Get Golden Visa, a consultancy specialized in residency and citizenship by investment, reports a significant increase in Portugal Golden Visa inquiries in recent weeks. Unlike the seasonal slowdown usually seen during summer, this period has seen a notable uptick in interest and applications.

“We anticipated that uncertainty around the new law might dampen interest,” said Murat Coskun, Co-Founder of Get Golden Visa.
“Instead, we’re seeing a steady rise in demand from serious investors, which clearly reflects strong long-term confidence in Portugal’s stability.”

What’s Changing in the Portugal Citizenship Law?

As of July 2025, the proposed changes to Portugal’s citizenship law remain at the proposal stage. No legislation has been passed yet.

Key proposals include:

  • Extending the minimum residency requirement for citizenship from 5 years to 10 years

  • Adding a civic knowledge test in addition to the existing A2-level Portuguese language requirement

  • Terminating the citizenship pathway based on Sephardic Jewish ancestry

Important Reminder: These are still proposals. No legislation has been enacted. The proposals must go through parliamentary debate, political negotiations, possible amendments, and a final review by the Constitutional Court before becoming law.

Why Are Investors Still Choosing Portugal?

In a recent webinar hosted by Get Golden Visa, top investment-based residency programs in Europe were compared with Portugal receiving the most attention. Despite the proposed changes, the flexibility of the Portugal Golden Visa program remains a key attraction for investors.

One of the most significant takeaways from the session was the sustained appeal of the program, especially considering the proposal to extend the citizenship eligibility period from 5 to 10 years.

Even under the new law, Portugal’s major advantage remains: investors are required to be physically present in the country for only seven days per year, a level of flexibility unmatched by other EU programs.

Global Instability Boosts Investor Demand

It’s not just the program’s legal design that’s driving demand. Broader geopolitical and economic instability is also encouraging investors to seek out a secure long-term Plan B.

“Many of our clients view Portugal as a long-term safety net against growing tensions in their home countries,” Coskun noted.

In-Depth Coverage & Full Legal Breakdown

Investors can find a full breakdown of the proposed citizenship law changes and their implications in Get Golden Visa’s latest comprehensive article:

Investor Demand Remains Strong Despite the Citizenship Law Debate: Portugal Golden Visa Leads the Way