On December 9, Ms. Sonia Pereira, former director of AIMA of the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service, and Mr. André Miranda, founding partner of Pinto Ribeiro Law Firm, visited WorldWay Group, where they were warmly received by Ms. Li Ma, Vice President of WorldWay Group, and other senior executives. Both parties engaged in in-depth discussions on Portuguese immigration policies, market hot topics, and conducted friendly and comprehensive exchanges on related matters such as investment immigration through Portuguese funds.
During the meeting, Ms. Li Ma, Vice President of WorldWay Group, warmly welcomed the visiting delegation from the former directors of AIMA of the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service and introduced them to the history of WorldWay Group, its leading position in the investment immigration industry, and its successful experiences and achievements in promoting Portuguese investment immigration, including successfully assisting several Chinese investors in obtaining residence rights and passports, as well as helping them invest in real estate in Portugal. She also expressed gratitude for the support provided by the Portuguese government in the past for WorldWay's promotion of Portuguese investment immigration.
Ms. Sonia Pereira, former director of AIMA of the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service, expressed her pleasure in visiting WorldWay and highly praised the outstanding performance of WorldWay Group in the European investment immigration field, as well as its tireless efforts and significant contributions to promoting the Portuguese investment immigration program. Additionally, she commended WorldWay for being the first to promote the Portuguese Golden Residence Permit program in China and achieving remarkable success. At the end of the meeting, both parties discussed how to further optimize the Portuguese investment immigration process, improve approval efficiency, and respond to market changes, exploring the possibilities for future cooperation. Ms. Li Ma expressed her anticipation of collaborating with the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service to jointly promote the development of the Portuguese investment immigration program in the Chinese market. WorldWay Group will continue to uphold the philosophy of "integrity as the foundation, customer respect" to provide high-quality services for more clients interested in investing and immigrating to Portugal, helping them start a new chapter in their lives in Portugal. After the meeting, both parties took a group photo in a friendly and harmonious atmosphere.
Ms. Li Ma, Vice President of WorldWay Group, and Ms. Sonia Pereira, former director of AIMA of the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service, along with Mr. André Miranda, founding partner of Pinto Ribeiro Law Firm, took a commemorative photo.
During this meeting, WorldWay directly posed questions regarding hot topics of concern to clients about Portuguese immigration to Ms. Sonia Pereira, former director of AIMA, and Mr. André Miranda, providing exclusive authoritative answers! This brought the latest first-hand information on Portuguese immigration to WorldWay's investors.
1. The European Union calls for the cessation of the "Golden Visa" by 2025. Will the Portuguese government terminate the policy?
The Portuguese Golden Residence Permit program has been strongly supported by the government since its launch in 2012. The stability of this policy has been validated in the past, and it has brought many positive impacts to the Portuguese economy. Therefore, the Portuguese government will continue to support this policy.
2. After AIMA replaced SEF, will the approval time for Portuguese immigration applicants speed up?
Since 2023, AIMA has officially taken over the Portuguese Golden Residence Permit business, replacing the previous SEF. Additionally, starting from September 2024, AIMA has implemented a series of measures, including hiring new staff, to effectively alleviate the backlog of immigration applications by increasing manpower and other methods, successfully shortening the waiting time for immigration applicants. Currently, AIMA's work efficiency has significantly improved, with the number of cases processed daily increasing from 800 to 5000. Of the 400,000 pending cases, half have already been effectively resolved. It is expected that by June next year, all backlog applications will be processed.
3. Portuguese citizenship is regarded as a convenient pathway to an EU passport. Is it really possible to apply in just 5 years?
Yes, according to the latest nationality law that came into effect on April 1 of this year. On January 4, 2024, the Portuguese Parliament officially passed amendments to the new Nationality Law, adding a fourth clause to Article 15 of the Nationality Law: When calculating the legal residence period stipulated by this law, the time elapsed from the application for a temporary residence permit is considered the legal residence period. Additionally, according to the requirements for citizenship applications, applicants must reach A2 level in Portuguese through either an examination or by completing 150 hours of Portuguese language courses.
4. Why are more and more Americans applying for Portuguese Golden Residence Permits?
From 2021 to 2023, American applicants have ranked first for three consecutive years. This is mainly due to Portugal's advantages in safety, reasonable cost of living, pleasant climate, and welfare system. Additionally, Portugal's education system attracts many families. Portugal offers high-quality educational resources, including international schools and bilingual programs, providing families with more choices. The healthcare system in Portugal is also highly praised, providing comprehensive and efficient medical services to residents. These factors combined make Portugal particularly appealing to American families.
5. What are the renewal and scheduling processes for the Portuguese Golden Residence Permit?
For applicants who have already obtained the Portuguese Golden Residence Permit, the immigration bureau has not opened renewal applications. Many clients' permits have expired or are about to expire, raising concerns about how to respond. Currently, the validity of all permits has been automatically extended to June 30, 2025. With AIMA fully transitioning to electronic operations, it is expected that online renewal applications will reopen by mid-next year, significantly improving efficiency.
WorldWay Group, ranked among Asia's top 500 brands, has focused on investment immigration for over 20 years. As an active promoter of European investment immigration projects, it effectively facilitates the development of European investment immigration in a manner beneficial to investors. WorldWay has deepened its involvement in the European investment immigration industry for many years, demonstrating a spirit of innovation and leading the industry with professional, excellent business capabilities and comprehensive services, promoting industry development and establishing a convenient channel for investors to access European countries through good government interaction, helping many families realize their dreams of Europe. WorldWay—an active promoter of European investment immigration projects—has introduced the "Portuguese Golden Residence Permit Program" to China as a professional immigration agency.
▪ In 2013, WorldWay became one of the first immigration agencies to promote the Portuguese Golden Residence Permit program in China;
▪ On September 4, 2012, the Portuguese Ministry of Internal Affairs officially proposed the "Golden Residence Permit Program." At the end of 2012, the President of Portugal and government officials met with senior executives of WorldWay to discuss the details of the Golden Residence Permit legislation; ▪ In April 2013, WorldWay, in collaboration with the Portuguese Embassy in China, held the "Launch Ceremony of the Portuguese Golden Residence Permit Program," introducing the program to China; ▪ In 2013, WorldWay organized the "2013 European Immigration Year" nationwide and held the "European Property Exhibition" themed on Europe in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Qingdao, leading to a wave of European investment immigration across China; ▪ WorldWay has maintained friendly interactions with the Portuguese government for many years, with senior executives of WorldWay meeting with prominent figures such as the President, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Ambassador to China. As an active promoter of European investment immigration projects, WorldWay has a professional team with over 13 years of experience in European immigration documentation, making it a reliable choice for your Portuguese immigration needs.
In the current context of tightening European immigration policies, WorldWay reminds all investors to take action as soon as possible, seize the initiative, and take advantage of policy benefits to realize their dreams of Europe! For a long time, the Portuguese immigration project has stood out in the immigration market due to its relatively low entry threshold and rich added value, attracting significant attention and favor from Chinese investors. Whether you are a family that values children's education, individuals pursuing a high-quality life, retirement planners, or investment enthusiasts, Portugal is an ideal choice for you. Currently, it is a good time to immigrate to Portugal, and we advise investors interested in immigrating to Portugal to seize the opportunity! At present, the Portuguese fund investment immigration project is a simple, quick, and safe immigration pathway, with straightforward application requirements, no language, educational, or business background requirements, and investments can be completed without entering the country. One application allows for immigration for three generations, with fast approvals. As a member of the European Union, Schengen Area, and NATO, holding a Portuguese residence permit allows for travel across 29 Schengen countries. After obtaining the Portuguese Golden Residence Permit, as long as you accumulate an average of 14 days of residence every two years, and after five years from the submission of the immigration application, you can apply for citizenship and obtain an EU passport.
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