The 5-Year Clock and AIMA Delays: How a New Law Changed Everything for Golden Visa Investors (2026)

André Bandeira
Thu, 23 Oct 2025 08:00:00 GMT
Legal Update, Golden Visa News, AIMA, Citizenship, 5-Year Clock

AIMA delays are the #1 fear for Golden Visa investors. But a critical law change (Art. 158-A) means the 5-year clock for citizenship may now start from your *application date*, not card approval. We explain.

The #1 fear for Golden Visa investors in 2026 is AIMA delays. Investors see 18-24 month processing times and ask: "Does this mean my 5-year path to citizenship is now really a 7-year path?"

The answer is No. A critical piece of legislation (Article 158-A) has fundamentally de-risked the Golden Visa timeline.

The Old Fear vs. The New Law (Art. 158-A)

Historically, the 5-year clock for citizenship started when your first residency card was *issued*. A 2-year AIMA delay meant a 7-year total journey.

The new Article 158-A of the Foreigners Law changes this. It states that the time is counted from the date the residency application is submitted and paid for (provided it is ultimately approved).

This is the most important update for 2026: Your 5-year clock now starts the moment your lawyer hits "submit." You are "earning" your 5 years while you wait for AIMA.

"This law de-couples your legal timeline from AIMA's bureaucratic one. Your citizenship clock starts on Day 1." — André Bandeira

The New Bottleneck: Your Fund Manager's Speed

This law means the new bottleneck is *starting*. To submit your application, you need subscription declarations from your fund. Some managers take weeks; this is lost time.

As Portugal’s largest institutional manager, Explorer Investments provides all necessary declarations within 24-48 hours, ensuring your 5-year clock starts immediately.

Contact our team to start your "sprint" to application.