According to a report by Público, these investors with expired golden visas are prevented from entering or leaving Portugal, and if they do, they run the risk of being stranded in other countries.

According to data provided by the SEF to the newspaper, on June 28, 1,256 requests for renewal of ARI and 1,939 for family reunification were pending. There are also cases of people who have documents which expired two years ago and who still do not know when it will be renewed, according to reports from several people to the same publication.

SEF says it is “working on resolving technical issues related to the extension of the validity of documents, simplification of the ARI renewal system and other regulatory issues essential to the functioning of the platforms”, adding that “a new one is being prepared, with the opening of vacancies for concessions and renewals that will be launched later this year”.