Portugal’s Parliament has approved a major reform of the country’s nationality law, extending the minimum residence period required for citizenship from five years to as much as ten years. This marks one of the most substantial changes to Portugal’s citizenship framework in decades and is expected to significantly affect immigration patterns, long-term residents, and foreign investors. Under the new proposal, citizens from European Union member states and Portuguese-speaking countries (CPLP nations) will be eligible to apply after seven years of lawful residence, while all other foreign nationals — including those holding Golden Visas — will need to complete ten years before becoming eligible.
Key Changes in the Law
This reform represents a clear break from Portugal’s previous five-year naturalization route, which had positioned the country as one of the most accessible paths to EU citizenship. The revised timeline brings Portugal closer to the standards applied in countries such as Spain and Italy, where applicants usually must complete around ten years of residence. Lawmakers argue that the longer timeframe will encourage stronger social integration and ensure that applicants have built genuine, long-term ties to Portuguese society before receiving nationality.
When Residency Time Will Be Counted
One of the most impactful updates concerns when the eligibility period officially begins. Under the proposed system, the residence clock will start only after a residence permit has been formally issued, not from the date the application is submitted. Since residence permits in Portugal often take two to three years to process, many applicants could face total waiting periods of nine to thirteen years before qualifying for citizenship. Although the law allows applicants to combine separate periods of residence, this adjustment does little to counterbalance the overall extension of the process.
Who Is Covered — and Who Is Not
The legislation includes protection for applicants whose citizenship cases are already in progress, confirming that these files will still be reviewed under the previous five-year rule. However, residents who currently hold valid permits but have not yet applied for citizenship are not included in this protection. As a result, many individuals who planned their future based on the old system may now encounter much longer timelines. This has caused concern among expatriates and investors who structured their relocation and financial decisions around the expectation of a five-year pathway.
Legal and Political Considerations
At a policy level, the reform reflects a move toward stricter citizenship requirements and a more selective naturalization process. By lengthening the residence period and adding stronger language and civic knowledge requirements, lawmakers aim to place greater emphasis on cultural integration and national cohesion. However, the unequal treatment between pending applicants and current residents may lead to legal challenges. Some constitutional law experts believe the Constitutional Court could be asked to assess whether the law respects principles of fairness and legitimate expectations, particularly if applied to people already living legally in the country.
Consequences for Golden Visa Investors
The impact on residency-by-investment participants is expected to be particularly significant. The extended citizenship timeline reduces Portugal’s attractiveness as a relatively quick route to EU nationality. Investors who once anticipated citizenship within five years may now need to wait nearly a decade. This could prompt some investors to explore alternatives, including other European programs in countries such as Malta, Greece, or Spain, or citizenship-by-investment options in the Caribbean, which generally offer faster processing and fewer physical residence requirements.
What to Expect Going Forward
The final parliamentary approval of the reform is scheduled for October 28, 2025, and current expectations suggest the bill will pass largely unchanged. Once published in the Diário da República, Portugal’s official legal journal, the law will come into force. Authorities will then have up to ninety days to revise related regulations, including the rollout of updated Portuguese language and civics testing requirements. This adjustment phase will be critical for applicants, lawyers, and immigration advisors seeking clarity on how the new rules will be applied in practice.
Long-Term Perspective
While the reform may reduce short-term interest in Portuguese residency and investment programs, it could strengthen the country’s long-term standing by aligning its citizenship standards with broader European norms. By prioritizing integration and sustained commitment over speed, Portugal is signaling a more cautious and structured approach to nationality policy. Although the extended timeline may disappoint many current residents and investors, it may ultimately enhance the perceived value and credibility of Portuguese citizenship within the European Union.
