Effective May 19, 2026, Portugal's new Nationality Law has officially come into effect, marking a new regulatory cycle for Portuguese residency and citizenship planning.
1、Adjustment to Naturalization Period
Under the new law, the required period of legal residence for naturalization in Portugal has been adjusted:
• Citizens of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) and EU citizens: May apply for Portuguese nationality after 7 years of legal residence.
• Citizens of other countries: May apply for Portuguese nationality after 10 years of legal residence.
2、Applications Already Submitted Processed Under Old Law
The new law also clarifies transitional arrangements: nationality application procedures submitted before the new law came into effect will continue to be processed according to the old law.
In other words, applicants who submitted their nationality applications before May 19, 2026, are, in principle, not affected by these new regulations.
3、Regulations to be Amended Within 90 Days
Furthermore, the new law requires the Portuguese government to amend the Portuguese Nationality Regulations accordingly within 90 days from the date of the law's publication.
Based on the gazette date of May 18, 2026, the relevant regulations are expected to be adjusted around mid-August 2026. WorldWay will continue to monitor this closely.
4、New Nationality Law Does Not Affect Golden Visa Policy
It is important to clarify that this amendment to the Nationality Law adjusts the rules for applying for Portuguese nationality, not the Portuguese Golden Visa policy itself.
The Portuguese Golden Visa is a residency permit system, whereas the Nationality Law primarily regulates the conditions for naturalization applications. These are two different levels of legal arrangements and cannot be directly equated.
Therefore, the entry into force of the new Nationality Law does not affect the core components of the Portuguese Golden Visa system:
• The investment threshold for the Golden Visa remains unchanged;
• The application process for the Golden Visa remains unchanged;
• The family reunification rights for the Golden Visa remain unchanged;
• The Schengen travel rights for Golden Visa holders remain unchanged.
5、Why is Portugal Still Worth Focusing On?
Although the new Portuguese Nationality Law has adjusted the future naturalization period, the Golden Visa system itself and the path to permanent residency remain unaffected. For applicants concerned with European residency status, long-term family planning, children's education, convenience of travel within the Schengen Area, and future lifestyle choices, Portugal still possesses strong comprehensive appeal.
As an EU member state and a Schengen country, Portugal boasts a stable social environment, a mature legal system, relatively friendly living costs, and a high-quality environment for education, healthcare, and retirement. In particular, the Portuguese Golden Residence Permit Program continues to provide a compliant path for eligible international applicants to enter the European status system. Holding a Portuguese Golden Residence Permit not only allows access to high-quality local medical and educational resources but also enables free travel across 29 Schengen countries, achieving the goal of "one application, the whole family benefits."
Currently, you can apply for a Portuguese Golden Residence status for three generations of your family through the Portuguese Fund Investment Immigration Program by investing from 500,000 EUR.
Additionally, you can also immigrate to Portugal through the Portuguese Cultural and Artistic Donation Program. According to the legislation, applicants only need to invest 200,000 EUR to apply for Portuguese Golden Residence status for three generations of their family.
Great news! Significant discounts are available for those who process the Portuguese Cultural and Artistic Donation Program between May 11 and June 11, 2026. For details, please consult a WorldWay consultant to obtain an exclusive discount plan.
For more details on Portuguese immigration, please contact us in Mainland China at 400-138-2929, or our Hong Kong Customer Service Center at (852)2802 8798.