Investors redeemed a total of €94.7 million from these financial products between January and May of this year, according to data released by the Portuguese Association of Investment Funds, Pensions and Assets (APFIPP).
This figure is particularly significant, as it is more than double the €45.3 million withdrawn over the entire year 2025.
This sharp acceleration in capital outflows coincides with the parliamentary debate and subsequent entry into force of new amendments to the Nationality Law. According to financial sector analysts, the legislation significantly tightened the requirements for "Golden Visa" holders to apply for Portuguese citizenship.
This new legal framework triggered a crisis of confidence in international markets, breaking the historical pattern in this niche segment, where monthly redemptions rarely exceeded the €5 million mark.
The situation shifted abruptly in January of this year, when disinvestments surged to €20 million and have remained at that level ever since.
Investor behaviour also shows a clear reversal of the trend seen in the previous year. APFIPP reports indicate that new subscriptions to these funds contracted sharply during the first five months of the year.
This decline follows a major "rush" into the funds throughout 2025, when many foreign investors hastened to commit capital in the hope that future legislation would safeguard the rights and timelines of those already holding active investments in the country. When the new Nationality Law did not provide the expected protection, the market reacted with a wave of redemption orders and a diversion of capital to other destinations.











Baiting-and-switching is not without consequences.
By Shawn from Lisbon on 27 Jun 2026, 19:20
What did they expect?
People planned on a 5 year deal, now it's changed to ten.
People spent down other assets expecting this to become available, now it is not.
By j from Algarve on 28 Jun 2026, 11:11
Rock up in a dinghy and ask for benefits? Right this way, please.
Invest in the country? On your way, mate, the EU doesn't want you.
By Oliver from Porto on 28 Jun 2026, 12:01
Very bad call by the Portuguese government. They need these investments (both money and quality people) so much!
By Adrienne Kotze from Other on 29 Jun 2026, 08:53
It's going to be FAR worse than this. This is the calculable loss. What is not able to be determined is all the lost foreign invent that never arrived, because of the absolutely stupid, self destructive change in the law. A total bait and switch, that should be taken to EU court.
The politicians blaming the wealthy immigrants for the housing crisis are literally oblivious. No poor Portuguese person is competing with wealthy immigrants for housing. Are poor Portuguese people buying 400-800K Euro apartments and homes? No. Are wealthy immigrant competing for 400-1,200 Euro apartment? No.
All Portugal did was virtue signal to appease the masses who don't like the immigration, while ironically 20% of the Portuguese population immigrates outside the country to others and expects those countries to willingly accept their immigrants. Worse, 30% of young Portuguese leave Portugal. The hypocrisy of this is absolutely unbelievable.
If Portugal wants to stop competition for housing, they need to stop allowing the refugees in. That's what's causing the issue.
By Mark Dahncke from Algarve on 01 Jul 2026, 10:03
Oh well, if you make it more difficult for people to immigrate, they will go elsewhere. My wife and I would love to pay all our tax dollars to Portugal as citizens. Now, they'll have to wait 10 years. Portugal's government has an uncanny ability to shoot themselves in the foot.
By Philip from Other on 13 Jul 2026, 07:24
This was not investing. These people were buying apartments. They didn't create companies that would create long lasting employment for the locals. Just bunch of blood suckers. So Portugal will be fine without your "investments".
By Mario from Lisbon on 16 Jul 2026, 12:37