Portugal changed two separate laws that affect foreign residents. The nationality law, which sets out how long you need to live in Portugal before applying for citizenship, changed under Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026, in force since 19 May 2026.
The immigration law, Law 23/2007, which governs residence permits and family reunification, was amended by Lei n.º 61/2025, published in the Diário da República on 22 October 2025 and in force since 23 October 2025.
Residency in Portugal typically starts with a temporary permit, usually valid for one or two years and renewable. Permanent residency remains available after five years of legal residence, whether that residence comes through investment, employment, entrepreneurship, or passive income.
From there, some residents choose to apply for Portuguese citizenship if they meet the language and integration requirements. This article separates what has already changed from what is still pending confirmation, then walks through the residency routes available to you today.
Portugal Residency Law Changes: Key Takeaways
Immigration Law vs. Nationality Law
Portugal regulates residency and citizenship through two different pieces of legislation, and a change to one does not automatically carry over to the other.
Law 23/2007, commonly known as the Immigration Law, governs who can enter Portugal, the residence permits available, and the conditions attached to them, including family reunification. Parliament amended this law through Lei n.º 61/2025, published in the Diário da República on 22 October 2025 and in force since 23 October 2025. This article tracks that law and its amendments.
Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 is a separate law that governs Portuguese nationality, including how long a resident must hold a permit before becoming eligible to apply for citizenship. It came into force on 19 May 2026. For a full breakdown of what changed under this law, see Changes in Portugal’s nationality law.
Because the two laws serve different purposes, a change to one does not necessarily mean a corresponding change to the other. The Golden Visa residency route, for example, was not altered by the 2026 nationality law; only the citizenship timeline for its holders changed
What’s in Force in 2026, and What’s Still Pending
Not every change since 2025 has the same legal status today. Some measures are settled and already affect applicants; others took effect more recently. The table below sets out where each stands.
| Measure | Status |
|---|---|
| Citizenship residency requirement (nationality law) | In force since 19 May 2026. Under Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026, the qualifying period is 10 years of legal residence for most nationals, or 7 years for CPLP and EU nationals, counted from the date your first residence permit is issued. |
| Applications filed before the law took effect | Settled. Applications filed with the IRN on or before 18 May 2026 continue under the prior 5-year regime. |
| Immigration law amendments (Law 23/2007) | In force since 23 October 2025. Lei n.º 61/2025 was approved by Parliament on 30 September 2025, promulgated by the President on 16 October 2025, published in the Diário da República on 22 October 2025, and took effect the following day. |
| Golden Visa residency route | Unchanged. The Golden Visa (ARI) residency route itself was not altered by the 2026 nationality law reform. Only the citizenship timeline for holders changed, per the row above. |
| Permanent residency threshold | Unchanged. Permanent residency remains available after five years of legal residence. The 2026 nationality law changes affect only the citizenship timeline, not residency thresholds. |
How the 2026 Nationality Law Affects Residents
If you’re already living in Portugal on a residence permit, the change that matters most to you is the citizenship timeline. Under Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026, you now need 10 years of legal residence to apply for citizenship, or 7 years if you’re a CPLP or EU national.
The clock starts on the date your first residence permit was issued, not the date you submit your citizenship application.
If you filed your citizenship application with the IRN on or before 18 May 2026, the previous 5-year timeline still applies to your case. If you file from 19 May 2026 onward, the new timeline applies, even if you had already accrued five years of residence before that date.
This section covers only how the change affects your timeline as a resident. For the full breakdown of what the law changed and why, see Changes in Portugal’s nationality law.
Timeline: Portugal’s Residency and Immigration Law Changes, 2025–2026
19 May 2026: Portugal’s new Nationality Law (Organic Law No. 1/2026) entered into force. Although separate from the Immigration Law (Law No. 23/2007), the reform significantly changed the residency-to-citizenship timeline by extending the residence requirement for naturalization and introducing additional eligibility requirements for new applicants.
19 March 2026: The Portuguese Government approved a draft bill to strengthen the country’s removal and deportation procedures for foreign nationals unlawfully present in Portugal. The proposal was submitted to Parliament and had not yet entered into force.
22 October 2025: Law No. 61/2025 was published in the Diário da República, officially becoming the 19th amendment to Portugal’s Immigration Law (Law No. 23/2007). The law entered into force the following day and introduced new rules on family reunification, the Job Seeker Visa, residence requirements, and other immigration procedures.
16 October 2025: Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa ratified the Portuguese Parliament’s approved changes of 30 September without any amendments. This is the 19th version of the law, now deemed constitutional and awaiting publication in the Official Gazette.
30 September 2025: The Portuguese Parliament approved changes to the immigration law (pending presidential promulgation). Until the President signs the decree into law, the current D6 rules remain in force. Key points affecting D6 applicants include:
8 August 2025: In its ruling on 8 August, Portugal’s highest constitutional authority struck down critical provisions of the government’s proposed changes to family reunification, among other immigration and citizenship changes.
25 July 2025: Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa submitted an urgent formal request to the Constitutional Court to evaluate the constitutionality of specific provisions in a decree that would alter Law 23/2007 (known as the Immigration Law) before it becomes effective.
16 July 2025: In a Portuguese Assembly sitting, the government approved Decree No. 6/XVII, which amended Law No. 23/2007, widely known as the national Immigration Law. This is the final parliamentary stage before reaching the President for final approval and publication in the Diário da República before becoming enforceable.
23 June 2025: Portugal’s Council of Ministers approved a broad package of immigration reforms that proposed stricter family reunification rules, restrictions on the Job Seeker Visa, changes to residence permit requirements, and the creation of a new National Unit for Foreigners and Borders (UNEF). The proposal was subsequently submitted to Parliament for legislative approval.
13 February 2025: Law No. 9/2025 entered into force, introducing technical amendments to Law No. 23/2007. The changes primarily implemented the European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES) and amended the validity of certain CPLP residence permits.
Previous Changes to Portugal’s Residency Requirements
This isn’t the first time Portugal’s immigration and residency rules have been changed or proposed. In March 2024, the updated Nationality Law clarified that the five-year residency period begins when you submit your application for a residence permit.
7 November 2024: Law No. 40/2024 amended the transitional provisions created following the abolition of the Manifestation of Interest procedure, providing greater legal certainty for pending applications submitted before the new rules entered into force.
September 2024: AIMA launched a large-scale operation to process hundreds of thousands of pending Manifestation of Interest applications inherited from the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF). Although not a legislative amendment, this marked one of the largest administrative immigration regularization efforts in Portugal’s history.
3 June 2024: Decree-Law No. 37-A/2024 abolished the Manifestation of Interest (Manifestação de Interesse) residence pathway. New applicants generally became required to obtain a residence visa before travelling to Portugal, while pending Manifestation of Interest applications continued under transitional rules.
3 June 2024: The Portuguese Government approved its Migration Action Plan, announcing a comprehensive reform of Portugal’s immigration system. The plan focused on ending the Manifestation of Interest regime, reducing processing backlogs, strengthening border controls, reforming AIMA, and creating faster legal migration channels for qualified workers.
5 March 2024: Portugal published Organic Law No. 1/2024, amending the Nationality Law (Law No. 37/81). Among the most significant changes, the law clarified that, for nationality purposes, the required five-year period of legal residence begins on the date the first residence permit application is submitted, rather than when the residence permit is issued, provided the application is ultimately approved. The amendment entered into force on 1 April 2024.
29 October 2023: Portugal officially abolished SEF. Its immigration responsibilities were transferred primarily to AIMA, while border control and criminal investigation powers were redistributed among PSP, GNR, Polícia Judiciária, and other public authorities.
6 October 2023: Law No. 56/2023 (“Mais Habitação“) entered into force, removing residential real estate and most commercial property investments from Portugal’s Golden Visa program. Existing applications and renewals remained protected under transitional provisions, while investment funds, scientific research, cultural donations, and business investment routes continued to qualify.
Who needs a Portugal residency visa?
If you are not a citizen of the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland, you must apply for a Portuguese residency visa if you plan to stay longer than 90 days.
Portugal is included in the Schengen Area, allowing tourists and business travelers from various countries to visit for up to 90 days within a 180-day timeframe without needing a residency visa.
However, even if you do not require a visa for short-term tourist or business visits (such as US and UK passport holders), you must obtain a residency visa to stay longer or to establish residency.
Nevertheless, Portugal has recently implemented new regulations where citizens from Brazil and Timor-Leste have an expedited path to obtain residency.
Although EU citizens do not need a residency visa for stays exceeding 90 days, there is a crucial requirement. If you stay in Portugal for more than three months, you must register your residence with the local authorities.
How to Get Residency in Portugal
There are several pathways for obtaining a Portugal residency Visa, each offering access to one of Europe’s safest, most welcoming countries, along with the freedom to live, work, and travel across the Schengen Zone.
Portugal Golden Visa
The Portugal Golden Visa is a five-year residency-by-investment program aimed at non-EU nationals. It is one of the most prominent investment schemes available for those looking to acquire a residence permit. To qualify for the Portugal Golden Visa, applicants must:
- Maintain a clean criminal record. Legal consultation is recommended if necessary.
- Be a non-EU, non-Swiss, or non-EEA national.
- Invest at least €500,000 in an eligible investment fund, €500,000 in a business or job-creation project with at least 5 full-time jobs created, €500,000 in scientific research, or €250,000 in a cultural contribution project.
- Spend 7 days in Portugal in the first year, and 14 days in each subsequent 2-year period.
D7 Visa
The Portugal D7 Visa, also known as the Portugal Retirement Visa or the Passive Income Visa, is an excellent option for individuals who have a consistent income source from properties, financial investments, or pensions. This visa is ideal for those who do not intend to work in Portugal but wish to live there.
Applicants for the D7 Visa must demonstrate a stable and regular passive source of income from pensions, property rentals, interest income, or financial investments to support their stay in Portugal.
Specifically, it should be at least equivalent to the Portuguese minimum wage, currently set at €920 per month (€11,040 per year). Eligible income sources include pensions, rental income, interest, or other non-salaried sources.
The benefits of the D7 Visa include visa-free access to countries within the European Union, access to Portuguese public services, and a pathway to obtaining permanent residency in Portugal.
Digital Nomad Visa
The Portugal Digital Nomad Visa, officially known as the D8 Visa, is specifically designed for digital nomads, including freelancers, remote employees, self-employed individuals, and entrepreneurs who wish to acquire a residence permit and live and work in Portugal.
Eligibility for the Digital Nomad Visa includes:
- Non-EU nationals: The visa is available to foreign citizens who do not belong to the European Union.
- Income requirements: Applicants must demonstrate sufficient income of €3,680 per month, which is four times the Portuguese minimum wage.
- Residential property: You must rent or purchase residential property in Portugal, providing proof through a rental agreement or property ownership documentation.
The D8 Visa allows for multiple entries into Portugal and provides the opportunity to apply for a residence permit. The residency permit can be extended for up to five years.
D3 Qualified Workers Visa
The Portugal D3 Visa is designed for highly skilled professionals such as scientists, researchers, and academics whom Portuguese institutions invite and offers employment contracts.
To be eligible for this Portuguese visa, the applicant must have a work or services contract or a promise that falls under the category of highly qualified activity.
The contract must be for at least one year, and the salary depends on the applicant’s activity; usually, it must be at least 1.5 times the average gross annual salary in Portugal.
Why choose Global Citizen Solutions for your Immigration Visa?
GLOBAL APPROACH BY LOCAL EXPERTS
- GCS has offices located across Portugal.
- Members of the US-Portugal and UK-Portugal Chambers of Commerce in Portugal, and the Investment Migration Council (IMC).
- Our expert team can help you throughout your journey to secure your Visa.
100% APPROVAL RATE
- Our successful track record in applications provides reassurance to applicants.
- We have helped clients from more than 35 countries secure residency in Portugal.
ALL-ENCOMPASSING SOLUTION
- With a single channel of communication, our approach ensures that you have complete clarity on your application.
- Our BeGlobal® Onboarding System allows for a total flow of information.
TRANSPARENCY AND PRIVACY
- Our pricing is clear and detailed, you will not face any hidden costs.
- All data is stored within a GDPR-compliant database on a secure SSL-encrypted server.
