Where to Apply for a Portuguese Visa from the U.S. — and What to Expect
If you’re planning a move to Portugal, one of the most critical parts of your journey is the visa process. Where you apply in the U.S. can affect how quickly your visa is approved — and once you arrive in Portugal, how long you’ll wait for your AIMA (residency) appointment.
We analyzed real-world data from U.S.-based Portuguese visa applicants to answer 4 key questions:
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How long does visa approval take?
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Are some locations faster than others?
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How long do people wait in Portugal for AIMA appointments?
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Where do you have to apply based on your state?
Approval Times (Average Office Times)
Approval Times reflect how many calendar days it takes from the day of your visa application to the day it’s approved.
Here are the average Approval Times for each U.S. consular/VFS location in 2025:
| Office | Avg Approval Time (Days) |
|---|---|
| New Bedford | 34.8 |
| New York | 54.8 |
| Houston | 61.9 |
| San Francisco | 72.9 |
| Boston | 74.5 |
| Washington DC | 78.7 |
| Newark | 81.6 |
| Miami | 97.0 |
✅ Fastest: New Bedford
? Slowest: Miami
Variable: VFS Global vs. Consular Locations
When we group offices by type, there’s a noticeable difference:
| Office Type | Avg Approval Time (Days) |
|---|---|
| Consular | 55.2 |
| VFS Global | 71.0 |
? Applicants at Portuguese consulates (Boston, Newark, New Bedford) are typically approved faster than those applying through VFS Global centers (Miami, NY, SF, etc.).
AIMA Appointments After Arrival
Once your visa is approved, you fly to Portugal — but your final step is attending an AIMA appointment (formerly SEF) to get your residence card. Just how long are people waiting?
Here’s the average wait time between arrival and the AIMA appointment in 2024–2025:
| AIMA Location | Days After Arrival |
|---|---|
| Santarem | 75.5 |
| Faro | 84.6 |
| Porto | 92.1 |
| Setubal | 93.2 |
| Funchal | 96.4 |
| Lisbon | 98.8 |
| Aveiro | 110.5 |
| Braga | 128.3 |
| Castelo Branco | 149.3 |
| Portimão | 151.6 |
| Alverca do Ribatejo | 170.3 |
| Lisbon (duplicate) | 196.0 |
? Some locations are seeing 3 to 6 months between arrival and appointment.
✅ This is expected — but it means you should plan ahead. You'll be legally residing in Portugal on a temporary visa sticker until your AIMA appointment is complete.
Sometimes it's literally impossible to get an appointment with AIMA. Calls and emails go unanswered leaving people in a gray area of immigration limbo. For this there is an option to file a lawsuit against AIMA and force them to give you an appointment. You can learn more about this pathway, which is becoming more common, here.
Centers: Where You Must Apply Based on Your U.S. State
Your U.S. state of residence determines where you must apply. Depending on your location, your application will go through either VFS Global or directly to a Portuguese consulate.
? Centers: Where to Apply for a Portuguese Visa in the U.S.
Your U.S. state determines whether you apply through VFS Global or a Portuguese consulate. Here's the breakdown:
?? VFS Global Application Centers (forward your documents to consulates)
| Location | Submission Channel | States Covered |
|---|---|---|
| New York | VFS Global – New York | CT, MI, NY, PR, USVI, Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands |
| Washington DC | VFS Global – DC | AL, AR, GA, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, MN, MS, MO, NE, NC, ND, OH, OK, SC, SD, TN, VA, WV, WI, DC |
| Miami | VFS Global – Miami | FL (falls under DC jurisdiction, submits via Miami) |
| Houston | VFS Global – Houston | TX (falls under DC jurisdiction, submits via Houston) |
| San Francisco | VFS Global – SF | AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands |
Portuguese Consulates (submit directly)
| Consulate | States Covered |
|---|---|
| Boston, MA | MA (except New Bedford), NH, ME, VT |
| New Bedford, MA | Southeastern MA — Bristol, Plymouth, Barnstable, Dukes, and Nantucket counties, incl. New Bedford, Dartmouth, Fall River |
| Newark, NJ | NJ, DE, PA |
Important Notes
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You must apply in the correct jurisdiction. Applying in the wrong center may lead to rejection or delays.
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Honorary consulates (e.g., in Providence, RI) do not accept visa applications.
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All long-stay visas (D category) require biometrics and in-person submission.
Quick Overview:
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Where you apply affects how long approval takes. Consular locations are faster than VFS Global centers on average.
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After you arrive, you may wait several months for your AIMA appointment — and that’s normal. Sometimes an AIMA lawsuit is the only way to get an appointment.
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Apply at the correct office based on your state — or risk delays or denials.
This real-world data helps you set expectations and plan confidently for your move to Portugal. If you would like to discuss our assistance in obtaining your visa for Portugal or our assistance obtaining your AIMA appointment, feel free to book a free consultation to discuss.
