Portugal’s Borders and Immigration Service (SEF) has reduced the Golden Visa application backlog from 6,000 at the end of last year, to an entirely acceptable 1,300 - an 80% improvement.
Additionally, waiting times for applicants to be interviewed by an SEF employee in Lisbon, have been slashed from three months or more, to one day.
A spokesperson for the SEF commented there had been “an extraordinary level of recovery” in the Golden Visa processing system and that waiting list had reduced and of the 1,300 that were still waiting, most of these were, “due to a lack of essential documents or the need to clarify or update them or to fail to collect biometric data.”
The Golden Visa programme has seen foreigners buying property to a total value of just under €4 billion since it started in 2012.
The SEF said last year that it was certain offices that were dragging the figures down, mainly because applications had to be processed locally to the property being purchased and most were in Lisbon and Porto, and a lack of staff.
This rule was changed and the results have been swift and impressive.
Applications and renewals now are, “generally processed and completed within the time limits provided for by law,” - 90 days for initial Golden Visa approvals and 60 days for renewals.
With a few sane and effective alterations to the bureaucracy, Portugal is now running a slick and appealing inward investment offer.
