Weekly update on June 15, 2026: Portugal's 10-Year Citizenship Law Triggers Golden Visa Fund Redemptions
PublishedBy Laura Ferreira · Editorial policy
Portugal's new Nationality Law, which doubled the citizenship residency requirement to 10 years, is prompting Golden Visa investors to redeem funds. Separately, expats continue to face significant AIMA processing delays.
Key takeaways
- The new Nationality Law has doubled the standard legal residency period for citizenship to 10 years.
- This legislative change is causing some Golden Visa investors to redeem their investment funds.
- Experts note that while the dust is settling on the new law, some areas of implementation remain unclear.
- Separately, thousands of expats are dealing with ongoing administrative processing delays at AIMA.
- Applicants are advised to use the extended timelines to prepare their documentation and complete the mandatory A2 Portuguese language exam.
Golden Visa Program Feels the Impact of New Nationality Law
Following the implementation of Portugal's new Nationality Law, the Golden Visa program is experiencing noticeable pushback. According to Bloomberg, the doubling of the standard legal residency period for citizenship to 10 years has negatively impacted the program's appeal among prospective applicants.
The extended timeline has prompted a direct reaction from the investor community. Reports indicate that the new legislation has triggered redemptions in Golden Visa investment funds, as applicants reassess their long-term European residency and citizenship strategies in light of the longer commitment.
Navigating the Changes and Lingering Uncertainties
Legal and immigration experts are currently analyzing what the new Nationality Law truly means for investors now that the initial dust has settled. While the shift to a 10-year legal residency requirement is a definitive legislative change, analysts note that certain practical aspects of the law remain unclear.
Applicants and their legal representatives are closely monitoring how the Portuguese government will handle the transition and clarify the remaining ambiguities in the coming months.
AIMA Processing Delays Add Administrative Hurdles
Completely separate from the recent legislative changes to the Nationality Law, expats in Portugal continue to face significant administrative challenges. Thousands of foreign residents are currently dealing with severe processing delays at the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA).
These administrative backlogs add wait time to residency renewals and initial applications, but they do not alter the legal timelines set by the new nationality legislation. Experts advise expats to proactively gather and prepare their documentation well in advance to mitigate the impact of these ongoing AIMA delays.
Strategic Preparation for Citizenship Applicants
With the legal residency requirement now set at 10 years and separate administrative delays extending overall timelines, prospective citizens must plan their naturalisation journey carefully.
One critical requirement that remains unchanged is the need to pass the mandatory A2 Portuguese language exam. Applicants can use this extended waiting period to their advantage by beginning their language studies early. Platforms like Prep2Go offer structured resources to help candidates confidently prepare for the CIPLE exam long before their citizenship application is due.
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