my Scouting units: “If you want to go fast, go alone” “If you want to go far, go together”.
This forum is mostly “go together” as we all seek our destination.
Cheers.
