Portugal Launches New Portal for Work Visa to Citizenship Conversion

The online site is another new development in Portugal, which transforms the process of processing new work visa into citizenship. Under this innovation, the AIMA agency has revamped new rules to facilitate immigrants’ regularization status if they have a valid job contract and Social Security contribution.

Key Highlights

• A new online portal has been launched by Portugal’s AIMA to accelerate the process of citizenship for foreign workers.
• The immigrants are required to have an employment contract and contribute to Social Security for a minimum period of one month preceding June 4, 2024, to be qualified.
• The new system employs AI and automation for faster processing by 50%.
• More than 1.4 million people applied for Portuguese citizenship in the past six years.

New Rules for Citizenship via Work Visa

The newly launched platform will help foreign workers who meet specific requirements to apply for Portuguese citizenship more easily. The key requirements include:

• A valid employment contract.
• Contributions to Portugal’s Social Security system before June 4, 2024.
• At least one month of Social Security contributions.

The use of AI and automation is expected to significantly reduce waiting times, making the application process smoother and faster for eligible applicants.

Improvements in the Golden Visa Program

AIMA has also launched a new online system to improve the Golden Visa application process, addressing previous delays. The key updates include:

• Electronic Document Submission: Applicants must upload all necessary documents via the ARI Portal.
• Automatic Biometric Appointments: From January 15, 2025, appointments for biometric data collection will be booked automatically.
• Fee Payments at Appointments: Applicants must pay residence permit fees during their biometric appointment.

Golden Visa Fees

The updated fee structure for Golden Visa applicants is as follows:

These changes aim to make the process more efficient and accessible to investors and skilled workers seeking Portuguese citizenship.

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