Effective April 27, 2026, there will be new changes to the visa application rules for applicants with appointments at the Portuguese Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA).
According to the new regulations, applicants who already hold an AIMA appointment will no longer be eligible for a standard Schengen short-stay visa when traveling to Portugal to complete residency-related procedures; instead, they must apply for an E6 category Portuguese national visa. If a Schengen visa is still applied for with this purpose, the application may be rejected.
This means that Portuguese immigration applicants need to pay closer attention to visa categories, document preparation, and processing times when arranging their travel to Portugal.
On one hand, ensure sufficient time is reserved for visa processing.
01. Compared to a standard Schengen short-stay visa, a Portuguese national visa usually requires more time for processing. The processing time for a national visa can take up to 60 days. Therefore, we remind all applicants planning to travel to Portugal for immigration procedures to plan ahead and reserve sufficient time for their visa application to avoid any impact on their travel arrangements.
On the other hand, prepare key application documents in advance.
02. According to current requirements, applicants need to submit basic documents similar to those for a Schengen visa and must hold an AIMA appointment. It should be noted that applicants do not need to provide proof of solvency or return flight reservations, but they must submit a criminal record certificate. This serves as a reminder to applicants to prepare in advance to avoid being unable to complete the process as the submission date approaches.
This change in visa rules is part of Portugal's ongoing efforts in recent years to standardize immigration management processes, promote digital services, and alleviate case backlogs. In recent years, AIMA has successively advanced the development of online services. For example, AIMA has launched online services related to residency renewal and, as of February 2026, has opened online channels for Golden Visa ARI renewals. Applicants can submit renewal applications, upload documents, and complete relevant processes through the online system, while offline steps are focused more on necessary biometric data collection. At the same time, Portugal is also working to process a large number of AIMA-related backlogged cases.
While the application process is being continuously optimized and standardized, the core value of the Portuguese immigration program remains prominent and continues to maintain strong appeal in Europe and globally. As a member of the European Union and a Schengen country, Portugal has always been one of the European destinations for high-net-worth families. After obtaining Portuguese residency through compliant means, applicants can enjoy the convenience of residing, living, studying, and traveling within the Schengen Area.
For families hoping to establish their European status as soon as possible, they should seize the current window of opportunity. Currently, you can apply for the Portuguese Golden Residence status for three generations of your family by investing from 500,000 EUR through the Portuguese fund investment immigration program.
In addition, you can also immigrate to Portugal through the Portuguese cultural and artistic donation program. According to the law, applicants only need to invest 200,000 EUR to apply for the Portuguese Golden Residence status for three generations of their family, obtaining an EU passport conveniently at a low cost.
For more details on Portuguese immigration, please contact us in Mainland China at 400-138-2929, or our Hong Kong customer service center at (852)2802 8798.