Long waits for residence application responses in Portugal may be coming to an end.
This follows a ruling by the Portuguese Supreme Administrative Court, which mandates the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA) to process residence authorization requests within a maximum of 90 days.
With this resolution, the goal is to safeguard the rights, freedoms, and guarantees of applicants, putting an end to situations of «indignity» resulting from the agency’s inaction, as reported by local media outlet Público.
Residence Applications: Thousands of Cases Pending
Currently, thousands of legal proceedings are pending due to these delays, reflecting a «dramatic situation» in the management of residence applications.
To address this issue, judges recommend utilizing legal mechanisms such as the «intimation for the protection of rights, freedoms, and guarantees,» which compels the state to respond within a three-month timeframe.
This is precisely the legal action that AIM Global has recommended to its clients who have been waiting for a response from the authorities beyond the legally established period.
Legal Consequences of the Ruling
The court warns that if AIMA fails to meet these deadlines, its leaders could face personal financial penalties.
This ruling harmonizes judicial criteria and establishes that all residence authorization requests must be treated with extreme urgency. Although judges cannot compel AIMA to grant authorizations, any rejections must be duly justified in accordance with current law.
Regarding the Golden Visa program, this judicial decision could have significant implications. The requirement to strictly adhere to legal deadlines could enhance efficiency in processing applications, increasing international investors’ confidence in the country’s migration processes.
However, it may also place additional pressure on immigration authorities to manage the volume of applications within the stipulated timeframes, potentially necessitating improvements in AIMA’s infrastructure and resources.
At AIM Global, We Assist You with Your Citizenship and Residence Applications
This ruling by the Portuguese Supreme Administrative Court reinforces the need for efficient and transparent management of residence authorization processes, which is crucial to maintaining Portugal’s competitiveness and attractiveness as a destination for residence and citizenship investment programs.
If you are interested in Portugal’s Golden Visa or any other visa options offered by the country, schedule a free consultation with us.
Our team of expert professionals, with offices in Santiago de Chile and Lisbon, is ready to help you achieve your global citizenship goals.
