In late October 2025, Portugal’s Parliament approved one of the most consequential reforms to nationality rules in recent memory: the citizenship residency requirement could extend from 5 to 10 years — or 7 years for EU and CPLP citizens. The bill still awaits Presidential review, but the political message is clear: Portugal is moving away from “easy citizenship.”
By Explorer Investments • Updated 2025
Impact
All foreign residents
Residency → Citizenship
5 → 10 years
Clock Start
Card issuance
Realistic Timeline
12–15 years
The approved amendments (pending promulgation) extend the citizenship residency period for most foreign nationals. Crucially, the clock would begin at residence card issuance, not at application, meaning the effective journey can be substantially longer for applicants who face processing delays.
| Topic | Before | Now (Proposed) |
|---|---|---|
| Years to citizenship | 5 | 10 (7 for EU/CPLP) |
| When the clock starts | Application date | Residence card issuance |
| New requirements | A2 Portuguese | A2 + civic knowledge test |
| Who’s affected | Primarily new residents | All residents (no grandfathering in draft) |
Even with longer timelines, Portugal remains competitive because many investment categories allow residency to be maintained with low average physical presence (commonly cited as ~7 days/year; confirm thresholds at the time of application).
| Country | Required Days/Year | Time to Citizenship | Political Stability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | ~7 (avg.) | 10+ years | High — trust under scrutiny |
| Greece | 183 | 7 | Strong |
| Italy | None (residency) | 10 | Bureaucracy risk |
| Hungary | None | 8 | Political risk |
| Malta | Substantial | Variable | EU pressure |
““If your goal is a resilient EU base and global mobility — not immediate naturalization — Portugal still works. Capital stays productive through regulated funds, and families keep their options open.””
Portugal has delivered major policy shifts in recent years:
This time, however, investors point to no transitional protection, no grandfathering and a lack of explanation for multi‑year processing delays — creating a sense of rule‑change mid‑game.
| Suggested Driver | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Domestic political pressure | Electorate more sensitive to immigration |
| Perceived abuse | Concerns around “citizenship shopping” |
| EU agenda | Stricter stance on investment migration |
| Planning failures | Fast demand growth, limited admin capacity |
| Institutional misalignment | Parliament, Government & AIMA out of sync |
Bottom line: policymakers are signaling stronger integration expectations and fewer “phantom residencies.”
| Scenario | Impact | Likelihood |
|---|---|---|
| Law signed without changes | Severe trust damage | Medium |
| Constitutional Court review requires grandfathering | Reputation partially restored | High |
| Presidential veto | Temporary relief | Low–Medium |
| Government clarifies / adjusts | Market rewarms | Medium |
The Golden Visa is not dead — but it is different.
In investment migration, reputation is currency. Portugal’s next moves will determine whether it remains a premier EU residency platform or becomes a cautionary case study.
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André Bandeira
ab@explorerinvestments.com
Maria Campos Silva
mcs@explorerinvestments.comGet your complete, free guide to the Portuguese Golden Visa. Learn how to invest with confidence through Explorer Investments, the country's largest private equity fund.
André Bandeira
ab@explorerinvestments.comMaria Campos Silva
mcs@explorerinvestments.comCopyright © 2025 Explorer Investments
It is recommended to consult Chapter V of Decree-Law nº 162/2014, of October 31st, published in the Official Gazette, as well as its revision by Law nº 2/2020, of March 31st. The information included here is of a general nature, and therefore each potential investor should seek independent advice (e.g., legal, financial, tax, etc.)