Portugal Citizenship Changes have been approved on October 28 by the Portuguese Parliament, setting the new rules for Portuguese nationality. The proposal, which was supported by the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, and the right-wing nationalist party Chega, passed with 157 votes in favor and 64 votes against, with no abstentions recorded.
According to the amended law, the residency requirement has become 7 years for citizens of EU Member States and Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), and 10 years for all other nationalities. Another amendment specifies that children born in Portugal to foreign parents will be eligible for Portuguese citizenship only if at least one parent has legally resided in the country for a minimum of five years, instead of the current requirement of just one year.
The newly approved law amended several key areas, including changing the point at which the residency counting timeline begins, introducing language, civics, and state knowledge assessments, strengthening conditions on family reunification, counting cumulative residence, and protecting pending applications.
In this article, we will explore the newly enacted parliamentary law and what will happen next, including its impact on current and future visa applicants. We will also highlight the reasons behind the program’s enduring appeal as a valuable investment choice despite the extended citizenship process.
What will Happen Next?
Although the Parliament has approved the law, the legislative process is not yet concluded. The approved version will now be submitted to the President of the Republic, who will have 20 days to:
- Promulgate the law and formally approve it.
- Exercise a political veto by returning it to Parliament with a reasoned message
- Or request a preventive review of constitutionality from the Constitutional Court, should there be doubts about the law’s conformity with the Constitution. If the President opts to refer it to the Constitutional Court, the Court must issue its decision within 25 days, if no urgency is requested.
Regulatory updates: The regulation of this law shall be issued within 90 days from the date of its publication.
Parliament Enacts Portugal Citizenship Changes
Portugal, a nation of approximately 10.5 million residents, has seen a notable rise in immigration over recent years. In 2025, AIMA issued 386,000 residence permits, marking a 60% rise from the previous year. The increasing number of residence permits has become a major political issue in the latest national election, during which the far-right Chega party emerged as the primary opposition force. Following this debate, Portugal’s Parliament has enacted a new law resetting the naturalization timeline. The amendments included:
- Extending Years of Legal Residence
According to the new law, citizens from the European Union Member States and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) must now complete seven years of legal residence before they can apply for Portuguese Citizenship. Applicants from other nationalities will now have to complete a ten-year legal residence instead of five before submitting the application.
- Requirements to grant Citizenship
| New Law | Current Law |
| Applicants must be of legal age under Portuguese law. | Be of legal age or emancipated under Portuguese law. |
| Have legally obtain residency for at least 7 years in the case of nationals of countries with Portuguese as an official language and citizens of EU Member States, or 10 years in the case of nationals of other countries. | Have legally obtain residency for at least 5 years. |
| Demonstrate, through an exam or certificate, sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language and culture, of the history, and of the national symbols. | Demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language. |
| Demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the fundamental rights and duties inherent to Portuguese nationality and of the political organization of the Portuguese State. | (N/A) |
| Formally declare their adherence to the fundamental principles of the democratic rule of law. | (N/A) |
| Have not been convicted, by a final and binding judgment, to a prison sentence equal to or exceeding two years, for a crime punishable under Portuguese law. | Have not been convicted, by a final and binding judgment, to a prison sentence equal to or exceeding three years, for a crime punishable under Portuguese law. |
| Not constitute a danger or threat to national security or defense, namely through involvement in activities related to terrorism, violent crime, or highly organized criminality. | Not constitute a danger or threat to national security or defense, namely through involvement in activities related to terrorism, violent crime, or highly organized criminality. |
| Not be subject to restrictive measures imposed by the United Nations or the European Union. | (N/A) |
| Have the capacity to ensure their own subsistence. | (N/A) |
- Revised Citizenship Eligibility for Children Born in Portugal
Another amendment specifies that children born in Portugal to foreign parents will be eligible for Portuguese citizenship only if at least one parent has legally resided in the country for a minimum of five years, instead of the current requirement of just one year.
- Residence Period Starts from Permit Issuance
One of the most vital Portugal Citizenship changes is related to the start of the legal residence countdown. Under the new law, authorities begin counting citizenship eligibility only when a residence permit is granted, not at the time of residency application. This change has significant implications for all current residence permit holders who have not yet filed the Citizenship Application, as it may extend the total qualifying period for nationality acquisition.
- Protecting in Progress Citizenship Applications
Any citizenship applications already in progress at that time will continue to follow the rules of the current law. Approval of these pending applications will depend on whether they met the requirements in effect at the time of submission.
In contrast, ongoing or pending residence processes are not protected and will be subject to the new law once approved.
- Amendment to the Criminal Code
An amendment to the Portuguese Criminal Code was also approved, creating a new ancillary penalty of loss of nationality in cases of conviction for serious crimes.
Impact of the Portugal Citizenship Changes on Golden Visa Holders
Here are the changes that may affect Portugal Golden Visa holders:
- The new law states longer eligibility periods for citizenship, which amount to 7 years for EU and CPLP nationals and 10 years for all other applicants.The residency period for citizenship eligibility begins when the residence permit becomes effective rather than when the application is submitted.
- The new law protects all citizenship applications submitted before its implementation date, but existing residents who have not started their citizenship process might lose their eligibility for the previous rules.
- The new law introduces a new penalty allowing loss of Portuguese nationality for convictions of serious crimes, with details to be defined in future regulations.
- The new law includes two main regulatory changes, which require citizens to pass language and civics tests and restrict their ability to obtain automatic nationality.
Why Portugal Golden Visa is Still Attractive
Despite the Portugal Citizenship changes, the fundamental advantages of the Golden Visa program remain numerous. The country remains one of the most attractive destinations in Europe because it offers investors a direct route to live, work, and travel across the EU in exchange for a qualifying investment. Portugal continues to attract global interest thanks to its strong infrastructure, political stability, quality healthcare and education, and appealing lifestyle advantages.
Portugal maintains its position as one of the few European nations operating a golden visa program. With the Portugal Citizenship changes, the program still grants automatic recognition of dual citizenship to its citizens.
Golden Visa holders can still enjoy the program’s myriad benefits, including visa-free access to the Schengen Area, as well as access to Portuguese public healthcare and education services. Investors can still have the chance to obtain Portuguese citizenship even if the residency requirement is extended.
After holding a Portuguese Golden Visa for 5 years, an investor can obtain permanent residency and liquidate their investment while continuing to enjoy the Golden Visa benefits.
The program maintains attractive investment choices, the most important of which is investing in equity and venture capital funds. The investment fund option has a lot of advantages that other investment paths lack. It requires a reasonable investment amount of €500,000. Portuguese legislation requires investment funds under the Golden Visa Program to maintain a diversified portfolio by limiting the percentage allocated to any single asset or investment.
The ongoing benefits of Portugal’s residency-by-investment program demonstrate the nation’s dedication to preserving an attractive and powerful program. Its successful Golden Visa program proves that the nation provides an outstanding entry point to Europe for people who want to live permanently in the region.
For more information about the Golden Visa Program and the Portugal Citizenship changes, please contact us here.
[1] https://www.portugal.gov.pt/en/gc25/communication/news-item?i=government-reinforces-requirements-on-citizenship-laws-and-residence