Immigration

9 Changes to Portugal's Golden Visa Citizenship Timeline Explained

The Nationality Law amendment (Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026), published on 18 May 2026 and in force since 19 May 2026, extends the residency requirement for naturalisation from five years to 10 years for most non-EU citizens, while EU and CPLP nationals face a seven-year threshold. Applicants who formally filed their nationality application on or before 18 May 2026 retain the five-year path under grandfathering provisions.

Why it matters

If you hold a Golden Visa and filed your citizenship application after 18 May 2026, you now face a 10-year residency wait (or seven years if you are an EU or CPLP national) instead of five years.

The Portugal News· 1d agoRead original ↗

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