Portugal’s Nationality Law currently allows citizenship after 5 years of legal residence. The Golden Visa (ARI) remains active, with no real estate or capital transfer route since 2023; however, investments in funds, culture, and science still qualify. Physical presence is minimal: 7 days in year one, 14 days every two years after. A recent government bill sought to: Extend residence to 10 years (7 for CPLP nationals) before citizenship. Count time from residence card issuance, not application date. Add a cultural test and constitutional principles declaration. End Sephardic descendant nationality route. Tighten criminal record rules. The Constitutional Court struck down parts of the bill. Parliament must revise it. For Golden Visa holders, naturalization remains possible. The main risk is a longer qualifying period (7–10 years from card issuance) if changes pass. Transitional rules are expected to protect current applicants and soften timelines.
