You might have read news about Portugal’s Golden Visa being suspended or ended. Is the Portuguese government stopping one of Europe’s most lucrative citizenship-by-investment programs? The short answer is no.
The Portuguese Parliament voted to restructure the program rather than end it, and legislation from 2023 ruled out real estate investment or capital transfers as qualifying criteria for applications. This means the Portugal Golden Visa program continues, and the changes will not affect existing applications.
In this article, you’ll learn everything about the latest Portuguese Golden Visa program announcements and their critical implications for future investors.
Portugal Golden Visa Ending: Key Takeaways
Is the Golden Visa Portugal Suspended?
No, the Portugal Golden Visa program is not suspended or ending. However, important modifications were made to it. In 2023, legislation came into force that made it no longer possible to invest in real estate to qualify for the program. This included real estate in the Azores and Madeira for the Golden Visa.
This wasn’t the first time the Golden Visa has seen some changes to how it works. In 2022, an amendment to the law restricted the ‘qualifying’ areas for real estate investment within Portugal and made several investment options more expensive.
At the time, the Portuguese government explained that these changes were necessary to spread foreign investment more evenly across Portugal. With the Lisbon and Porto real estate markets thriving, the government focused on developing the property market in Portugal’s interior areas.
After these changes, the government hinted in early 2023 that it would end the Portugal Golden Visa Program. However, later announcements confirmed that there would only be Portugal Golden Visa changes, and it would still be available for foreign investors.
What Actually Changed: A Timeline of Events
January 2023: The government hinted that it would end the Portugal Golden Visa Program. And by February, the Portuguese government announced a series of measures aimed at addressing the country’s housing problem. The Portuguese Prime Minister stated that the measures include changes to the Golden Visa program, as part of the said effort.
August 2023: The Portuguese President vetoed the package, sending it back to the Parliament to go under amendments before it could be passed.
July 2023: The Portuguese Parliament approved the final version of the Golden Visa legislation. They then presented it to the President for his approval, where he vetoed the package, sending it back to Parliament for amendments before it could be passed.
October 2023: The Mais Habitaçāo bill came into effect. It’s no longer possible to issue residence or Golden Visas based on the acquisition of real estate and capital transfer investments.
June 2024: Introduction of the Residence Permit for Solidarity Investment, also known as the Social Golden Visa. This initiative aims to channel private capital into social investment for immigrant integration projects.
December 2025: Portugal’s Constitutional Court ruled that changing the required time of residency from 5 years to 10 years for most citizens was constitutional and valid.
April 2026: The Portuguese Parliament approved the revised Nationality Law in a 152-64 vote, following a political agreement between the governing Social Democratic Party (PSD) and Chega.
May 2026: President António José Seguro promulgated the revised Nationality Law on May 3.
May 2026: The revised Nationality Law entered into force on May 19, formally extending the naturalization period for most foreign nationals from five to ten years, with a seven-year requirement for citizens of European Union and Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) member states.
Available Portugal Golden Visa Investment Options in 2026
Even with recent changes to the rules, Portugal’s Golden Visa program is still available, though with a more limited set of investment options. Here’s what you can choose from:
- Invest at least €500,000 in a qualifying venture capital fund.
- Support the arts or help restore national heritage by making a donation of at least €250,000.
- Contribute at least €500,000 to scientific or technological research in Portugal.
- Create and maintain ten jobs in Portugal for the required period.
- Start a company or increase a company’s share capital with an investment of €500,000, and either create five full-time jobs or maintain ten jobs, with at least five being permanent.
Social Investor Visa Portugal
Another change in the Portugal Golden Visa was the introduction of a new Portugal Solidarity Visa, as part of the country’s “Action Plan for Migration.”
Sometimes called the Social Golden Visa, this new route lets investors support projects that help immigrants settle in Portugal. Investments can go toward building reception centers, funding integration programs, or providing support for vulnerable newcomers.
While the government is still finalizing the details, we already know a few key points about how the Solidarity Visa will work.
The minimum investment is expected to be a €250,000 donation, with funds going directly to social projects that create affordable housing.
Investments need to support the government’s Migration Action Plan, especially projects that tackle housing shortages and encourage inclusivity. Unlike other visa routes, you won’t need to manage property or run a business, which makes this option simpler for many investors.
The government hasn’t confirmed how long the investment must be held, but it will likely match the five-year residency requirement for permanent residency.
Key Program Facts That Have Not Changed
While the naturalization timeline has changed, the core structure of the Golden Visa program itself remains the same. The following requirements have not been affected by the 2026 Nationality Law reforms.
Minimum stay requirement: Golden Visa holders must spend 7 days in Portugal during the first year, and 14 days within each subsequent two-year renewal period. This requirement has not changed. It does not need to be continuous, and it applies to the main applicant and included family members alike.
Family inclusion: A single Golden Visa application can include a spouse, dependent children, and dependent parents. Children qualify if they are unmarried, financially dependent, and, if adult, enrolled in full-time study. Parents qualify automatically over the age of 65, or under 65 if financially dependent on the main applicant. This structure has not changed.
Dual citizenship: Portugal permits dual and multiple citizenship. Investors who eventually naturalize as Portuguese citizens are not required to renounce their existing nationality. This has not been affected by the 2026 reforms, which changed the residency timeline required before applying, not the rules around holding multiple nationalities.
Schengen access: As legal residents of Portugal, Golden Visa holders can travel without a visa across the Schengen Area. This access is tied to holding a valid Portuguese residence permit and is unaffected by the recent changes to the naturalization timeline.
The Citizenship Timeline: What Changed and What It Means
Portugal’s naturalization requirements changed substantially with the entry into force of Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 on May 19, 2026. Previously, most foreign nationals could apply for Portuguese citizenship after five years of legal residence.
Under the revised law, that period is now ten years for most nationalities, and seven years for citizens of European Union member states and Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), such as Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde.
The law includes a transitional provision under Article 7.2, which protects nationality applications filed on or before May 18, 2026. Those applications continue to be processed under the prior five-year framework, regardless of when they are ultimately decided.
Beyond the residency period itself, applicants must now also demonstrate A2-level proficiency in Portuguese, pass a civic and historical knowledge assessment, and sign a formal declaration of adherence to the fundamental principles of the democratic rule of law.
These requirements apply to all naturalization applicants going forward, not to Golden Visa holders specifically.
Latest Portugal Golden Visa News
The program remains strong, but legal wrangling in 2025 brought several indirect Portugal Golden Visa changes in 2026 through the country’s immigration and citizenship rules.
In December 2025, Portugal’s Constitutional Court ruled that changing the required time of residency from 5 years to 10 years for most citizens was constitutional and valid.
This means that Golden Visa holders can apply for permanent residency after five years, but only apply for citizenship after ten years. The residency time for EU and CPLP citizens is 7 years.
Removal of real estate for investment
After it became clear that the government wasn’t suspending the scheme, the biggest Portugal Golden Visa news was the introduction of the “Mais Habitação” law in 2023. To address the housing crisis and rising property prices, the Portuguese government removed a handful of Golden Visa investment routes:
- Capital transfer investment options of €1,500,000 or more are no longer accepted.
- Real estate acquisitions valued at €500,000 or more are prohibited.
- Property investment for rehabilitation or restoration on listings at least 30 years old, with a total investment of €350,000 or more, is no longer an option.
- Real estate purchases in low-density areas, €400,000 or €280,000, are no longer an option.
- Investing in a real estate-related fund is no longer viable.
Collective lawsuit filed by over 500 Golden Visa investors
More than 500 Golden Visa holders, many of them American, are preparing a collective lawsuit against the Portuguese state.
The action follows the entry into force of Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 on May 19, 2026, which extended the naturalization period from five to ten years for most foreign nationals, with a seven-year requirement for citizens of European Union and Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) member states.
Lawyers representing the group argue that investors who met their obligations under the program’s original terms should not be disadvantaged by delays attributable to the state’s own processing backlog.
The consortium has indicated it may pursue further legal avenues, including constitutionality challenges before Portuguese courts and, if domestic options are exhausted, recourse to the European Court of Human Rights.
Ombudsman complaint filed on behalf of 1,260 Golden Visa clients
A consortium of nine Portuguese law firms has filed a complaint with Portugal’s Ombudsman (Provedor de Justiça) on behalf of 1,260 Golden Visa investors.
The complaint raises the same underlying issue as the collective lawsuit: applicants whose residence permits were delayed by AIMA were unable to file a nationality application before the May 18, 2026 cutoff, and therefore do not benefit from the transitional protection set out in the revised Nationality Law.
The complaint is the third step in a broader legal strategy that began with an amicus curiae brief to the Constitutional Court in December 2025 and continues alongside the collective lawsuit.
Are previous Golden Visa applicants affected?
The program changes do not impact Portugal Golden Visa holders who applied for citizenship before the law change. Nationality applications filed on or before 18 May 2026 continue under the prior (5-year) regime, and procedures already in progress when the law took effect continue under the previous rules.
Regarding changes to the investment options, if you’ve initiated or finalized your investment before real estate and capital investment were removed, you can still maintain your visa under the terms you initially applied for.
There will be no retroactive impact on your investment or your residency status.
In addition to the specified investment avenues, the main consequences of this legislation encompass:
- Pending applications with AIMA will be evaluated according to the laws at the time of submission.
- The minimum residency requirement to maintain residence permits remains unchanged, at seven days in the first year and 14 days for subsequent years.
- The renewal process for residence permits will continue to adhere to the original regulations, such as having health insurance, passing a background check, and maintaining fund investments.
- Family reunification conditions for dependents remain consistent with primary application requirements.
- Investment routes tied to real estate and capital transfers are no longer considered qualifying investments.
- The law took effect on 7th October 2023, following its official publication in the Diário da República.
Future of the Portugal Golden Visa
As of 2026, Portugal continues to process Golden Visa applications from around the world, offering residency-by-investment through several other investment options.
The scheme remains one of the most popular options, and while there are fewer options now, they are more targeted. Recent changes have shifted the focus of the Golden Visa toward investments in business, innovation, and culture rather than real estate.
In addition to extending the residency period before applying for citizenship, applicants (including Golden Visa holders) will have to demonstrate more than just proficiency in Portuguese.
Citizenship applicants will also need to pass a Portuguese civic knowledge test on the culture, history, and rights of Portugal. This is in addition to proving A2-level Portuguese language proficiency and a clean criminal record.
It is clear that from the government’s continued development of how the Golden Visa works, it isn’t being suspended or ending anytime soon.
Why choose Global Citizen Solutions for your Portugal Golden Visa?
- Global approach by local experts: A team of experienced local case executives, immigration lawyers, and investment specialists based in Portugal.
- Independent service:We are not a marketing agency for any projects. You will access all eligible routes for the Golden Visa, with over 40 vetted qualifying investment options, so you can decide on the best option for you.
- 100% approval rate: We have the unique distinction of never having had a Golden Visa case rejected and have helped hundreds of clients from more than 35 countries.
- All-encompassing solution: Our dedicated onboarding and immigration teams will assist you throughout the process and beyond with a single channel of communication.
- Transparency: Our fees are clear and detailed, covering the entire process with no hidden costs.
- Privacy: Your personal data is stored within a GDPR-compliant database on a secure SSL-encrypted server.
To see the full list of reasons why to work with Global Citizen Solutions for your Portugal Golden Visa, you can find out more here: Why Work with Global Citizen Solutions for Your Golden Visa Portugal Application?
