WIth all the new law changes I may have missed this - the language requirement jumped from A2 to B1?
1 Like
Which law firm are you using? Why are they using legalese and technicalities to argue with their own clients instead of atleast trying to find a solution?
1 Like
If your client is wrong, the ethical thing to do is correct them and explain why. Thatās not ālegaleseā
Because they failed to outline this risk at the time of investment and are now trying to cover their bases I suppose. A scam country if you ask me, Iām invested in a closed end fund which is net negative to date so god help me.
Well I just asked what is the implication of the new law if it goes into affect and that was her reply, never personally challenged the law so as to be corrected.
Well if I do decide to fund the investments, which I have no idea now, I know I am going to wait for the USD to go up. Iām not losing that much money on something that is sounding less and less of a sure thing.
So far Iām only in a ton of time and the legal fee to the lawyer.
1 Like
Itās bad PR for your prime minister to resign over corruption. I donāt think they care about PR.
We literally wired the money for the fund (open-ended) yesterday morning before the news broke. Hard not to feel pretty hopeless and snake bit.
4 Likes
Weāll have to wait for the final language, but the draft of the proposal (Projeto de Lei n.Āŗ 20/XVII/1) is to:
- Increase the requirement from 5y to 10y except for CPLP countries which will be 7y
- Start the clock when the residency permit card is issued, not when the application is submitted
- Increase language requirement from A2 to B1 and eliminate classroom certificates as an alternative to the exam
- Introduce physical presence tests. The exact number is not in the outline, but is likely to be 180 minimum days per year, for each of the 10 years.
- Require passing an exam on history/culture/heritage of Portugal
The intent of the proposal is to switch Portugal from being the easiest country in the EU to get citizenship to being among the hardest countries in the EU to get citizenship.
Those who applied in 2020 are golden. Theyāll be grandfathered in the old rules if they apply for citizenship now in 2025. Those who applied in 2021, like myself and Brad Luck Brian, will receive their 1st residency card in 2025 and be eligible to apply for citizenship in 2035 if we live there 180 days a year that entire time and become fluent. Iām going to ānopeā out of that.
6 Likes
Iāve seen nothing about B1 level
1 Like
Interestingly, this article talks about a ātransitional implementation periodā
Iām sorry, where has the 180 days/year come from? Can you site that source please? Itās new to me ans my lawyers didnāt mention that in the new changes. Thank you!
3 Likes
It sounds like from this article there is still hope for GV
2 Likes
If I got it correctly, this is Chegaās proposal that was rejected and another proposal was created.
Nevertheless, as for 180 days a year comment, IMO itās highly unlikely that it would affect GV holders.
3 Likes
But we have to know it may not be reasonable even if it is not a unique occurrence, or even if it is prevalent, otherwise it is a bully.
Surprising how one minister would give an interview about how the GV program is critical and how they are resolving open issues to make it stronger on Day 1 and by Day 15, the council of ministers unveils a grand plan to completely screw up any potential interest in the program.
3 Likes
Yes, this appears disingenuous ā one last attempt to sucker more investors into the GV before pulling the rug. There is no indication his party changed course on its policies within the past two weeks.
If the ruling party had the intention of protecting existing GV investors or of preserving something close to the programās existing terms going forward, they could have included that in this announcement to the public, but they didnāt.
If they still intend to protect the GV but rather than standing up for us, want to look like they were pressured into doing so, that gives you an indication of how unimportant we are to them.
2 Likes
The newly proposed citizenship law has not been official yet. However, it is enough warning to all investors who are about to put down money that they need to stop investing and reconsider GV program.
Looking at this matter from a different angle, I would say it is a positive thing and at least it is more positive than what has been written in the past. Why? Because right now people have an idea of how lengthy, clumsy, unstable and dodgy the process might be. 10 years counting from first card literally means 15-18 years for passport. In or out? It is all clear now. Make your own decision. The marketers and lawyers used to paint a nice color about this program (eligible to apply citizenship after 5 years,ā¦) will have to shut their mouth up about it and stop blowing deceiving words to the potential clients. From this point of view, I can see that less people will fall into the GV trap which is a positive thing.
14 Likes
For what itās worth, here is Aiās take.
Why Youāll Be Protected
1. Citizenship laws are not retroactive
Portugal, like most democratic EU countries, applies citizenship laws prospectively. If youāre already on a legal path under the current law (5 years of legal residency + minimal presence), they wonāt retroactively reset your timeline.
2. Legal residency starts the 5-year clock
If your residence card is issued (or even your Golden Visa/D7 application accepted with proof of payment), your āresidency clockā has started under the law at the time.
Courts already ruled in 2024 that the residency period starts from the application date, not the card issuance date ā protecting those affected by AIMA/SEF delays.
3. Transitional provisions are expected
When the new citizenship law passes (likely in 2026), it will include transitional clauses that explicitly protect:
- Residents with active permits,
- Those already in Portugal with pending or approved applications,
- People already eligible under the 5-year rule.
Bottom Line
| Scenario | Will New Law Apply? |
|---|---|
| You receive your residence card before new law takes effect |  No ā protected under 5-year rule |
| You apply for citizenship before the new law is enforced | No ā processed under current rules |
| You apply for residency after new law is passed |  Yes ā new law (likely 10 years) applies |
8 Likes