Portugal's Temporary Residence Permit delays create travel challenges for foreigners

Foreign nationals in Portugal are facing significant travel restrictions as delays in scheduling Temporary Residence Permit appointments extend up to six months beyond the expiry of the D visa, which itself is valid for 120 days. Currently, there is no option to extend the visa while awaiting the permit, according to applicants who were affected, as reported by Fragomen.

The delays coincide with the operational rollout of Portugal’s new immigration and border control agency, AIMA, which has been tasked with managing a large backlog of applications. The agency also introduced new immigration pathways, further straining its capacity to process permits efficiently.

The situation has worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly following the dissolution of the previous immigration authority, SEF, and the establishment of AIMA. These structural changes have contributed to longer wait times for appointments and processing.

Foreigner s impacted by the delays are advised to contact their case teams to evaluate potential risks and explore possible solutions to avoid interruptions to their international travel plans.

Portugal’s immigration authorities have not yet announced a timeline for resolving the backlog, leaving applicants to navigate extended uncertainty.