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Golden Visa · Analysis

Is the Golden Visa still worth it after the citizenship law change?

Bruna BarretoBy CEO — Bruna Barreto June 2026

The question everyone is asking

Since the new nationality law came into force in May 2026, this is probably the most frequently asked question by anyone considering the Golden Visa: is it still worth it? With naturalization timelines extended — seven years for EU and CPLP citizens, ten years for everyone else — many people are questioning whether the program still makes sense.

The honest answer is: it depends. It depends on what each person is looking for, their time horizon, and their concrete objectives. What changed was one specific aspect of the program — the path to citizenship became longer. Everything else remained the same.

What the Golden Visa offers that hasn't changed

Before answering whether it's worth it, it's useful to recall what the Golden Visa actually provides, independent of the nationality law:

  • Legal residency in Portugal with minimal stay requirements — on average, seven days per year.
  • Free movement across the Schengen area — 27 European countries with no border controls.
  • The right to work and study in Portugal for the main holder and included family members.
  • Access to the Portuguese public healthcare and education systems, on the same terms as national residents.
  • The ability to include family members in the same application — spouse, dependent children, and, under certain conditions, parents.

None of this was changed by the nationality law amendment. Someone obtaining a Golden Visa today has exactly the same residency rights as before.

Who the Golden Visa still makes strong sense for

There are applicant profiles for whom the nationality law change has minimal or no impact on their assessment of the program:

Those seeking European mobility without living in Portugal full-time. For a business owner, investor, or professional who wants to enter and exit Europe freely, move across the continent without visa restrictions, and have a legal residency base without abandoning their current life, the Golden Visa remains one of the most efficient options available.

Those with a long-term planning horizon. Seven or ten years may sound like a long time viewed from today, but for those thinking about the next generation — or simply building a residency alternative for the future — the extended timeline is not necessarily an obstacle.

Families who want to open European education options for their children. Children included in the Golden Visa have access to European universities as residents, which can represent a very significant practical advantage — regardless of when (or whether) the family eventually applies for citizenship.

Those with another citizenship route running in parallel. Some Golden Visa holders are simultaneously exploring citizenship by descent — if they have Portuguese grandparents or great-grandparents — which is a completely separate route with very different timelines. In these cases, the Golden Visa serves primarily as a mobility guarantee while the other process unfolds.

Who faces a more significant recalculation

The change matters most for those who had the Golden Visa as their primary and fastest path to a European passport, with a clear five-year horizon. For this profile, the extended timeline requires a revision of their planning.

That doesn't necessarily mean abandoning the program — it may mean complementing it with other steps, such as investigating entitlement to citizenship by descent, exploring alternative residency routes with different naturalization timelines, or simply revisiting the calendar of personal objectives.

An honest comparison with the alternatives

To put the question in perspective, it's worth briefly looking at what alternatives exist in 2026:

Malta shut down its citizenship-by-investment program following European pressure. Cyprus reopened under limited conditions, but within a still-uncertain regulatory framework. Greece, Spain, and other European countries have Golden Visa programs, but without the same family-inclusion rights and with different requirements. And traditional residency programs (such as Portugal's own D7) now have naturalization timelines — under the new law — identical to the Golden Visa, but with far more demanding physical presence requirements.

Viewed in this context, the Portuguese Golden Visa remains one of the most complete programs in Europe, not because it is perfect, but because the closest direct alternative no longer exists.

The shift that really matters to assess

What the new nationality law effectively did was reposition the Golden Visa. It is no longer the fastest path to European citizenship — it is now, above all, one of the most flexible European residency mechanisms available in the market. For those who understand this distinction and identify with the second profile, the program continues to hold considerable value. For those who were seeking primarily the speed of a passport, the picture requires more careful thought.

Not sure which path makes sense for your profile?

The right residency route depends on your objectives, nationality, and timeline. If you'd like to think through the options for your specific situation, our team is available to help.