I’d love to see this legislation/regulation that “guarantees” GV holders access to PT citizenship after 5 years of residence, regardless of nationality law changes for other immigrants. So please do share!
I had a couple AI tools do some ‘deep research’ and they didn’t find any such promise. For example:
A detailed review of the Portuguese Nationality Law, Lei n.º 37/81, including its consolidated version and amendments, reveals no explicit mention of “Autorização de Residência para Investimento” or related terms like “investment” in the context of residency for nationality purposes. For instance:
- A search through the law’s text, available at Dre Tretas - Lei 37/81, shows general provisions for legal residence without specific investment-related criteria.
- Amendments (as listed in a review of legal updates at Dre Tretas - Alterações), such as Lei Orgânica 8/2015 (dated June 22, 2015), focus on grounds for naturalization and opposition but do not mention investment-based residency, as confirmed by reviewing related legal databases.
- The 2024 amendment (Lei Orgânica 1/2024, March 5, 2024) adjusts the residency period calculation but does not reference ARI.
Article 15 of the law, which defines legal residence, includes “autorizações” broadly, suggesting that ARI is covered under this category. However, there is no specific article or clause dedicated to investment-based permits, indicating that ARI is treated as part of general residency authorizations rather than having a distinct reference.
AI’s not perfect, but the deep digging that I watched it do on this topic was impressive. Again, if you have something concrete please share.
Also reading AIMA’s overview of ARI Art. 90.º-A, all it says is that “A pessoa beneficiária de ARI tem a possibilidade de” (ARI beneficiaries have the possibility of - and that’s AIMA’s bolding):
- staying on the Temporary ARI residence permit with only 14 days required in-country ← this is the only option unique to ARI
- requesting Permanent Residence under the terms of the Foreigners Law (Law no. 23/2007, of July 4, in its current wording)
- requesting Portuguese Nationality, fulfilling the other requirements set out in the Nationality Law (Law No. 37/81, of 3 October, in its current wording)… which I had AI studiously pick apart above
I don’t find any promise in there that 5 years residence earns GVs citizenship, or that GVs get special treatment w.r.t. naturalisation.