The ruling followed President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s veto of the legislation, after the Court deemed measures such as doubling the waiting time for reunification and excluding certain relatives unconstitutional.

As a result, the current immigration framework remains in place, allowing immigrants to reunite with eligible family members under the existing, more flexible rules.

Any future changes must first remove or revise the unconstitutional provisions before becoming law. The decision also maintains transitional protections for those already registered under the present system.

The judgment has brought renewed focus to another element of the government’s broader immigration reform package — a plan to extend the residency requirement for citizenship from five years to ten.

The President noted that the Constitutional Court’s decision “could prompt some moderation and concessions to secure PS support for the reinforced majority.” Involving the Socialist Party could ultimately soften the government’s approach to citizenship reform.

Credits: Supplied Image; Author: Client; Portugal's Constitutional Court has struck down immigration law changes

For applicants to Portugal’s Golden Visa residency-by-investment programme, the decision brings no changes. While a longer path to citizenship remains under discussion, there is currently no impact on international families seeking a Golden Visa and a potential second passport within Europe.

Investor interest in the scheme remains strong, with record numbers pursuing it as a “Plan B” and a means to diversify holdings in a stable and resilient market.

Paul Stannard, Chairman & Founder of Portugal Pathways, remarked: “This ruling backs what we’ve always maintained — Portugal’s Golden Visa is built on stability and certainty. Investors can continue confident in securing permanent EU citizenship, without the risk of retroactive policy changes.”

Paul Sheedy, Special Advisor to the Portugal Future Fund, added: “We’re seeing a high degree of investor confidence in Portugal. The value Golden Visa investors bring to Portugal — economically and socially — is clear, with over €8 billion invested already in key sectors driving Portugal’s economy.”

Launched in 2012, the Golden Visa programme is open to non-EU, non-EEA, and non-Swiss nationals. It grants residency rights to live, work, and study in Portugal, alongside visa-free travel within the Schengen Area.

Credits: Supplied Image; Author: Client; Portugal's Golden Visa is one of the most popular residency-by-investment programmes in the world

Since 2023, property purchases and capital transfers have been removed as qualifying routes. The main pathway is now a minimum €500,000 investment in a regulated alternative investment fund approved by CMVM for Golden Visa purposes.

Portugal Pathways operates a Golden Visa investment fund index of over 30 regulated alternative investment funds eligible for Portugal’s Golden Visa residency-by-investment programme. Click to learn more.

Applicants need only spend an average of seven days per year in Portugal and may apply for permanent residency or EU citizenship at the end of the programme, provided they meet requirements such as completing a basic Portuguese language course online.

About Portugal Pathways

Portugal Pathways has supported hundreds of Golden Visa residency-by-investment applications and provides expert guidance through its professional supply chain network on luxury property, wealth management, and tax optimisation, including post-NHR tax regime planning, as well as private healthcare, IFICI tax incentive applications, money transfers and bespoke relocation solutions to enhance life and investments in Portugal.