Portugal immigration rule changes

Portugal D1 Visa (Subordinate Work / Dependent Employment Visa): Portugal's nationality law reform extended the general residency requirement for naturalization from 5 to 10 years (7 years for CPLP/Portuguese-speaking country nationals and EU member states); permanent residency eligibility at 5 years is unaffected. The law has been in force since 19 May 2026, and applications pending before that date keep the former 5-year timeline.

Portugal D2 Entrepreneur / Independent Worker Visa: Portugal's nationality-law reform raised the general residency period required before naturalisation from 5 years to 10 (7 years for CPLP/Portuguese-speaking country nationals and EU member states), directly affecting the long-term citizenship timeline for D2 holders even though the 5-year path to permanent residency was unchanged.

Portugal D3 Visa (Highly Qualified Activity Visa): Portugal's nationality law reform extended the general residency requirement for naturalization from 5 to 10 years (7 years for CPLP and EU nationals); permanent residency eligibility at 5 years is unaffected. The law has been in force since 19 May 2026, and applications pending before that date keep the former 5-year timeline.

Portuguese Citizenship for Sephardic Jewish Descendants: Portugal closed the Sephardic descent citizenship route to new applicants effective January 2024. The closure was enacted through Lei 26/2022 transitional provisions expiring. The program faced intense scrutiny following investigations into abuse of the route by applicants without genuine Sephardic ancestry, corruption allegations involving issuing communities, and pressure from the Portuguese government. Applications already on file before the closure deadline continue to be processed.

Portugal D1 Visa (Subordinate Work / Dependent Employment Visa): NHR (Non-Habitual Resident) tax regime closed to new applicants; replaced by the narrower IFICI programme, which most D1 holders in ordinary salaried roles do not qualify for.

Portugal D2 Entrepreneur / Independent Worker Visa: NHR tax regime closed to new applicants; replaced by the narrower IFICI programme.

Portugal D3 Visa (Highly Qualified Activity Visa): NHR tax regime closed to new applicants; replaced by the narrower IFICI programme, which some D3 holders in qualifying research, teaching, or innovation roles may access.

Portugal D7 Passive Income Visa: NHR tax regime closed to new applicants; replaced by narrower IFICI programme.

Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa: NHR closed; IFICI replacement with narrower scope announced.

Portugal HQA Visa (Highly Qualified Activity): NHR closed; IFICI replacement narrowed scope to research/innovation/high-value activities — HQA is the most direct route to IFICI

Portugal D1 Visa (Subordinate Work / Dependent Employment Visa): SEF dissolved and replaced by AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo); transition caused significant appointment backlogs affecting D1 residence-card processing.

Portugal D2 Entrepreneur / Independent Worker Visa: SEF dissolved and replaced by AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo). Transition caused significant appointment backlogs.

Portugal D3 Visa (Highly Qualified Activity Visa): SEF dissolved and replaced by AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo); transition caused significant appointment backlogs affecting D3 residence-card processing.

Portugal Family Reunification Visa (D6): SEF dissolved and replaced by AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo), the agency now responsible for processing family reunification applications; transition caused significant appointment backlogs.

Portugal D7 Passive Income Visa: SEF dissolved and replaced by AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo). Transition caused significant appointment backlogs.

Portugal Golden Visa (ARI): SEF dissolved; AIMA replacement caused massive processing backlogs.

Portugal Golden Visa (ARI): Mais Habitação law eliminated real estate as qualifying Golden Visa investment. Fund investment (€500k), research contribution, arts/heritage, and job creation routes remain.

Portugal D8 Digital Nomad Visa: D8 Digital Nomad visa launched, formalising remote worker residency pathway.

Portuguese Citizenship for Sephardic Jewish Descendants: Lei 26/2022 introduced tighter due-diligence requirements for the Sephardic route, including stricter criteria for community certification bodies and enhanced documentation standards. This was the last substantive reform before the program's closure.