The New Portuguese Citizenship Law (2025): Key Changes for Investors

October 30, 2025 · Portugal · 12 min read

On October 23, 2025, Portugal’s Parliament passed one of the most significant amendments to its Nationality Law in years. The changes in the new Portuguese citizenship law center on three core areas: longer residence periods, stronger integration requirements, and revised standards for assessing naturalization applicants.

Legislative background: how is the Portuguese Nationality Law changing?

On the morning of October 23, 2025, Portugal’s Parliament approved the final version of the bill amending the Nationality Law. The vote followed more than four months of debate and revision at several levels and reflects a broader move toward tighter control over naturalization.

However, as of late October 2025, the bill had not yet taken legal effect. Under Portugal’s Constitution, the final step is review by the President, with two main possible outcomes:

1. Promulgation: the law would take effect once published in the Official Gazette (Diário da República), expected in mid-November 2025.

2. Return to Parliament or referral to the Constitutional Court for review, if the President considers that certain provisions need to be reexamined on constitutional grounds.

Although there was no sign at the time of writing that the President would veto the bill, some legal experts considered a request for constitutional review still possible, particularly regarding the repeal of the naturalization route for descendants of Sephardic Jews.

Although the bill is not yet formally in force, its provisions are largely settled. This allows individuals and investors who have already invested in, are pursuing, or are considering the Portugal Golden Visa to assess the legal impact early and adjust their strategy if needed.

Key Portugal nationality law changes

The new draft introduces several structural changes, grouped into four main areas:

1. A longer qualifying residence period

• Naturalization applicants will need 10 years of lawful residence instead of the previous 5 (for most nationalities).
• Citizens of member states of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) or of the EU will need 7 years.

2. A new way of counting residence time

• Residence will count only from the date the first residence permit is issued, rather than from the date the residence application was filed, as before.
• This can lengthen the actual time before an applicant becomes eligible for naturalization, especially where applications take a long time to process.

3. Stronger integration requirements

• Naturalization applicants must demonstrate knowledge of Portuguese culture and civic duties.
• They must also show financial self-sufficiency, in addition to passing the A2 Portuguese language test that is currently required.

4. Changes to special naturalization routes

• The naturalization route for descendants of Sephardic Jews will be abolished entirely.
• Stricter naturalization conditions for children born in Portugal: a parent must have been legally resident for at least 5 years (previously 1 year).

These changes reflect a wider European trend of granting citizenship only to those who have genuinely integrated over the long term. For Golden Visa investors, however, careful planning can still keep a path to citizenship open.

Portugal Golden Visa investment fund route: a sustainable strategy as policy tightens

With a minimum investment of €500,000 (approximately US$563,000) in qualifying investment funds, held for at least 5 years, the Portugal Golden Visa offers several key advantages:

• No property to manage, removing the burden of operations, letting, and maintenance.
• Liquidity at maturity: fund units can be redeemed when the fund’s term ends, subject to its terms.
• Potential for steady long-term growth and returns.
• Risk diversification across a broad fund portfolio.
• Transparency, with close oversight that helps protect investors’ interests.

The Golden Visa does not require holders to live in Portugal full time to maintain their residence permit.

To keep a Portugal Golden Visa valid, investors need to:

• Spend at least 14 days in Portugal in each 2-year period (days can be cumulative).
• Renew the residence permit on time and maintain the investment throughout the permit’s validity.

With the Nationality Law moving toward tighter control, investing through a Portugal Golden Visa fund is still regarded as a sustainable, compliance-focused option. Its transparent structure, flexible residence requirements, and diversified risk profile help the route retain its strategic value for investors.

Although the requirements are stricter, a path to Portuguese citizenship through fund investment remains open to investors who follow the process diligently, keep transparent records, and build genuine ties to Portugal during their residence. It suits individuals pursuing a long-term, sustainable residency strategy in Europe.

IMM Group: why choose a proven advisory firm?

The global investment migration landscape is constantly shifting and increasingly complex, requiring investors to choose an advisory partner who not only helps them build a strong application but also provides a degree of comfort about their family’s future. For the Portugal Golden Visa, as for all of our global investment migration solutions, IMM Group stands out as a strategic advisory partner, supporting you with experience and integrity.

As a pioneering, long-established firm with more than 21 years of hands-on experience in Vietnam, IMM Group is not a sales agent, and we do more than advise: we design global investment migration solutions built on:

• Rigorous due diligence and risk management: Our experience successfully handling hundreds of cases, including complex ones, enables us to conduct multi-layered project due diligence and protect investors’ interests rigorously, even during market crises.
• In-depth professional consulting and full transparency: Every IMM Group advisor and case manager is certified in investment migration advisory by the Investment Migration Council (IMC). Our team analyzes benefits and risks in full, so you can make decisions based on complete and accurate information. We put our clients’ long-term interests first.
• Integrity and commitment every step of the way: Guided by our philosophy, “Serving with Authentic Values,” IMM Group stays with you from the first step until you have settled in your new country. Integrity is our foundation, reflected in our readiness to stand up for clients’ interests and to proactively refund service fees when risks beyond the client’s control arise, as set out in the contract.
• Receiving and giving back: Since 2025, IMM Group has officially become a nonprofit enterprise, committing at least 50% of its annual profits to the Be Better Fund. By choosing IMM Group, you also help hundreds of students facing exceptional hardship gain a chance to change their lives.

If you are considering the Portugal Golden Visa, contact IMM Group or leave your details below. Our experienced advisors will provide detailed guidance and help assess your application’s likelihood of success. We are committed to keeping your personal data confidential and will use the information you provide only to advise on your family’s case.

IMM Group

• Tags:
• Portugal fund investment
• Portugal residency by investment
• Portugal Golden Visa
• Portuguese nationality law

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