Portuguese courts end delays in residency applications
The long waits for those awaiting a response to their residency applications in Portugal may be coming to an end.
This follows a ruling by the Portuguese Supreme Administrative Court, which obliges the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) to resolve such requests for residence authorization within a maximum of 90 days.
This resolution seeks to protect the rights, freedoms, and guarantees of applicants, putting an end to situations of "indignity" resulting from the agency's inaction, the local media outlet reports. Public.
Residency applications: Thousands of pending cases
Today there are thousands of pending legal proceedings related to these delays, reflecting a "dramatic situation" in the handling of residency applications.
To address this problem, judges recommend the use of legal mechanisms such as “intimation for the protection of rights, freedoms and guarantees”, which obliges the State to respond within three months.
This has been precisely the legal action that AIM Global has recommended to its clients who are waiting for a response from the authority, for a period longer than legally indicated.
Legal consequences of the ruling
The court warns that if AIMA does not meet these deadlines, its leaders could face personal financial penalties.
This ruling unifies legal precedent and establishes that all applications for residence permits must be treated with extreme urgency. Although judges cannot compel AIMA to grant permits, any denials must be duly justified in accordance with current law.
Regarding the program of Golden VisaThe court decision could have significant implications. Requiring strict adherence to legal deadlines could improve the efficiency of application processing, increasing international investors' confidence in the country's immigration procedures.
However, it could also put more pressure on immigration authorities to manage the volume of applications within the established deadlines, which might require improvements to AIMA's infrastructure and resources.
At AIM Global we advise you on your residency and naturalization applications
In summary, this ruling by the Portuguese Supreme Administrative Court reinforces the need for efficient and transparent management in residence authorization processes, which is crucial to maintaining Portugal's competitiveness and attractiveness as a destination for residence and citizenship investment programs.
If you're interested in this country's Golden Visa, or any of the visa options it offers, schedule an appointment. free advisory meeting us.
We have a team of expert professionals and offices in Santiago and Lisbon. And we'd be delighted to help you bring your global citizenship projects to life.
