[News] New Developments in Portuguese Nationality Law: 2 Key Details

On April 1, 2026, local time, the Portuguese Parliament passed the amendment to the Portuguese Nationality Law with a majority vote (152 votes in favor: 64 votes against). The core directions of this revision include:

• Change in the duration for naturalization: Generally extended from 5 years to 10 years; citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries can apply after 7 years.

• Starting point for naturalization: The current legal residence period will be calculated from the date of submission of the residence permit application, modified to start from the date of issuance of the first residence card.

Next, the amendment will be submitted for presidential approval and signature. WorldWay will continue to monitor the situation and will share any new information promptly.

This revision does not change the Golden Visa program itself.

Although the amendment to the Nationality Law has attracted widespread attention, it is important to clarify that: this legislative revision targets the naturalization rules, not the Portuguese Golden Visa system itself.

• This legislative revision does not involve the investment threshold, application process, family reunification rights, etc., of the Portuguese Golden Visa.

• The right to apply for permanent residence after holding a residence permit for 5 years is completely independent and unaffected.

What is currently more noteworthy is the time window.

Portugal has always been an important country in European identity planning, combining stability, lifestyle appeal, and international mobility value. This amendment to the Nationality Law, while signaling a clear tightening of policies, also reminds everyone: the more we are in the transitional phase of rules, the more we need to plan early.

For families who already hold legal residence or are evaluating pathways to Portuguese identity, it is now more important to quickly organize their application rhythm, identity timeline, and subsequent arrangements. Especially before the final legal text and transitional rules are officially clarified, the earlier the preparation, the more advantageous it will be to seize the current window.

WorldWay, a long-term companion on the path to Portuguese identity planning.

As a professional immigration agency that introduced the Portuguese Golden Residence Program to the Chinese market early and has continued to deepen its efforts, WorldWay has accumulated rich experience in market promotion and customer service for this program, and has witnessed the development of this project in the Chinese market.

• On September 4, 2012, the Portuguese Ministry of Internal Affairs officially proposed the "Golden Residence Program." At the end of 2012, the President of Portugal and government officials met with senior executives of WorldWay to discuss details of the Golden Residence Bill;

• In April 2013, WorldWay, 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;

• In 2013, WorldWay launched and organized the "2013 European Immigration Year" nationwide, and held the "European Property Exhibition" themed on Europe in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Qingdao, with the European Investment Immigration trend sweeping across China;

• Over the years, WorldWay has maintained friendly interactions with the Portuguese government, and senior executives of the WorldWay Group have met with important figures such as the President, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Ambassador to China.

For many years, WorldWay has continuously deepened its efforts in the field of Portuguese identity planning, accumulating solid experience in project promotion, policy interpretation, and customer service. With a long-term focus and in-depth understanding of the Portuguese Golden Residence policy, WorldWay can provide clients with clearer, more professional, and more targeted identity planning services.

If you are interested in immigrating to Portugal, you can currently apply for Portuguese Golden Residence status for the whole family across three generations by investing in the Portuguese fund investment immigration project, starting from an investment of 500,000 euros, with quick approval. As a member of the European Union, Schengen Area, and NATO, holding a Portuguese residence permit allows you to travel freely across 29 Schengen countries.

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 euros to apply for Portuguese Golden Residence status for the whole family across three generations, providing a low-cost and convenient way to obtain an EU passport.

For more details on immigration to Portugal, please contact mainland China: 400-138-2929, Hong Kong customer service center: (852) 2802 8798