You don’t think a print out of the ARI portal is enough?
Actually, that’s what I also carried with me until I attended the biometrics and received a confirmation letter from SEF (on the spot). I never needed to use the print-out, and so I can’t tell you with certainty if it works.
Ok thanks. When i did biometrics i wasn’t living in Portugal so wasn’t aware if the importance if that document.
I can see on the ARI portal that it confirms I attended the biometrics, and I have an email from last week to say I have final approval.
I think these should suffice. Honestly, you should just have a bit more courage since you are not doing anything wrong. With the UK passport there’s not too much chance of being closely scrutinised.
1 Like
Yeah i think you are right. This is just my first time after overstaying and i cannot spend too much time in the UK so I am be cautious.
None of my business but just curios as to why you worry about “overstaying” in the UK on a UK passport? If taxes, then I am not sure as UK never checks people leaving the country. It’s not Schengen which have both way check.
Yes, tax related. They might not check but i do not want to risk it.
2 Likes
Hello everyone,
I applied for the Golden Visa (real estate investment) on December 2021. My wife and child applied on January 2022.
We completed our biometrics on August 7, 2025, and we also paid the DUC fees on the same day under the new system. Unfortunately, since then we have not received any update. Because of this, I filed a court case on February 4 2026.
I am a Turkish citizen with a Turkish passport. I have been living in Portugal for about 6 months. I entered Portugal with a tourist (Schengen) visa. I have documents showing that my biometrics were completed and that the DUC payments were made. However, I have already overstayed the 90-day limit.
I need to travel to Turkey soon and then return to Portugal because my family is here. I don’t expect any issue when leaving Portugal, but I am worried about re-entering. I don’t have a valid visa, only the documents related to my Golden Visa process.
My lawyer says that staying in Portugal is not a problem, but if I leave, I may have issues coming back.
Has anyone been in a similar situation? Any advice or experience would really help.
Thank you very much in advance. 
This thread may be relevant, and apparently Turkish Airlines (and Emirates) are very helpful!: Can I Enter Portugal with "OK to Board" Status? (I have only pre-approval) - #2 by Onward
1 Like
Have you had final approval?
In the SEF system, it still appears as ‘in transferred’
Me too.
Did you get an email from AIMA saying you have had final approval?
I have a flight back to the UK next week. I’m also worried about coming back.
Unfortunately, it is still showing as ‘in transfer’ in the system.
Wish you a luck
Regarding your application status i understand that your application is almost in the last phase, you may receive your card in near future. But who can predict when will it happen. Difficult situation, but your lawyer maybe right. That overstay will probably be a trouble to get a new schengen visa, even if you find a visa appointment soon which is also difficult these days.
I have read Turkish Airlines was accepting expired cards if you can provide the extension proof or application documents for renewal, but i am not sure this is also true before any card was issued. I guess they will not let you board, sorry.
Even if the airline accepts and brings you to Portugal you may still not be able to enter the country without a valid visa or residency card and have to return back. (And those long EES queues are also bringing additional complexity to the process.)
Will it create too muchtrouble for you to wait for your card away from yourfamily? i think this is the most important decision factor.
Ps: i am not a lawyer nor a consultant. Many of us here are also not. It is still better to discuss your final decision with those kind of professionals.
2 Likes
1 Like
No, that’s not quite correct: the text you are citing states that travel to other Schengen Countries is not allowed (technically speaking). However, travel outside of Schengen area is not specifically addressed. Hence the advice from my lawyer was different: you could travel to/from to a non-Schengen country directly from/to Portugal with a valid passport and a proof of a valid residency application on file (OK, that was for U.S. passport).
3 Likes
I agree with you — the part about not being allowed to travel to Schengen countries is very clear. However, there is no clear information anywhere about what happens when returning from a non-Schengen country, even when you have proof of completed biometrics and DUC payment.
It is quite obvious to me that you will be asked 3 times to show your visa/resident card at the departing airport. First the airline check-in’s staff will ask you. Secondly, when passing thru the security area you will be asked again. Thirdly, before getting on the airplane, there will be one staff to check your boarding pass and visa/resident card again. It happened to me at Istanbul Airport last year.
To avoid this problem, there is only one alternative i.e. having a passport which is able to enter Schengen without visa for example US passport as Roman said. Otherwise, be prepared that without resident card ready, you will be denied boarding and take taxi back home.
Did your lawyer quote any laws to back that up?
When did you apply for GV?