Portugal’s parliament is scheduled to debate changes to nationality law this week (mid-oct). The Government already debated and approved an amended foreigners immigration law on September 30, 2025, which included stricter rules to curb immigration.
The discussion on the proposed amendments to Portugal’s Nationality Law was initially scheduled for this Wednesday within the Committee on Constitutional Affairs. However, the Socialist Party (PS) has requested that the debate be postponed to next week, likely to October 22.
Minimal Impact on Golden Visas
Legal and investment experts say the changes are unlikely to significantly affect Portugal’s Golden Visa program. Under current law, foreign nationals may apply for Portuguese citizenship after five years of legal residence. The amended Nationality legislation under discussion increases the residence to ten years for most applicants and seven years for citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries.
Legal experts expect that any reform will include transitional protections for current residents and pending visa applicants, given the government’s longstanding assurances of programme stability.
Our view is that the government is trying to protect Golden Visa investors from certain legislative restrictions, particularly with regard to family reunification, which will remain intact for them,”
– Diogo Capela, partner at Lamares, Capela & Associados, a Lisbon-based immigration law firm.
It is still too early to say whether or not it will actually be changed, as this topic has not even been discussed in parliament yet, said Diogo.
Still a long way for minority led Portugal government.
The Draft law approved by government must be approved by constitutional court and president of the republic to be officially implemented. If found unconstitutional will be vetoed. Until any changes are formally approved and rectified, the current rules remain fully in force.
Who Will be Protected?
Any future changes to the Nationality Law will apply universally, except to those who have already submitted their citizenship applications. Pending citizenship applications will continue to be assessed under the law in effect at the time of submission, safeguarding applicants against retroactive changes. It is important to note that being a current resident or holding a Golden Visa does not automatically protect investors under the current five-year path to citizenship.
Only applicants who have formally applied for nationality before the new law enters into force are expected to be “grandfathered” under the existing rules. Retroactivity is generally prohibited, but the law protects only citizenship cases which are formally submitted.
Permanent Residence – A Viable Option
Golden visa investors can apply for permanent residence after 5 years even if the new nationality law put into effect. Even if the path to citizenship is increased, Golden Visa holders and their families may secure Permanent Residence (PR). The PR for Investment Activity offers several advantages:
- No limit on absences from Portugal — holders do not need to comply with the standard 24-month consecutive, or 30-month interpolated absence rules (per 36 months).
- Valid for five years, with unlimited renewal; permanent residence cards must be updated every five years or when personal details change.
- Proof of Portuguese language knowledge is required.
US Interest is High
The interest among US investors remains all time high for Portugal.
US passport holders already have strong visa free perks, therefore a Portugal residence visa is more than enough to freely circulate within schengen area.
US investors continue to pick Portugal for proximity to US mainland, stable economy, long-term returns, and EU residency tied to investments .
After the property route scrapped, investment funds and cultural donation routes are the most popular routes for Portugal golden visa. Investment funds has outperformed traditional real estate and stocks in terms of returns with high liquidity.
Investors Watch Closely
GV experts recommend that any prospective applicants must closely watch developments as Portugal’s parliament finalises the citizenship legislation . The Golden Visa remains a secure and valuable option for obtaining residency in Portugal.
