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Portugal Golden Visa Processing Times Hit Record 40 Months as Over 20,000 Applicants Wait

Portugal Golden Visa Processing Times Hit Record 40 Months as Over 20,000 Applicants Wait

Processing times for Portugal's Golden Visa programme have reached an unprecedented 39.6 months, with more than 20,000 applicants stuck in an administrative backlog that shows no signs of clearing quickly, according to the latest data from...

The Portugal Brief 20 Mar 2026

Mondego Flood Inquiry Begins: Five Engineers Appointed to Investigate Dike Failure and Climate Risks

Mondego Flood Inquiry Begins: Five Engineers Appointed to Investigate Dike Failure and Climate Risks

A panel of five specialist engineers has been appointed to investigate the catastrophic flooding along the Mondego River basin earlier this year, with a mandate to determine why a critical dike failed and whether Portugal's flood defences are...

The Portugal Brief 20 Mar 2026

ECB Holds Interest Rates Steady but Warns Inflation Risks Could Force Further Hikes

ECB Holds Interest Rates Steady but Warns Inflation Risks Could Force Further Hikes

The European Central Bank held its benchmark interest rates unchanged on Thursday but delivered a notably hawkish message, warning that persistent inflationary pressures driven by the Middle East energy crisis could force policymakers to consider...

The Portugal Brief 20 Mar 2026

Funchal Approves New Short-Term Rental Regulations as Madeira Tackles Housing Pressure

Funchal Approves New Short-Term Rental Regulations as Madeira Tackles Housing Pressure

The Funchal city council unanimously approved a new regulatory framework for short-term rentals on Thursday, marking the latest effort by a Portuguese municipality to balance tourism revenue with housing affordability. The proposal will undergo 30...

The Portugal Brief 20 Mar 2026

Portugal Rolls Out €25 Gas Subsidy and Fuel Support as Energy Prices Climb

Portugal Rolls Out €25 Gas Subsidy and Fuel Support as Energy Prices Climb

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro announced a package of emergency fuel support measures on March 18, 2026, as Portugal braces for rising energy costs linked to escalating conflict in the Middle East. The measures, approved following bi-weekly...

The Portugal Brief 19 Mar 2026

Tax Scam Alert: Fake Emails and SMS Messages Target Portuguese Taxpayers During IRS Season

Tax Scam Alert: Fake Emails and SMS Messages Target Portuguese Taxpayers During IRS Season

Portugal's Tax and Customs Authority (AT) has issued an urgent warning about fraudulent email and SMS campaigns targeting taxpayers during the current IRS filing period. The scams impersonate official tax communications, demanding payments for...

The Portugal Brief 19 Mar 2026

Portugal's Hotel Construction Boom: 70 New Properties and 7,520 Beds by 2028

Portugal's Hotel Construction Boom: 70 New Properties and 7,520 Beds by 2028

Seventy new hotels are currently under construction across Portugal, adding 7,520 beds to the country's accommodation stock, according to data from real estate consultancy JLL. Sixty percent of the developments fall in the high-end and luxury...

The Portugal Brief 19 Mar 2026

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