If anyone is interested in joining us to coordinate a class action lawsuit, in the event that our rights are not protected by the constitutional court, here is a WhatsApp group being spun up to prepare: [Edit: Link seems to have stopped working, let me get another one.]
The hope is that the president will send the bill to the TC and we’ll have a favourable outcome. But some of us are still skeptical and not willing to bet the farm on that.
There is a new WhatsApp group for those who will be seeking to file a class action lawsuit in case the new law in its current form is enacted. We are trying to gather everyone interested in pursuing this route to coordinate our efforts.
@Estu
Do you know whether the child can still apply if the child is already enrolled in a Portuguese school, but the parents’ nationality process is still ongoing and not yet completed?
They are not people who think strategically or have sharp analytical minds. Whenever they make a decision, they fail to consider its consequences or possible long-term effects. They’re so shortsighted that both the right and the left actually approved the citizenship reforms originally pushed five years ago by the then-unknown Chega party.
But these fools don’t realize that Chega will soon say: “Look how, in just a few years, we’ve managed to shake up the same political class that’s been useless since 1974. Elect us next year, and we’ll get things done.” And unfortunately, that message will resonate — they’ll likely consolidate votes from both sides.
No one seems to think about what the consequences will be. Here’s what will happen: many investors will pull their money from funds, and those who were considering new investments will back away, saying “I don’t want to deal with these arrogant amateurs.” Liquidity problems will follow. They’ll no longer find any naïve foreign buyers willing to pay 600–800k euros for those moldy, neglected houses from the Salazar era.
Then they’ll wake up and say, “What fools we were — let’s reverse this policy.” But by then it’ll be too late.
And let’s be honest — there’s no more easy money in the EU. The rich North no longer wants to subsidize the poor South. Their own social systems are collapsing, and they can’t sell as easily to China or America anymore. Naturally, this will hit Portugal hard.
My main frustration, however, isn’t just with the politicians. It’s with the fund managers, elites, and law firms who should be lobbying the government and warning them that this is a huge mistake — yet they’re silent.
Frankly, the Portuguese people have become a major disappointment in my eyes. They no longer project the image of a reliable or capable workforce, nor of a nation that one can truly do business with.
I think it depends on many things. You’d better ask a lawyer to be sure. When i heard this, I looked at the old text but could not find the specific similar case in the law.
There is a group called PAIIR (Portuguese Association Of Immigration, Investment And Relocation) that has been lobbying. I think the politicians just realize the anti-immigration populist winds are too strong.
I was just getting ready to incorporate in Portugal myself - and create about a dozen new software jobs, but after this rug pull, running FAR FAR away from this country!! Unfortunately, I put my money into a VC fund, so no near term liquidity to pull my money out VERY disappointing to see a bait and switch of this magnitude being perpetrated. I have NO problem with them not wanting immigration - just don’t take millions promising a fast and short path to citizenship and then switch the game on the investors!
Hi
We applied for our son when he was 16 . If our(the parents) citizenship came through before his application was rejected, our lawyer said he would be approved.
I completely agree with you. We’ve lived here for a year and are increasingly finding this place utterly deplorable and absurd. We’re planning to leave.
Abandoned by its own talented young people, countless hardworking immigrants are contributing to this land, and countless foreign investors are unraveling these once-distressed assets. What have they gained?
Headline is a bit click-baity for Forbes… they only mention near the bottom that these changes still need a final vote and the President’s signing into law.
Don’t know whether Mr. Savory has always been this upfront re: what a sh**show the GV has been for years
Jeremy Savory, CEO and founder of Savory and Partners, a global wealth mobility company, says, “the impact of this decision has far-reaching implications. The sheer number of candidates who are in the process of applying for golden visas in Portugal means that the unwinding of some of this will take a long time. Those at the start of their journey will immediately look at other jurisdictions, while those further down the line will be weighing up whether that time and financial commitment is worthwhile. Unfortunately, wherever they sit in that timeline, for many, the decision taken by the Portuguese government will leave a bad taste and question future investment into the country.”
For Savory and Partners, the potential loss of capital cannot be underestimated. It estimates that as much as €4.6 billion of committed capital could leave Portugal’s economy, and even with a conservative estimate, over €1-2 billion in high-value foreign direct investment could disappear. This figure is based on a survey it conducted, where over 70% of its potential golden visa investors were reconsidering their applications, each of whom would have brought a qualifying investment of over $525,000 (€500,000) into the country.
This isn’t just a law change — it’s covert state-sanctioned expropriation of investor capital under the disguise of immigration reform.
You’re sitting here talking about legal action timelines while the house is already on fire. The government is testing how silent and obedient we are. And some of you are proving them right.
I’ve spent my life building businesses. I didn’t come here to beg for fairness — I came based on what was promised, in law and in writing.
If thousands of us don’t threaten to withdraw funds, publicly and directly, this ends with you trapped in illiquid funds, waiting 10+ years for a passport you’ll be too old to use — while the government laughs, and the funds pretend nothing happened.
You think you’re playing it safe by waiting. But silence is compliance.
Portugal is not the U.S. — here, lawsuits take years, and no one respects quiet victims. They respect noise, risk, and escalation.
This is a war for legal credibility. And if you don’t fight back right now, you’ll be the one left explaining to your children why your €500K was “an unfortunate political casualty.”
Threaten. Shake the tree. Crash their inboxes. Force your lawyers, funds, and banks to act. One voice they can ignore — but not thousands.
If the Nationality Law is indeed referred to the TC, based on what happened with the Foreigner’s Law, we could hopefully see their verdict within a few weeks. A quick search came up with this basic timeline for the Foreigner’s Law. Apologies if this has been done elsewhere on the forum.
June 23 - Government approved legislative proposals to amend the law
July 16 - Parliament passed the bill
July 24 - Bill referred to TC
August 8 - TC struck down several provisions & President issues immediate veto
September 24 - Government presented amended bill to parliament
September 30 - Parliament approves amendments
October 16 - President signs into law
October 17 - Legislation published in the Diário da República
Thank you. That is a helpful comparison. That is ~2.5 months could be “stalled” if revisions are needed which would place a revised bill in effect around Jan 15h.
Note that they had an August recess, but this would likely have a December/Christmas recess?
I’m eligible to apply March 5th and my wife I think March 25th. Ugh.
Forgot about that. The problem is the uncertainty over who may win the Presidency since President de Sousa has been strict in his powers and constitutional interpretation.
I was unable to find the Assembly of the Republic’s calendar to try to determine their recesses.
For the 2026 election, first round voting is Jan 18th, and second round (if necessary) is February 8th. President de Sousa took office on March 9, 2016/2021. I assume that means the next President also takes office March 9th?
Someone posted an excellent summary of the legislation above from FieldFisher.
They write: " The proposed changes are not retroactive and will only apply to new applications submitted after the new law enters into force (the day following its publication in Portugal’s official gazette). All pending applications will remain subject to the current criteria. New criteria only valid for new applicants."
Do we have an understanding if pending applications refers to pending GV application or to pending citizenship application?