I get the impression that until recently, and probably for the great majority of applications in the queue, everything was submitted on paper. A computer could do a quick scan and reject early applications. If they are still following processes developed for pen-and-paper though, even if the documents are electronic, it wouldn’t be as easy.
I am afraid I will run out of page length here if I try to explain ‘what stops them’. In short, it is a combination of the current regs to the LdN, and the TC ruling interpreting them.
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No, it could not. If you read the regs you’d know why..
Ok, I’ll try to be super concise.. 
The current LdN as it stands allows a certain scenario, where an applicant has a full right to submit an application, but the ultimate decision on such application would be conditioned on the fulfilment of a future event. That future event is NEITHER in the hands of the applicant, NOR in the hands of IRN. So - the IRN has no other choice but ‘wait’ and make a final decision on the conditions fulfilled at the time of such final decision. NOT at the time of submission because it is physically impossible under the current law.
TC provided a few scenarios of that kind. The logic for all of them is that the date of the final decision of the IRN is indeed the point in time that matters for considering the fulfillment of the necessary conditions. Now if you ask me: “what about the condition of fulfilling 5 years of legal residence?” - I am afraid you’d need to read the Regulations to understand how it is checked, and arrive at your own conclusion..
Okay, I assume you are talking about the CdT (or similar doc) which IRN requests from AIMA.
What about the issue that the application form says you have 5 years residence at the time of signing? How to avoid that being a fraudulent declaration?
No, I meant a different scenario actually provided within the TC ruling, related to certain implications of Art.15(4) of the LdN.
But I like your train of thought there.. 
The application form should not be of any concern, as it is just a form but not the law itself or the regs. To be super squeaky clean you may just enclose a letter with your additional explanation and tick the box ‘other’ on the form.
Okay, but can you answer this question?
Or put another way, in your view, the applicants reaching five years from ARI application date how far in the future could use this method and expect not to reach “final decision” too early to be denied due to lack of fulfilling five-year requirement?
For example, is it too early for December 2021 ARI applicants => December 2026 five-year completers to apply now?
The duration before citizenship decision quoted to me ( by lawyer) was 24 to 30 months after submission
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Dragging this thread back on its topic of GV renewals…
I have spent some time reading this thread but there’s too much chatter and noise to wade through so apologies for asking what I imagine is a common question here:
Our GVs are due for renewal in April and I’ve just had an email from the lawyers we originally used (CAIADO GUERREIRO) with their offer to handle the renewal. They are asking for €2000 each making a total of €4000.
Please can you let me know how much your lawyers charged per person and if you can recommend them. I know there are a couple of firms generally mentioned in this forum who seem to be on the ball so I will reach out to them separately because this fee seems to be about double what I seem to remember others charge.
I know that we are considered stupid foreigners by some actors in the GV space and this firm charges high and uncompetitive fees for everything (house purchase, wills, company incorporation) so I am happy to move lawyers now if the incoming law firm can assure me of a smooth transition.
Thanks for any help you can give me.
My renewal is Feb and I paid €3750 for the two of us (€2500 main applicant, €1250 dependent) so yours is not too far off. I am using LVP Advogados and am generally happy with them.
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I used Caiado before and stopped using them due to high fee and services are not on par with their expensive cost. I asked one different lawyer which later on quoted me 1000 Euros/person. However, I saw that in this forum someone already posted that his/her lawyer charged only 350-400 Euros/person/renewal. I finally decided to handle renewal myself. I emailed AIMA myself via the contactenos platform and got a reply from AIMA with the appointment. My dependent is going to renew in April 2026 and I will accompany my dependent to the Aima for the renewal process. I will update once my dependent finishes the renewal process.
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@live2learn I admire your fortitude. Just reading that line in your reply “I finally decided to handle renewal myself” got my heart pounding and I felt my blood pressure rising. Thanks for the figures though. I can handle anything up to around €1000 each but €2000 is unreasonable. CG is such a shame. They were generally good with the original application and successfully got the summons executed against AIMA in December 2023 which is why we got our cards issued in April 2024. But their fees are just way out of control. I guess office space in that premium location has to be paid for somehow.
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It’s all about greediness. I think their office has been there for years. Maybe they might have bought this office long time ago. Don’t be afraid of anything. Lawyers try to abuse foreigners like us if they see our fear. Just prepare all same documents as you did in the first biometric + 3500 Euros ready in portuguese bank account. I am sure that it’s more than enough to pass the renewal.
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I was charged €1000 by NSM Lawyers last year for my renewal as main applicant (besides the AIMA fee of course) and I’ve found them pretty good. They were also successful with legal action to get my daughters their long-overdue biometric appointments.
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€2500 for two, with them attending the appointments.
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€1,000 for NSM Lawyers and they have been handling my case since Dec 2020. They are professional and good.
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Thank you for all the replies and input. It’s CG’s loss for being so greedy. Though I have no complaints about their handling of the original application, I have asked them for quotes for buying property, writing wills, and incorporating a business, and they have always been extortionate and lost my business. At this point, I shake their hand and move on. Wish me luck with our renewals.
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Just posting this here.
Ditto, ditto
Pls post when you receive renewed card. I will do the same.
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