- Portugal raised the Golden Visa citizenship wait to 10 years for most applicants under Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026.
- EU and CPLP nationals now face a seven-year naturalization period instead of the longer standard timeline.
- The citizenship clock now starts when the first residence card is issued, not when the application is filed.
Portugal increased the citizenship wait for most Golden Visa holders from 5 years to 10 years under Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026, which took effect on May 19, 2026. Nationals of European Union countries and CPLP countries face a shorter seven-year period.
The change applies to the citizenship route, not the residence permit itself. Portugal kept the investor-residency program open, although the path from residence to a Portuguese passport is now longer for most applicants.
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A separate change affects how the waiting period is measured. The clock starts when the first residence card is issued, rather than when the application is submitted.
That timing can extend the overall wait. Applicants whose first permit remains in AIMA processing do not begin the new period while their application is still awaiting the initial card.
The reform passed through several stages before taking effect. Parliament approved it on April 1, 2026. The President promulgated it on May 3, 2026.
It entered into force on May 19.
The new citizenship periods split applicants by nationality
The revised naturalization residence requirement creates two main periods. Most foreign nationals must complete 10 years of qualifying residence, while EU and CPLP nationals must complete seven years.
| Applicant group | Residence period for naturalization |
|---|---|
| Most foreign nationals | 10 years |
| EU and CPLP nationals | 7 years |
The longer period changes the expectation attached to the investor route. Applicants who planned around the former five-year citizenship timeline now face an additional five years under the standard rule.
Residence remains available during that period. Citizenship and residency now follow different timelines.
The transition rule turns the filing date into a dividing line. A nationality application already pending by May 18 can remain under the previous regime, while a later application is assessed under the 10-year or seven-year requirement.
That distinction applies to nationality applications, not simply to the date an investor entered the residence program. An applicant who held residence but had not filed the nationality application by the cutoff may not receive the older treatment.
The residence route survived the nationality reform
The 2026 law did not abolish the investor-residency program. It changed the citizenship timeline attached to residence.
Portugal had already removed real estate as an eligible investment route on October 7, 2023. The program now operates through other qualifying routes rather than property investment.
The reform therefore leaves two separate questions for applicants. The first is whether they qualify for and maintain the residence permit. The second is when they can apply for nationality under the revised rules.
Some advisers and commentators describe the change as a major shift because investors who expected a five-year citizenship path now face 10 years in most cases. Others point to the continuing residence benefits, including the possibility of permanent residence after five years.
The passport route is longer. The residence framework remains in place.
First-card delays can push the citizenship date further out
The revised counting rule places the first residence card at the center of the calculation. The application date no longer starts the period.
That creates a practical issue for applicants delayed during the initial permit process. A person may have submitted an application, but the relevant citizenship clock begins only after the first card is issued.
The effect is especially pronounced when AIMA processing delays the first card. The applicant then faces both the wait for the document and the later residence period required for nationality.
The rule also makes the date of the first card important for planning. A filing made before the reform does not necessarily produce the same result as a nationality application filed before the transition cutoff. The law separates residence processing from nationality filing.
New nationality applications filed after May 19, 2026 face the revised periods. Most applicants will need 10 years, while EU and CPLP nationals will need seven. The first residence card starts that count.
