Portugal Passes New Citizenship Law: CPLP Timeline Extended to 7 Years

Parliament Approves New Citizenship Law

Portugal's parliament has officially passed a new decree regarding the Citizenship Law. Notably, political negotiations led to the removal of transitional provisions, meaning the new rules could potentially affect current applicants. Lawyers are expected to challenge any retroactive application of these changes.

• For CPLP applicants, the timeline to obtain a passport has been extended to seven years.
• The waiting period for residency approval no longer counts toward this timeline.
• The Sephardic Jewish pathway has been excluded.

Golden Visa Route Remains Open

Despite the sweeping changes to the Citizenship Law, the pathway to a passport through the Golden Visa program has been preserved. This provides a sigh of relief for investors.

However, the exact wording remains vague, and the industry is currently waiting for concrete case processing from AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum) to understand how the rules will be applied in practice.

Stricter Naturalization for Children

The updated legislation also introduces stricter naturalization rules for children born in Portugal. The state is tightening its policies, making it more difficult for foreign parents to secure a Portuguese passport for their children simply by giving birth in Lisbon or elsewhere in the country.

Maturing Golden Visa Fund Market

While the legislative landscape experiences turbulence, the investment fund market for the Golden Visa has matured significantly in 2026. Funds are currently viewed as a safe harbor for applicants.

The market has consolidated, allowing investors to prioritize yield and transparency. When selecting a fund, applicants are advised to request audits from previous years.

Assessing Risks and Preparing for Exams

The lack of transitional provisions and the precedent set by the CPLP timeline changes introduce critical risks for all residency types. Investors should consult with their legal counsel to assess how these changes might impact their specific timelines.

As the timeline to citizenship evolves, applicants should use this period to prepare for the mandatory Portuguese language exam. Resources like Prep2Go can help streamline this preparation when the time comes to apply for naturalization.