Our founder, attorney Jéssika Aguiar, spoke with InfoMoney about the legal uncertainty now facing Golden Visa holders and foreign residents in Portugal.
Portugal’s recent changes to its Nationality Law have triggered growing concern among international investors, foreign residents, and families who had planned their future around a clear path to Portuguese citizenship.
In an interview with InfoMoney, our founder, attorney Jéssika Aguiar, addressed the practical and legal impact of the new rules, especially for individuals who entered Portugal through investment-based residency programs such as the Golden Visa.
The reform extends the minimum residency period required to apply for Portuguese citizenship. Previously, many foreign residents could apply after five years of legal residence.
Under the new framework, citizens from Portuguese-speaking countries, including Brazil, as well as European Union citizens, must now wait seven years. For most other nationalities, the requirement increases to ten years.
For many investors, this change represents more than a longer waiting period. It raises a deeper issue: legal predictability.
As Jéssika explained in the interview, many foreign nationals made significant financial, personal, and family decisions based on the rules in place at the time they applied for residency. When those rules change mid-process, the result is uncertainty — and, for some, a feeling that the trust placed in the Portuguese system has been broken.
“The central issue is not only the extension of the deadline, but the impact on people who had already organized their lives based on the previous legal framework,” Jéssika Aguiar emphasized.
The concern is particularly strong among Golden Visa investors, many of whom committed substantial capital to Portugal with the expectation that they would be eligible to apply for citizenship after five years.
According to reports, hundreds of investors are now considering legal action against the Portuguese State, arguing that the reform affects legitimate expectations created under the prior law.
Jéssika also highlighted that the way residency time is calculated is one of the most sensitive points of the reform. For foreign residents, even a technical change in the starting point of that count can add years to the citizenship timeline.
“For investors and families, timing matters. A change in how residence time is counted can completely alter someone’s immigration strategy,” she noted.
The new law is expected to affect not only investors, but also Brazilian nationals, families with children born in Portugal, and foreigners who were already living in the country while waiting to complete the required period for naturalization.
For those impacted, Jéssika recommends a careful legal review of each case before making decisions such as canceling an application, withdrawing investments, or initiating litigation.
“This is a moment for legal strategy, not panic. Each case needs to be analyzed individually, especially when there are pending applications, prior expectations, or family-based implications,” Jéssika said.
Portugal has long been seen as one of Europe’s most attractive destinations for immigration, investment, and long-term relocation. However, the recent reform shows how quickly immigration planning can change when political and legal priorities shift.
For foreign nationals currently in Portugal — or planning to move there — the message is clear: legal guidance is no longer optional. It is essential.
As Jéssika Aguiar’s interview with InfoMoney made clear, the debate surrounding Portugal’s new Nationality Law is not simply about citizenship timelines. It is about trust, stability, and the need for transparent rules in a country that has actively invited foreign residents and investors to build their future there.
For more context on the new law and its impact on international investors, read the full InfoMoney article here.
