AIMA Golden Visa Timelines 2025: A Manager's Step-by-Step Guide for Fund Investors

André Bandeira
Mon, 20 Oct 2025 09:30:00 GMT
Golden Visa Guide, AIMA, Process, Market Trends, Golden Visa Portugal

Worried about AIMA delays? We demystify the Golden Visa process for fund investors, from the critical subscription documents to your final residency card.

LISBON, PORTUGAL - October 20, 2025 - The number one question from Golden Visa investors in 2025 isn't about returns; it's about AIMA approval times. The bureaucracy can be confusing and cause anxiety.

In this guide, we provide clarity. We demystify the process and separate what *you* control (your investment) from what *AIMA* controls (the application process).

Key Insights for Fund Investors:

Phase 1: The 7-Day Sprint (Your Part). We explain how getting your NIF, bank account, and fund subscription documents from an institutional manager like Explorer can be completed in just one week.

Phase 2: The AIMA Marathon (Their Part). A clear breakdown of the application, pre-approval, biometrics, and final card issuance.

The "5-Year Clock" Explained: We clarify that your 5-year countdown to citizenship *only* starts when your first residency card is issued, not when you invest.

Why Private Equity is the Perfect Match: We analyze why a patient, 8-10 year PE fund is strategically aligned with AIMA's timeline, unlike high-risk VC funds.

"Investors worry about AIMA's timeline. We tell them to focus on the investment's timeline. A PE fund is patient. It's built to wait with you, growing in value, while the bureaucracy runs its course." - André Bandeira, Explorer Investments.

Read the full investor's guide here.