Lisbon, 20 October 2025 — The Partido Socialista (PS) has tabled a decisive amendment to Portugal’s proposed citizenship reform, introducing a seven-year pathway to nationality for most foreign residents, while maintaining five years for citizens of the European Union and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP).
The move replaces the government’s earlier proposal for a ten-year residency requirement and seeks to strike a balance between national integration and international confidence — particularly among investors holding Portugal’s controversial Golden Visa.
A Compromise Between Openness and Stability
According to the amendment submitted to Parliament, the PS aims to “protect legal certainty and integration principles” while responding to concerns that the original ten-year rule would deter long-term residents and discourage foreign investment.
Under the revised draft, EU and CPLP nationals would remain eligible for naturalisation after five years of legal residence, preserving traditional cultural and linguistic ties.
For all other nationalities, the timeline would extend modestly to seven years — a middle ground meant to replace the government’s more restrictive proposal.
“The intention is not to close doors but to provide clarity and fairness,” a PS representative explained. “Citizenship must remain an instrument of integration, not an obstacle to belonging.”
Golden Visa Investors: Legal Certainty and Transitional Protection
Crucially, the Socialist amendments include a grandfather clause that safeguards existing Golden Visa holders and applicants.
Anyone who already holds residence status or files an application before 31 December 2026 would continue to qualify under the current five-year rule, preventing retroactive harm to those who invested under earlier legislation.
This protection responds to growing constitutional concerns that retrospective application of stricter rules could violate legal certainty.
Investor confidence had already wavered after last year’s closure of the real estate route under the “Mais Habitação” law, and this clause is viewed as a stabilising gesture toward those still in the programme.
Counting Bureaucratic Delays as Legal Residence
The PS proposal also redefines how residence time is calculated toward citizenship eligibility.
Under Article 15, the clock would start once the legal deadline for issuing residence authorisation has passed — provided the application is eventually approved.
This is a direct response to widespread delays within the Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (AIMA), which replaced SEF earlier this year.
For many residents, bureaucratic backlog meant months or even years lost from the citizenship countdown. The new measure would restore that time, ensuring fairness for applicants who have complied fully with the law.
Broader Reform Goals
Beyond procedural clarity, the PS submission aims to align nationality law with Portugal’s constitutional principles by limiting the government’s power to revoke citizenship and affirming equal treatment for naturalised citizens.
Analysts suggest that this balanced reform could defuse the tension between populist pressure to “tighten” citizenship and Portugal’s reputation as one of Europe’s most welcoming countries.
What It Means for Foreign Residents
If enacted, the law will maintain Portugal’s appeal for immigrants, investors, and professionals seeking stability within the European Union — while introducing measured caution for future entrants.
For Golden Visa holders, the message is one of reassurance: their rights and timelines remain secure.
For Portugal, it is a step toward predictability, fairness, and integration — values that have long defined its modern immigration identity.