Golden Visa Renewals Fully Online: AIMA Launches Digital Renovations Portal

Portugal’s immigration authority has taken another decisive step towards administrative modernisation. 

From 16^th February 2026, Golden Visa holders will be able to renew their residence permits entirely online through the newly operational Portal de Renovações, according to an announcement by the Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (AIMA) released this Thursday, 29 January.

The change marks a significant shift in how one of Portugal’s most internationally visible residency programme is administered. 

Renewal requests and the payment of all applicable fees will now be processed exclusively through the digital platform, removing the need for routine in-person appointments and introducing a more predictable, streamlined workflow for investors and their families.

AIMA explained that the move is part of its broader effort to modernise and debureaucratise its services. 

For a programme that has been criticised in the past years for administrative delays, the announcement is an important recalibration.

Under the new system, all Golden Visa holders and their family members must submit renewal applications and pay the corresponding fees solely via the Portal de Renovações, which becomes the single official channel for these administrative acts.

Importantly, AIMA has clarified that previously scheduled in-person appointments will not be cancelled, but their scope is now strictly limited to appointments scheduled due to invalid or missing biometric data. 

In practice, the in-person appointments will not be available for submitting renewal requests, which will now occur only online.

The administrative procedure for new applicants will continue to run as normal within AIMA’s systems and will culminate in a formal decision by the entity. 

If approval is granted, the effectiveness of the decision will remain conditional on the completion of in-person appointment for biometric collection, which is required for the issuance of the residence card.

In cases where biometric data is required but no prior appointment exists, the process is also being standardised. 

Following the analysis of the digital renewal application, AIMA will automatically schedule a biometric appointment, notifying the applicant of the date, time and location.

This appointment will be purpose-specific: biometric capture only. 

All other procedural steps will remain within the digital environment, a distinction that aims to improve the use of in-person capacity while reducing unnecessary travel and administrative congestion.

According to AIMA, the reform is designed to deliver several structural benefits: faster processing times, better allocation of in-person resources, fewer unnecessary appointments, enhanced data security and a more coherent user experience.

Beyond operational efficiency, the measure carries broader implications. 

By reinforcing predictability and procedural clarity, Portugal is seeking to strengthen confidence among international investors at a time when residency-by-investment programmes face increasing scrutiny across Europe.  

As Portugal continues to refine its immigration and investment frameworks, regulatory and procedural updates such as this are likely to remain frequent and operationally significant. 

For Golden Visa investors and residency applicants, timely and accurate interpretation of these changes is often as important as the changes themselves.

Portugal Homes will continue to monitor developments from AIMA and other relevant authorities closely, ensuring that clients receive up-to-date, complete and contextualised information on residency, property and investment-related matters in Portugal.