Over the past several months, Portugal has witnessed important political and regulatory developments that may impact foreign investors. With the election of a new president, this shift appears to be gaining momentum, while introducing a key question: What does it mean for Portugal Golden Visa holders?
On February 8, the socialist António José Seguro became the new president of Portugal, receiving 66.8% of the vote against his nationalist opponent André Ventura, the leader of the Chega party. This may imply a promising scene for Golden Visa investors, as Seguro was highly critical of the government’s handling of the proposed changes to the Nationality Law.
What You Will Find in This Article
- Political Shift & Legislative Uncertainty: A New Presidential Chapter Under Seguro
- Positive Implications for Portugal Golden Visa Holders
- Reform in Progress: The 2026 Nationality Law Landscape
- Core Value Remains Strong
- A New Online Renewal Portal for Golden Visa (ARI) Holders
- Operational Signals: Easing Backlogs and Institutional Re-Alignment
Political Shift & Legislative Uncertainty: A New Presidential Chapter Under Seguro
António José Seguro won the presidential election against his nationalist opponent, André Ventura, at a time when the proposed amendments to Portugal’s Nationality Law remain unresolved.
Taking the new president’s debates over several months into consideration, it can be suggested that his critical attitude towards the draft law may increase the likelihood of revisions toward a more moderate and balanced framework.
While the president does not draft legislation, his role carries significant constitutional powers that can shape it. Under Portugal’s constitutional system, the president can:
- Veto legislation
- Request a review by the Constitutional Court
- Send a law back to Parliament for reconsideration
Positive Implications for Portugal Golden Visa Holders
During his campaign, Seguro called for “broader political agreement” when changing major laws. This suggests that any changes to the Portuguese Nationality Law might be made more carefully and fairly.
Accordingly, investors may expect:
- Clear transitional protections
- Grandfathering rules for existing applicants
That said, this should not be interpreted as an indication of immediate or guaranteed changes, especially since legislative decisions do not rest solely with the President.
Reform in Progress: The 2026 Nationality Law Landscape
On June 23, 2025, the Portuguese government proposed a draft law regarding the naturalization process for Portuguese citizenship. Although it does not change the regulatory framework for Portugal Golden Visa residency, it may affect the timeline for citizenship through investment when it enters into force. This includes:
- Extending the timeline from 5 years to 10 years for citizenship
- Starting the counting process starting from the issuance of the first residency card, not the initial application date.
Following several months of debate, the draft law was sent to the President’s office for review on October 28, 2025. However, on November 13, 2025, the Socialist Party bypassed the president and requested a preventive review of the law from the Constitutional Court.
On December 15, 2025, the Constitutional Court ruled that four provisions of the draft law were unconstitutional. As a result, the law cannot take effect in its current form and must be revised before it can be implemented.
What this means for investors:
- There is currently no change to the existing citizenship process. Golden Visa holders and applicants remain under the previous rules.
- Given Seguro’s presidency and his support for cross-party consensus, the revised law could take a more measured approach. It is expected to include transitional provisions to protect current applicants.
Now, we will wait for the government to draft a legally compliant version of the law. For this, the draft law must undergo further parliamentary debate and be reviewed by the president before it can be enacted.
Core Value Remains Strong
Since its launch in 2012, the Portugal Golden Visa program has attracted over €9 billion in direct investment and created more than $54 billion in broader economic impact. Therefore, even with potential changes to Portugal’s Citizenship Law, the program remains one of the most reliable options for investors in 2026.
From a global investment perspective, at Get Golden Visa, we observe that its appeal goes beyond simply obtaining residency. The program provides a strategic foothold in Europe and serves as a “Plan B” for long-term planning. Additionally, it allows investors to craft a tailored investment portfolio that aligns with their financial and residency goals.
While proposed changes may extend the citizenship timeline from 5 to 10 years, the program’s core strength lies in its clear path to permanent residency and eventual citizenship. This clarity helps it remain resilient against policy shifts.
A New Online Renewal Portal for Golden Visa (ARI) Holders
While political and legal debates continue, Portugal is taking action to improve its Golden Visa processing. The Portuguese Immigration and Asylum Agency (AIMA) announced a new online renewal portal.
Starting on February 16, renewals for Golden Visa permits can be completed through the new portal without in-person appointments, except when biometric data collection is required. By stepping into a new digital era, AIMA aims to reduce bureaucratic delays and prevent Golden Visa holders from waiting longer.
Operational Signals: Easing Backlogs and Institutional Re-Alignment
The new ARI portal could be interpreted as a sign of Portugal’s efforts to streamline renewals, reduce waiting times, and improve predictability for investors.
With this, AIMA intends to:
- Increase processing speed and efficiency
- Reduce unnecessary travel
- Better utilize in-person services for biometric collection only
- Improve predictability, transparency, and overall user experience
On the other hand, beyond improvements in digital processing, additional positive developments have been observed in recent months. Although previous backlogs had slowed down the process, Get Golden Visa’s data indicates that applicants who filed in early and late 2025 have begun receiving their 2026 biometric appointments. This suggests a gradual normalization within the system and signals that administrative capacity is being reactivated.
In other words, while legislative debates continue, operational momentum is returning, indicating that the government is taking steps to stabilize the Golden Visa framework for investors.
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