In recent years,Immigration to PortugalIn March 2024, the President of Portugal signed a new amendment to the Citizenship Law, and these changes have made more and more people focus on this sunny coast. Today, here's an in-depth look at some of the must-know highlights - whether you're an investor, a businessman or a businesswoman.immigrantsThe family should be aware of this, whether they are naturalized or their offspring are applying for it!

🔹 I. Reform of the method of calculating the length of stay: naturalization is "one step ahead".

The old rules required applicants to complete five years from the date of obtaining their resident card, or "green card," before they could apply for naturalization. However, under the new law, the clock will start to run from the date the applicant obtains his or her residence card, or "green card. "First submission of application for residence" The day of the process is counted. In other words, even if you wait for approval during this process, the actual naturalization waiting period does not suffer from an administrative delay. Example:

• If you submit your application for residence in February 2021 and your first residence card is approved in February 2022, you will previously have to wait until February 2027 to apply for citizenship;

• Under the new law, time can start February 2021 Begin counting and will be eligible to apply in February 2026

For investors, this means being able to Earlier citizenship, faster redemption of funds or real estate investmentsThe

🔹 II. Dramatic reduction in the period of acquisition of nationality: savings of up to 2 years

Across the board, administrative delays have often resulted in actual waiting times that are two to three years longer than required, turning an otherwise five-year cycle into seven to eight years. The new law effectively strips away waiting delays, amounting to direct savings of 1-2 years The length of residence.

With the introduction of an online platform and AI review mechanism for IRNs, which has now been piloted to facilitate fast processing, an overall systematic speed-up is also expected in the future.

🔹 III. Wider applicant base: both investors and general applicants benefit

The new law will not only have an impact on golden visas, fund investments, D2 visas which areinvestment immigrationThe pathway is favorable and also covers people who obtained their right to stay through the general work, study or family reunification pathway. The naturalization start reform is common to all. Bottom line: as long as you submit an application for legal residence, you can take advantage of the new policy's dividends, regardless of your residence path.

🔹 IV. Additional benefits: earlier naturalization of children, more flexible passport replacement

The new article 15 of the new law also has a positive impact on the naturalization of children: if a family applies for citizenship, the minor children will automatically become eligible when the parents are naturalized, as long as they meet the starting conditions, which means that "the family will be reunited and will receive passports together".

For the investor, the ability to "streamline" the redemption of assets at an earlier stage, while having the flexibility to dispose of investments, is certainly more in line with family planning.

📝 Practical advice: how to step up and prepare?

1. Early submission of applications for residence
   Whether it is a Golden Visa, D2 Visa, or Family/Work Visa, if there is a condition to submit it immediately, it can be counted as the starting point.

2. Keep documents and chain of evidence
   Passport information, address, tax, utility bills, etc. need to be kept for future submission of citizenship to the actual hammer is Time basis for legal residence in two places or passing the starting point of the examination of documentsThe

3. Concerned about the timing of the bill's official entry into force
   Although signed by the President, the real legislation will not enter into force until the Diário da República is filed, which is currently scheduled for March 2024.

4. Synchronize information with professional advisors
   Portugal Immigrant InvestorPeople can pay attention to the details of the main service providers "fund immigration", "D2 visa" and other programs, and pay attention to the full transition of SEF to AIMA.

   

✅ Summary: Why are these changes so important?

In general, this new Nationality Law means that you don't need to be anxious about administrative waiting to get Portuguese nationality - the time is in your hands.