Dear valued clients and partners,
This year's events have turned much of the world on its head, and more changes likely await, bringing about new perspectives, fresh approaches - and a pool of untapped opportunities.
In early April, Portugal's parliament approved draft amendments to the country's nationality law, introducing stricter eligibility criteria and a more stringent process for obtaining Portuguese citizenship.
We'd like to emphasize that the proposed changes - including longer residency requirements, a new civic and cultural knowledge test, and tighter criminal record rules - are not yet final.
The amendments are pending analysis and confirmation by the relevant authorities.
Opposition parties have already expressed their intention to submit the proposed amendments to the criminal code for constitutional review, and the president is expected to confirm or deny his intention to do the same regarding changes to the nationality law in the coming days.
We do not know which (if any) changes will be approved, nor what implications this might have on ongoing applications. Given the political context and heated debate on the matter, we expect further discussion with an unclear timeline for when the law could become final and implemented.
Separate regulations that establish practical and operational aspects (for example, what the proposed civic test would look like) would likely take additional time to be drafted and take effect.
We can say with absolute certainty, however, that Portugal's Golden Visa program remains intact, with requests for permanent residency still available after 5 years from the issuance of the residency card. There are no proposals to amend these requirements.
For more information about the proposed amendments, please see: Portugal's parliament approves new nationality law (Portugal Government); A detailed breakdown of the proposed changes (Schengen Visa News); Portugal nationality law: What changed for expats, NHR residents, and digital nomads (Lex-go.pt)
We continue to monitor these developments closely, and we will update you as soon as more information becomes available.
Together, we can help you grasp any potential changes and analyse their impact on your existing or future investment immigration strategy. Our specialized counsel will work with you to identify where plans should be adapted or diversified.
We offer guidance on a host of opportunities in Europe and beyond, with citizenship by ancestry becoming an increasingly popular and affordable means to a second passport without the hefty investments or relocation requirements typically associated with other immigration pathways.
In the meantime, we'd like to invite you to browse our roundup of the latest immigration-related news from around the world at the bottom of this newsletter.
It's been quite the year already, and as the storms of change rage on, we remain committed to supporting your immigration and business goals as rules and regulations continue to evolve.
Co-author
Attorney-at-law (Portugal)