# Wait time now counts toward 5 year residency? **URL:** \ **Category:** Portugal Golden Visa\ **Tags:** portugal\ **Created:** [January 5, 2024, 7:03pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/wait-time-now-counts-toward-5-year-residency/62393 "2024-01-05T19:03:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 63
**Author:** ![live2learn](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/df788c/32.png) [@live2learn](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/live2learn)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2025, 3:12pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/wait-time-now-counts-toward-5-year-residency/62393/1285 "2025-06-09T15:12:27Z")
> [@RebeccaS](#): > > What I don’t understand is how can one meet the minimal stay requirements for the D7 Visa if they don’t have a residency card If you don’t have the residency card, then how do you get the requirement? The requirement comes from thin air? 😬 ---
**Author:** ![PTbound](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/dbc845/32.png) [@PTbound](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/PTbound)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2025, 2:43pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/wait-time-now-counts-toward-5-year-residency/62393/1286 "2025-06-14T14:43:12Z")
The random application of this law shall continue, it seems… > [@What's the potential impact of the 2025 Portuguese election on the Golden Visa program and pathway to citizenship?](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/whats-the-potential-impact-of-the-2025-portuguese-election-on-the-golden-visa-program-and-pathway-to-citizenship/71816/92): > > Adding another news coverage [on the program of the XXV Constitutional Government delivered today 14-June to the Assembly of the Republic]: > > > It remains to be clarified how long the Government intends to set the period of residence in Portugal to be eligible for Portuguese nationality. DN knows that the intention is to increase it from five to ten years, but the programme does not confirm this. On the other hand, **it is confirmed once again that the law approved and sanctioned to count the waiting time for a residence permit as the five years provided for in the current law will not be regulated.** > > [https://www.dn.pt/sociedade/governo-prop%C3%B5e-restringir-visto-de-procura-de-trabalho-para-elevadas-qualifica%C3%A7%C3%B5es](https://www.dn.pt/sociedade/governo-prop%C3%B5e-restringir-visto-de-procura-de-trabalho-para-elevadas-qualifica%C3%A7%C3%B5es) ---
**Author:** ![tommigun](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/898d66/32.png) [@tommigun](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/tommigun)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2025, 4:25pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/wait-time-now-counts-toward-5-year-residency/62393/1287 "2025-06-14T16:25:14Z")
I must apologize to the original poster of that controversial AI content as on the second glance I found it to be useful and I was able to verify at least some of the references to the Portugal legislation materials as valid. I guess my previous reaction was due to an AI allergy developed outside of this forum. Thanks for the contribution, albeit unverified at source. ---
**Author:** ![garrett](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/g/3e96dc/32.png) [@garrett](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/garrett)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2025, 5:45pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/wait-time-now-counts-toward-5-year-residency/62393/1288 "2025-06-14T17:45:05Z")
No apology needed - the risk with the AI generated stuff is the 1 incorrect reference among 100 good ones. If you’ve used it for something, please post what you’ve verified, that is useful ---
**Author:** ![tommigun](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/898d66/32.png) [@tommigun](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/tommigun)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2025, 6:58pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/wait-time-now-counts-toward-5-year-residency/62393/1289 "2025-06-14T18:58:50Z")
To be exact I have verified the references to non-retroactivity clauses in the AI-mentioned articles of the Constitution, Civil Code, and the Code of Administrative Procedures. ---
**Author:** ![annwatson00](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/annwatson00/32/7107_2.png) [@annwatson00](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/annwatson00)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 3:04pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/wait-time-now-counts-toward-5-year-residency/62393/1290 "2025-06-19T15:04:59Z")
We know that the law was approved in 2024 to count our waiting time for a residency permit from the application date. My recollection is that there was a final step however to make it official that did not happen yet. I believe the final step was to “enact the law and publish it in the Official Gazette, in addition to the ordinances that regulate the details of the changes.” I recall that AIMA stated that they would count the waiting period from the application date. However AIMA’s statement isn’t law. Can anyone clarify this question of whether the law to count the 5 year residency from the application date was actually finalized and implemented? Thank you in advance!! ---
**Author:** ![anonymous69](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@anonymous69](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/anonymous69)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 3:07pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/wait-time-now-counts-toward-5-year-residency/62393/1291 "2025-06-19T15:07:37Z")
The law itself was published but the regulations for the law were never published. The current government has stated they disagree with the law therefore they refuse to regulate it, and intend to repeal it together with other changes to the nationality law once they get to that. ---
**Author:** ![annwatson00](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/annwatson00/32/7107_2.png) [@annwatson00](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/annwatson00)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 3:13pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/wait-time-now-counts-toward-5-year-residency/62393/1292 "2025-06-19T15:13:33Z")
Thank you very much for the quick reply. Wow, sounds like this could become a massive problem for thousands of us who have been waiting for our first biometrics appointment for 2-3 years through no fault of our own. ---
**Author:** ![tommigun](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/898d66/32.png) [@tommigun](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/tommigun)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2025, 9:43pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/wait-time-now-counts-toward-5-year-residency/62393/1293 "2025-06-19T21:43:46Z")
Yes, that’s why I encourage everyone who has some spare time to write a letter (well, an email to be exact) to all the leaders of the major parliamentary parties plus some key figures in the government and explain your (our) situation. Basically the point is that all ARI holders and applicants have suffered disproportionate injury both cost-wise and time-wise as compared to any other category of immigrants. Hence they all must be grandfathered into the current state of the nationality law, in case any future changes are applied to it. People in the Assambleia and the govt. need to be informed about that. ---
**Author:** ![nat.andreeva](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/n/9f8e36/32.png) [@nat.andreeva](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/nat.andreeva)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 10:10am UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/wait-time-now-counts-toward-5-year-residency/62393/1294 "2025-06-20T10:10:56Z")
Also, I encourage everyone to sign these petitions. I spend quite a lot of time on this site, but somehow I still managed to miss the petitions that were shared in a separate thread. Since this thread seems to get a lot of attention, I hope it would be okay if I repost the links here as well. They’re directly related to the issues we all care about and I think it’s really important that we get as many signatures as possible. > **[Petição para a Criação de um Regime Transitório que Mantenha Temporariamente...](https://participacao.parlamento.pt/initiatives/5005)** > > Excelentíssimo Senhor Presidente da Assembleia da República > > Petição para a Criação de um Regime Transitório que Mantenha Temporariamente o Prazo de Cinco Anos para a Naturalização dos Estrangeiros Residentes Legalmente em Portugal, em Caso de... > **[MANUTENÇÃO DO PRAZO DA NACIONALIDADE POR TEMPO DE RESIDÊNCIA DE 5 ANOS E...](https://participacao.parlamento.pt/initiatives/4879)** > > Exmo. Senhor Presidente da Assembleia da República > AO EXMO. SR. DR. PRESIDENTE DA ASSEMBLEIA DA REPÚBLICA > Priscila Santos Nazareth Ferreira, brasileira e portuguesa, advogada, casada, domicílio profissional na Rua Custódio Vilas Boas, 9, São Vicente,... Surely we can hit 7,500 signatures. Let’s give it a push! ---
**Author:** ![melodyh203](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/6bbea6/32.png) [@melodyh203](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/melodyh203)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 10:14am UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/wait-time-now-counts-toward-5-year-residency/62393/1295 "2025-06-20T10:14:07Z")
Let’s all sign them to voice our concerns! ---
**Author:** ![mborcherding](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/mborcherding/32/2600_2.png) [@mborcherding](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/mborcherding)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 10:53am UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/wait-time-now-counts-toward-5-year-residency/62393/1296 "2025-06-20T10:53:24Z")
AGAIN! This petition ignores the rights of GV applicants that have been waiting for multiple years for first SEF and now AIMA to act on our visa applications! There are thousands of us who live in Portugal and this petition ignores our right to be included in any grandfathering of the rules! ---
**Author:** ![tommigun](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/898d66/32.png) [@tommigun](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/tommigun)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 11:02am UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/wait-time-now-counts-toward-5-year-residency/62393/1297 "2025-06-20T11:02:41Z")
These petitions are still good ones to sign though, even if they do not call out “ARI applicants” specifically. Obviously the petitions have more chance of success if they are general enough i.e. cover a broad base of residents, not just ARI, that’s why they are worded as such. My suggestion for everyone is to sign them anyway, and in parallel fight for your more specific case of ARI applicants/holders. ---
**Author:** ![anonymous69](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@anonymous69](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/anonymous69)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2025, 3:03pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/wait-time-now-counts-toward-5-year-residency/62393/1298 "2025-06-20T15:03:24Z")
> [@mborcherding](#): > > This petition ignores the rights of GV applicants that have been waiting for multiple years for first SEF and now AIMA to act on our visa applications! You have grounds for an urgent lawsuit in order to be able to sign up for SNS. I suggest you seriously consider the double benefit of getting SNS and making your citizenship path more secure. You can even call a few different lawyers to get a better quote for filing a lawsuit. ---
**Author:** ![PTbound](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/dbc845/32.png) [@PTbound](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/PTbound)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2025, 3:27pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/wait-time-now-counts-toward-5-year-residency/62393/1299 "2025-06-23T15:27:23Z")
Check out the “pathway to citizenship” thread for more bad news today… > [@What's the potential impact of the 2025 Portuguese election on the Golden Visa program and pathway to citizenship?](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/whats-the-potential-impact-of-the-2025-portuguese-election-on-the-golden-visa-program-and-pathway-to-citizenship/71816/170): > > As explained by the governor, these deadlines **will begin to count from the moment the residence permit is obtained, and not from the moment the citizen expresses this desire.** ---
**Author:** ![sj-to-pt](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/5e9695/32.png) [@sj-to-pt](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/sj-to-pt)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2025, 3:32pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/wait-time-now-counts-toward-5-year-residency/62393/1300 "2025-06-23T15:32:55Z")
So 10 years for citizenship, counting from the date of your first card. And even more fun! The citizenship tests are evidently being expanded to include culture, history and law, so your A2 certificates just became tissue paper. ---
**Author:** ![anonymous69](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@anonymous69](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/anonymous69)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2025, 3:35pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/wait-time-now-counts-toward-5-year-residency/62393/1301 "2025-06-23T15:35:06Z")
> [@sj-to-pt](#): > > your A2 certificates just became tissue paper Well we still need to see if existing card holders will be grandfathered. The law isn’t final yet. And even if we do need B1 Portuguese in the end, the A2 will probably let you just take an A2-to-B1 PLA conversion course instead of a nothing-to-B1 PLA course. ---
**Author:** ![PTbound](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/p/dbc845/32.png) [@PTbound](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/PTbound)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2025, 3:42pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/wait-time-now-counts-toward-5-year-residency/62393/1302 "2025-06-23T15:42:33Z")
> [@sj-to-pt](#): > > The citizenship tests are evidently being expanded to include culture, history and law I had to pass a [“Life in the UK” test](https://www.officiallifeintheuk.co.uk/) a couple decades ago. I guess the PT proposal is something similar. Back then one of the potential UK questions was “What time do pubs normally close?” The test is much less interesting now. ---
**Author:** ![mborcherding](https://community.nomadgate.com/user_avatar/community.nomadgate.com/mborcherding/32/2600_2.png) [@mborcherding](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/mborcherding)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2025, 5:02pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/wait-time-now-counts-toward-5-year-residency/62393/1303 "2025-06-23T17:02:01Z")
If this passes, I need to proceed with Plan B and prepare a path to leave Portugal. I am 77. If time since application will not count toward nationality, and if the 3 1/2 years I have lived in Portugal in will not count toward nationality since I do not yet have a carta de residencia, and if the time of residency is raised to ten years, there is no point in remaining in Portugal as I am unlikely to live long enough to achieve my goal of an EU passport. I see no indication of grandfathering of any kind in the notice. What a sad ending. ---
**Author:** ![sj-to-pt](https://community.nomadgate.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/5e9695/32.png) [@sj-to-pt](https://community.nomadgate.com/u/sj-to-pt)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2025, 5:12pm UTC](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/wait-time-now-counts-toward-5-year-residency/62393/1304 "2025-06-23T17:12:18Z")
Here is the draft bill as proposed by Chega: Original Portuguese: [a738f936-540e-4747-9a46-18b3fac7230f.pdf](https://community.nomadgate.com/uploads/short-url/lSbjQiWZW5JflMUF4geMkSutCyp.pdf) (121.6 KB) Translated to English: [a738f936-540e-4747-9a46-18b3fac7230f en-GB.pdf](https://community.nomadgate.com/uploads/short-url/kDGwa1aQcER8ATqadvC5Ah1KsMx.pdf) (144.5 KB) Evidently this hasn’t yet been submitted to parliament, though. [Previous page](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/wait-time-now-counts-toward-5-year-residency/62393.md?page=62) [Next page](https://community.nomadgate.com/t/wait-time-now-counts-toward-5-year-residency/62393.md?page=64)