Portuguese Republic
Portugal visa processing times
How long does each Portugal visa take? Below are the typical decision windows for all 7 routes we track, each sourced directly from AIMA (Portugal). Click any route to see the full breakdown, including what drives the timeline and whether a priority service is available.
Quick facts: The fastest route is the D7 visa (passive income / retirement) at 2 months – 6 months. The slowest is the Portugal Golden Visa (residence by investment) at 6 months – 18 months.
| Route | Typical wait | Sponsor needed? | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| D7 visa (passive income / retirement) Residence visa for non-EU nationals with stable passive income (pensions, rental income, dividends). | 2 months – 6 months | No | 2026-06-01 |
| D8 visa (digital nomad / remote work) Residence visa for remote workers employed by or freelancing for companies outside Portugal. | 2 months – 4 months | No | 2026-06-01 |
| D2 visa (entrepreneur / self-employment) Residence visa for business owners, founders, and self-employed workers establishing activity in Portugal. | 2 months – 6 months | No | 2026-06-01 |
| D3 visa (highly qualified activity) Residence visa for highly qualified workers with a Portuguese employment contract. | 2 months – 4 months | Yes | 2026-06-01 |
| Portuguese Student visa Residence visa for international students enrolled in Portuguese higher education or research programmes. | 2 months – 3 months | Yes | 2026-06-01 |
| Family reunification (residence) Residence authorisation for family members of legal residents in Portugal. | 3 months – 12 months | No | 2026-06-01 |
| Portugal Golden Visa (residence by investment) Residence-by-investment route; real-estate and capital-transfer pathways were closed in October 2023, but fund-investment and other options remain. | 6 months – 18 months | No | 2026-06-01 |
Source authority: AIMA — Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo. Processing times are indicative and change without notice — always confirm before applying.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest Portugal visa to get?+
Among the 7 routes we track, the D7 visa (passive income / retirement) has the shortest published decision window at 2 months – 6 months. Processing times are indicative and depend on case complexity, so always confirm the current figure on AIMA (Portugal).
Which Portugal visa takes the longest to process?+
Of the routes we track, the Portugal Golden Visa (residence by investment) carries the longest published window at 6 months – 18 months. Permanent-residence and family routes typically sit at the slower end, while short-term and points-tested routes tend to be quicker.
Are these Portugal processing times official?+
Yes. Every window on this page is the figure published by AIMA (Portugal), shown with the date it was last checked. The figures are indicative rather than guarantees, and the linked source is authoritative on the day you apply.