Recently, Mr. Fernando Moreira and his team, former head of the Digital Reform Project for Visa Issuance at the Portuguese Agency for Administrative Modernization, visited WorldWay Group and were warmly received by Ms. Li Ma, Senior Vice President of WorldWay Group. The two parties engaged in in-depth discussions on core topics such as the Portuguese Golden Visa policy, the latest developments in nationality law, and the efficiency of the immigration bureau.
Ms. Li Ma, Senior Vice President of WorldWay Group, with Mr. Fernando Moreira, former head of the Digital Reform Project for Visa Issuance at the Portuguese Agency for Administrative Modernization
At the beginning of the exchange, Ms. Li Ma introduced the development history of WorldWay Group to the visiting guests. She emphasized that in April 2013, WorldWay Group, in collaboration with the Portuguese Embassy in China, held the "Launch Ceremony of the Portuguese Golden Residence Program," introducing the Portuguese Golden Residence Program to China and becoming one of the first immigration agencies to promote the Portuguese Golden Residence Program in China. Over the years, WorldWay Group has continuously focused on identity planning and has accompanied and witnessed multiple changes in the Portuguese Golden Visa policy. Mr. Fernando Moreira and his team highly praised WorldWay Group's professional accumulation and long-term investment in the Chinese market.
Nationality Law: Constitutional Court Ruling
Policy Direction Becomes Clearer
During the meeting, both parties focused on discussing the ruling by the Portuguese Constitutional Court on December 15, which declared certain provisions of the new nationality law unconstitutional. Mr. Fernando Moreira stated that this ruling once again reflects Portugal's high regard for human rights protection and legal procedures in immigration legislation as a democratic country. Subsequently, the parliament will revise and discuss the relevant provisions and submit them for presidential signature according to the process.
Regarding concerns in the market about whether the presidential election will affect the implementation of the Golden Visa and nationality law, Mr. Fernando Moreira clearly stated that the presidential election will not impact the Golden Visa policy. The Golden Visa has received long-term support from the government and society since its implementation in 2012, bringing various positive effects to the country. The new nationality law is expected to be officially implemented by mid-next year.
At the same time, he indicated that the current round of amendments to the nationality law will not introduce new requirements for language, residence, or other conditions for naturalization. Portugal will continue to maintain its relatively friendly naturalization conditions and clear pathways among EU countries.
In the context of many countries around the world tightening or shutting down investment immigration policies, Mr. Fernando Moreira believes that now is a critical window period for investors to plan their identities.
Portuguese Golden Visa
Attraction Continues to Increase
Mr. Fernando Moreira specifically mentioned that Portugal has significant advantages in terms of policy stability, living environment, and overall livability. From the perspective of the applicant structure: since 2021, applicants from the United States have become the mainstream group for the Portuguese Golden Visa.
This trend indicates that high-net-worth individuals globally, including Chinese investors, are increasingly valuing the long-term allocation of overseas identity and assets, and the international appeal of the Portuguese Golden Visa continues to rise.
Immigration Bureau Approval Process Significantly Accelerated
Regarding the recent situation where a large number of applicants have received fingerprint notification letters, Mr. Fernando Moreira stated:
• The immigration bureau has fully introduced a digital processing system.
• At the same time, by increasing staffing, the overall approval efficiency has significantly improved.
• It is expected that the scheduling issues will be fully resolved next year, and the processing pace will return to normal.
In terms of specific operations: currently, fingerprint appointments are automatically assigned by the system to avoid concentration in popular cities and ensure overall efficiency. Once the approval process is fully normalized, applicants will gradually be able to choose their own arrangements with the immigration bureau. After fingerprinting, it is expected that the residence card can be obtained within 6-12 months.
In addition, the renewal process for the Golden Visa has also been digitized, significantly improving approval efficiency. Regarding nationality applications, the civil affairs department has also begun to adopt online processing, and the subsequent approval speed is expected to improve accordingly.
WorldWay Group Assists Investors
Planning Portuguese Identity
This exchange released several clear and positive policy signals regarding nationality law and immigration bureau reforms. WorldWay Group will continue to communicate with Portuguese officials and authoritative figures, providing clients with accurate and verifiable policy interpretations in a timely manner, helping investors grasp certainty and make sound choices amid changes in the global identity planning environment.
If you are interested in immigrating to Portugal, you can apply for the Portuguese Golden Residence status through the Portuguese Fund Investment Immigration Program, with an investment starting from €500,000, allowing the entire family across three generations to apply for Portuguese Golden Residence status.
Additionally, you can also immigrate to Portugal through the Portuguese Cultural and Artistic Donation Program. According to the provisions of the law, applicants only need to invest €200,000 to apply for Portuguese Golden Residence status for the entire family across three generations, achieving low-cost and convenient access to an EU passport.
For more information on immigration to Portugal, please contact mainland China: 400-138-2929, Hong Kong customer service center: (852)2802 8798