The same source revealed that the renewal of the golden visa every two years is mandatory, and the Border Services Agency has clarified in this regard: "The acceptance of documents and visas related to permanent residence of foreign citizens in their own country has been extended

According to a report provided by Publico, the Portuguese Foreigners and Border Services Agency (SEF) announced that a total of 19,000 golden visa renewal applications were pending, accounting for more than 60% of the total. The same source revealed that the golden visa is renewed every two years, and the Border Services Agency has clarified in this regard: "The acceptance of documents and visas related to permanent residence of foreign citizens in their own country has been extended to December 31, 2022."

Home people living in Portugal, whose residence permit will expire on December 31, and the document can be automatically updated through the website of the Foreigners and Border Services Agency (SEF).

A source from SEF told Lusa that about 33,000 immigrants can automatically renew their residence permits.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this two-year automatic residence permit renewal measure was implemented in May 2020. "After the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a health emergency, measures to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of foreign citizens' residence permit application documents must continue to be followed."

The government has reason to extend this process, citing “In view of the need to continue to ensure that applications pending in the SEF are evaluated quickly, the reasons that result in the implementation of the simplified procedure to investigate the application for residence permit remain in effect”.

Automatic renewal

According to SEF data, within two years, about 200,000 foreigners were able to automatically update their residence permits. Just register on the SEF website and the files will be sent to their homes.

In recent days, it has been reported that thousands of immigrants, most of whom are Brazilians, cannot renew their residence permits, which have expired for a period of time and are therefore unable to leave Portugal, and many are unable to find a job or open a bank account.

In a reply to Lusa, the SEF stated that due to the epidemic, the decree approved in March 2020 "protects" the rights of foreign citizens, which "ensures the validity of documents and visas related to staying in their territory before December 31, 2022".

According to SEF, these documents will continue to be accepted “after December” “as long as the holder proves that they have arranged a corresponding renewal”.

The foreign population living in Portugal exceeds 800,000.