Portugal Just Voted.

Here's what that means for Portuguese immigration and citizenship

Portugal went to the polls on May 18, 2025.

The result:

No major surprises for immigration and citizenship.

The same center-right coalition that introduced the Golden Visa in 2012 is back in power. No absolute majority, but enough to form a functioning government.

That alone makes this outcome significant.

Because in immigration, the absence of disruption is the story.

Especially in these times when the Maltese Golden Visa program was recently repealed along with any other citizenship by investment programs – changing the EU pathways to citizenship landscape forever.

Let's be clear:

Portugal is still the only country in Europe offering a credible five-year pathway to apply for EU citizenship through fund investment, with minimal physical presence required.

You can invest, spend 7 days a year in the country on average, and after 5 years apply for a passport – a few nice holidays for a path to one of the most powerful passports in the world.

That remains intact…

For now. But things may change in the future.

Here's everything you need to know:

First, What Stays the Same

• The Golden Visa program remains in place, with the fund route now the dominant option. Real estate was removed from the program in 2023. What's left is arguably cleaner: direct capital into Portuguese funds and businesses, with real economic impact.

• Citizenship still requires five years of legal residence, counted from the date of application. This provision was reinforced just last year, in April 2024, to protect applicants stuck in processing delays. This means that after 5 years from your investment, you can apply for citizenship: no problem for you in case the release of the Golden Visa itself will be slower than expected.

• All major normal residency visas (the D visas) tracks remain open and unchanged:

  • D2 for entrepreneurs

  • D3 for highly qualified professionals

  • D7 for passive income holders

  • D8 for digital nomads

The doors to Portugal are, in short, all open.

This is all central to Portugal's immigration strategy. Combined with the new IFICI tax incentives, this is all part of a broader push to attract skilled and mobile global residents.

So far, the reelected government shows no appetite for pulling back. This is the same coalition that created the Golden Visa to begin with.

They've seen its economic upside and there's no reason to expect any substantial changes.

What Could Still Change (potentially)

One former minister floated the idea during the recent campaign:

Should Portugal extend the timeline for citizenship beyond five years?

This idea has never become an official position. And it didn't make it into the campaign program.

But the fact that it was even mentioned is worth watching…

Pre-2006 the timeline was 6 years.

Could it come back? Yes. But not easily.

• The coalition doesn't have the numbers to unilaterally change the law.

• Parliament—not the government—has the final say.

• The most recent reform is barely a year old. Reversing it now would create legal tension and political backlash.

If any changes do happen, current applicants would be protected and grandfathered into the old system.

At this stage, there is no immediate concern for drastic changes. But I believe that the trend of narrowing down options in terms of freedom and optionality is at this point a reality.

For now, the Portuguese option is by far the best European option.

How long that will remain the case…we will have to see.

The only way to be certain of locking in the five-year timeline is by applying under the current regime.

Immigration: Cleaned Up, Not Cracked Down.

Here’s what really happened:

While public debate focused on Golden Visas and citizenship, the bigger reforms happened quietly to put an end to the incredibly high backlog accumulated in Portugal.

The notorious "expression of interest" track, that was used by hundreds of thousands and responsible for a backlog of 400,000 unresolved cases, was shut down. This was a system allowing people to overstay their visas in the country and then rectify their position.

Improvements in terms of processing time of Portuguese visas are expected to become a reality.

The whole migration sector in Portugal should improve in efficiency.

But…

Terms and nuances, as always, may evolve. If these matters affect you, then it’s imperative you stay updated.

Why Timing Matters

The election result signals continuity. But continuity doesn't mean permanence.

Portugal has already narrowed the Golden Visa. It raised the minimum investment. It scrapped real estate.

Could the five-year citizenship clock be next?

Right now, it's still possible to obtain EU citizenship in five years through the fund investment, with a very minimal physical presence requirement.

There is no equivalent offer in Europe. Not at this price. Not with this legal clarity.

As we’ve seen many times now, these regimes don't last forever. And they change when people assume they won't.

If you're considering Portugal, this is the window.

I’d love to know…

Which European countries, if any, are you considering?

Reply to this email/comment below and let me know your thoughts!

And if you enjoyed reading this post, feel free to click the ❤️ button and restack so more people can discover it on Substack! 🙏

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P.S. For those specifically interested in a pathway to EU citizenship via Portugal's Golden Visa, we at Bitizenship have created an innovative solution combining EU residency with Bitcoin – allowing you to invest the €500K requirement while acquiring exposure to Bitcoin.

With the end of Malta’s golden passport, Portugal’s Golden Visa is now the fastest and most secure path to EU citizenship available.

To learn more about securing your EU future while participating in the future of finance, schedule a free consultation call.