WIKI: HOW-TO: Golden Visa Renewal Mega Thread (January 2025 →)

Residencies & citizenships Portugal Golden Visa
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I had my lawyer send me my first card via DHL. Of course it went into one of those flimsy tyvek envelopes, since that’s the cheapest way to do it, and why would you think…

DHL left it by my garage door while we were out. This is 2021, COVID of course, they didn’t feel a need to get a signature or anything.

I live on a windswept hill near the top of a 25pct grade.

The wind blew it down the hill without my knowledge. After all, an A4-size tyvek envelope with a residence card in it bears a good resemblance to a piece of flyaway plastic trash.

I kept wondering where it went. The lawyers said DHL said it was delivered, and knew not what else to do, and of course DHL would do nothing. Drama ensued for several days, including learning getting SEF to issue a card would take forever and involve much drama…

I happened to spy it at the bottom of the garden 30ft below the house, caught in some weeds. Thankfully that stopped it, because the next stop was all the way across a 2 acre lawn into the woods…

I now tell my lawyers to hang onto cards until our next visit where I can take it from their hands in person despite the annoyance of driving into Marquis do Pombal. (Our place is up by Nazaré; we almost never go into Lisbon.) They don’t really understand but it doesn’t bother them either. Especially if I take them to unch.

Just a reminder to be aware of EVERYTHING that could possibly go wrong. :slight_smile:

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Indeed - always get your full value from the lawyer…
Btw, - that’s a lot of lawn… do you mow it ? Supposed to be retiring in Portugal…

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yes, I mow it. deere zero turn. not retired yet…

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Follow the channel “PAIIR - Portuguese Association of Immigration, Investment and Relocation” on WhatsApp: PAIIR - Portuguese Association of Immigration, Investment and Relocation | WhatsApp Channel

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Update on this: repeating information posted here

Our lawyer told us that though newer renewal appointment mails had wording which waived physical presence requirement in most cases, our mails did not contain that wording, as they were from an earlier version of the renewal process. They told us it would be best to turn up in person, so we did. AIMA did take all our biometrics and photographs, and photocopies of our passports.

In general, AIMA does not migrate people on old processes to updated ones, so if possible, I would strongly suggest those who got the old-style renewal mail plan to attend in person.

Please clear all plans for the day - AIMA appointments can be delayed by hours. e.g. if you have a 10 am appointment, don’t assume you can catch a 5 pm flight.

Also: I can confirm that real estate investors and dependents are indeed charged the low D2 rate for renewals, approx €200.

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I’m waiting for an appointment notice at the moment and was also warned I might have to show up in person (although I’m not a real estate investor). Thanks for that confirmation. Hopefully the letter will make it clear that I can send someone.

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I’m not sure if this is the right place to ask but has anyone been able to Reschedule an appointment for renewal of residency cards?? I have several clients that I represent here in Portugal (I’m not a lawyer, just rep) and we requested renewal appointments and got 7 out of the 10 appointments all for the same day in completely different parts of the country. There is no way I can be at all of them. How can I go about rescheduling? There is a calendar icon on the portal but the drop down windows for month and day are blank. No way to fill it out. Any suggestions??

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Good news! Today I received the appointments to renew my wife and two children’s residency permits on the same day, time, and location.

The renewal request was submitted on August 9th through the website https://contactenos.aima.gov.pt/contact-form

The image is a notification regarding an appointment to the AIMA agency in Lisbon, detailing information about the renewal of a residence permit for investment, appointment management options, and contact details. (Captioned by AI)
The image is a notification regarding an appointment to the AIMA agency in Lisbon, detailing information about the renewal of a residence permit for investment, appointment management options, and contact details. (Captioned by AI)1080×951 192 KB

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When was the expiry date of permits, approximately?

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Wife and daughter due on March, 2025 and son due on July, 2025

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Congratulations. Good to know the wheels are turning, although it is perplexing that those with expired permits from 2023 and 2024 still haven’t been given renewal appointments…

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I now realize that in Law 56/2023 (page 40) the legislation is clear that when renewing the Residence Permit for Investment it must be converted into a residence permit for entrepreneurial immigrants, which is the D2 visa, with a significantly lower renewal fee.

CAPÍTULO V

Autorizações de residência para atividade de investimento

Artigo 42.º

Residence permits for investment activities

1 — New applications for residence permits for investment activities, granted under the terms of subparagraphs i), iii) and iv) of paragraph d) of paragraph 1 of article 3 of Law no. 23/2007, of July 4, in the wording prior to the entry into force of this law, shall not be admitted, under the terms set out in its article 90.º-A, from the date of entry into force of this law.

2 — The provisions of the previous paragraph do not prejudice the possibility of renewing residence permits for investment activities when such permits were granted under the legal regime applicable up to the date of entry into force of this law.

3 — The provisions of the previous paragraph are also applicable to the granting or renewal of residence permits for family reunification provided for in article 98 of Law no. 23/2007, of July 4.

4 — The provisions of paragraph 2 also apply to citizens holding a residence permit for investment activities and their family members who meet the requirements set out in Article 80 of Law No. 23/2007 of 4 July, and wish to apply for a residence permit for permanent investment activities, with the exception of the provisions of paragraph b) of No. 2 and No. 3 and 4 of Article 85 of the same law.

5 — In the cases provided for in the previous paragraphs, renewal shall determine the conversion of the residence permit into a residence permit for immigrant entrepreneurs, under the terms of Article 89, § 4, of Law No. 23/2007 of 4 July, and their holders must comply with the minimum period of stay of seven days, consecutive or interspersed, in the first year and of 14 days, consecutive or interspersed, in subsequent two-year periods.

https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/detalhe/lei/56-2023-222477692
https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/detalhe/lei/23-2007-635814

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Our lawyers requested our renewal appointments the week of August 11. We received all 3 of our appointments yesterday (12 September). (My daughter is still waiting for her first card.) The appointments are all for the same time in Porto on 9 December. Only our lawyer has to go. I was shocked that the renewal fee she told us was only €177,40 for all 3 of us. I was expecting the much higher fees referenced above. I knew of the lower fees for real estate investors, but our investment was in a real estate FUND and not directly in real estate. Anyway, it was a pleasant surprise if it holds.

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That’s good to know. My lawyer requested an appointment that same week but hasn’t heard back yet, so hopefully not too long now.

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Just to note, the D2 fee should be €181.50 per person.

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Thanks for sharing this. Do you know if your lawyer requested the renewal through the ARI portal, or one of the AIMA sites: https://services.aima.gov.pt or through https://contactenos.aima.gov.pt ?

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Applied through the https://contactenos.aima.gov.pt/contact-form portal on 13 August. Received my appointment email today for 15 December in Lisbon.

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Congratulations on getting an appointment. Were you given a link to make a payment for the renewal?