The Aliança Democrática (AD) party, which is campaigning for the elections of 18 May 2025, proposes in its program a revision of the rules for obtaining Portuguese citizenship for foreigners, including investors under the Golden Visa program. Only in 2024, the government of António Costa enshrined in the Law the right of investors who applied for a residence permit in Portugal (Golden Visa) to count the 5-year period before applying for citizenship from the moment the application is registered in the system. This means that the residence permit is still being processed, and the investor is already gaining months until Portuguese citizenship. More than two years may pass from the moment of filing an application for a residence permit until the application is considered.
The official electoral program of the AD (Aliança Democrática) party speaks of the need to tighten the criteria for naturalization. Among the key proposals:
- Increasing the minimum period of residence in the country;
- Requirement of real, not formal presence in Portugal;
- Exclusion of the possibility of counting illegal stay;
- General revision of approaches to issuing citizenship with “clear and fair criteria”.
Under current rules, investors only need to be in the country for 14 days a year for five years to apply for Portuguese citizenship. But the AD party is proposing to change this approach and tighten controls. For now, this is only a party program, and implementing the proposals will require not only the party’s victory in the elections, but also the support of parliament and a change in the law.
The share of foreigners in Portugal has grown to 15% in 7 years
The Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, presented the interim report of AIMA (the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum) on the “foreign population in Portugal”. He sharply criticized the previous government of António Costa for “uncontrolled immigration”.
“This government, the socialist one, opened the doors, did not prepare public services for such growth and allowed hundreds of thousands of pending applications to accumulate, inhumanely jeopardizing the integration of those who arrived,” said Leitão Amaru.
Full digitalization of processes in AIMA as a solution to the “bureaucratic failure”
The Liberal Initiative (IL) party has officially proposed a radical solution for the immigration system: completely digitizing all AIMA processes. The idea is to eliminate paperwork, eliminate intermediaries, and reduce the processing time.
Portugal Golden Visa from €250 000
Returnable investment. The Portugal Golden Visa program has abolished the option to purchase real estate, but if you prefer this type of investment, there is an option to participate in a local business. This could be, for example, buying a share in a hotel. The key condition is to contribute at least €500,000 to the authorized capital + the creation of jobs (from 10 to 5, depending on the type of employment). Applicant may exit the investment in the 6th year. Or you can invest funds in an amount of at least in an authorized investment fund. The yield and conditions for the return of funds after the agreed term depend on the specific fund.
Non-refundable investments. The most “budget” option of the program is support for cultural heritage. There is an authorized list of 38 cultural funds that support significant objects, art and crafts. Most of the funds are public law foundations holding a public utility status.
