Portugal Golden Visa Update: Parliament Approves Stricter Citizenship Laws — Presidential Review Still to Come

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Today, Portugal’s Parliament has advanced a version of the nationality law reform that could extend the required period of residence for citizenship applications to ten years, affecting Golden Visa investors and other foreign residents.

While this version represents the most restrictive draft to date, it has not yet become law. The reform must still pass a final vote in Parliament on 28 October, after which it will be reviewed by the President of the Republic. The President’s decision will determine whether the measure is enacted, amended, or returned for further consideration.

What the Current Proposal Includes

The text approved by Parliament’s Constitutional Affairs Committee reintroduces the original, stricter version of the reform. It proposes to:

• Require ten years of legal residence before eligibility for Portuguese citizenship;

• Offer no transitional or grandfathering protections for current residence permit holders or Golden Visa investors;

• Count residence time from the date of first residence card issuance, rather than from the initial application or pre-approval date.

If approved in this form, these changes would replace Portugal’s current five-year naturalisation timeline, which has long been among the most accessible in the European Union.

Efforts to Soften the Law Were Rejected

It is important to note that several political parties sought to moderate the reform before it advanced to final voting.

The Socialist Party (PS) proposed a balanced alternative of 5 years for citizens of Portuguese-speaking or EU countries, and 7 years for others. This version also included transitional protections for current Golden Visa holders and safeguards against administrative delays.

Other groups presented similar amendments aimed at protecting investors who had already entered the system in good faith. However, none of these moderating proposals were approved, and Parliament reverted to the original text — extending the path to citizenship to ten years with no transitional provisions.

Next Steps: Presidential Review and Possible Outcomes

Following the final parliamentary vote on 28 October, the law will be sent to President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who has several constitutional options:

1. Promulgate the law, allowing it to take effect.

2. Veto the law and return it to Parliament. In this case, Parliament would need a qualified majority to override the veto and pass the law unchanged.

3. Refer the law to the Constitutional Court if he has doubts about its constitutionality. Should the Court find flaws, the bill would return to Parliament for correction before any further approval.

Until the President takes one of these steps, no changes to the nationality law are in force.

Implications for Golden Visa Investors

If ultimately enacted, the reform would:

• Extend citizenship eligibility from five to ten years for Golden Visa and D7 residents;

• Eliminate grandfathering protections, meaning existing residents would be subject to new rules;

• Disadvantage those affected by AIMA processing delays, as time before card issuance would no longer count toward the residence period.

That said, the legislative process remains open, and it is still possible that the President or Constitutional Court will call for revisions.

Latitude’s Guidance

Latitude advises investors to remain informed, compliant, and calm:

• Stay informed: The proposal has not yet been signed into law. Further review by the President and potentially the Constitutional Court could alter its content or delay implementation.

• Stay compliant: Keep residence permits, renewals, and documentation current to maintain eligibility under existing rules.

Latitude’s team, including our legal partners in Lisbon, are closely monitoring developments and will provide verified updates as the situation evolves.

Looking Ahead

Portugal has long been regarded as a leader in Residence by Investment and a model of legal transparency within the EU. While this proposed reform introduces uncertainty, no immediate change has occurred, and there remain several steps before any new rules could apply.

Latitude remains committed to guiding our clients with clarity, precision, and confidence — through this transition and beyond.