What happens when my Portuguese residency card (golden visa through investment in real estate) has been expired since April 2021 and I am unable to get an appointment with SEF for renewal?

Answers

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  Diogo Capela

  Lamares, Capela & Associados, Sociedade de Advogados

  July 11, 2022

  Unfortunately, delays in renewals of residence permits by SEF are common to all visa types. However, and before any public entity, the residence permits are considered valid until 31 December this year. The pandemic delayed all normal procedures and for this reason, even if expired, they are considered valid. There is still no perspective of when the SEF will regularize this situation, however, until the end of the year you do not have to worry. As for the possibility of cancellation of the Golden Visas by the government, this can only happen when investors do not comply with the requirements for the card's renewals.

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  Tiago Gali Macedo

  NEXT/Gali Macedo & Associados

  July 06, 2022

  All residence permits’ expiry dates (either those obtained via the Golden Visa program or any other residence program) have been extended until December 31st, 2022, as per the latest legal changes in force. The residence permits are valid even after that date, as long as the applicant proves that a renewal appointment has already been scheduled. As such, until December 31st, 2022, your residence permit will still be accepted as valid by the Portuguese authorities. Renewal appointments for residence permits issued under the Golden Visa program are very scarce, as SEF still hasn’t fully made available for any applicant to schedule them on their preferred dates. As for the Golden Visa program cancelation, and accordingly to the current information, that situation will not become a reality in the foreseeable future. Nevertheless, should it become real, the current residence permit holders could never be jeopardized.