URGENT: Golden Visa 7-Year Path Vote This Wed (Oct 22). 10 Weeks to Secure 5-Year Rule.

André Bandeira
Mon, 20 Oct 2025 12:00:00 GMT
Golden Visa News, Golden Visa Law Change, Deadline, Golden Visa Portugal

Portugal votes this Wednesday on a 7-year Golden Visa path for 2026 applicants. This is your 10-week guide to securing the 5-year rule before the Dec 31 deadline.

LISBON, PORTUGAL - October 20, 2025 - [URGENT BREAKING NEWS] The Portuguese Parliament is scheduled to vote this Wednesday, October 22, on a draft law that would fundamentally alter the Golden Visa program for all future applicants.

This is not speculation. If passed, the window to secure Portugal's 5-year path to citizenship will effectively close in 10 weeks.

What is the Proposed Law Change?

The proposal under debate aims to increase the minimum time required before applying for citizenship from 5 years to 7 years.

The New Rule: A 7-year requirement for citizenship, counting from the date the first residence card is issued.

The "Hidden" Timeline: The law also gives AIMA a "90 working day legal deadline" (approx. 5 months) to issue the card. This means the *real* timeline could be ~7 years and 5 months, a significant increase from the current 5-year rule.

The Deadline: This new 7-year path would apply to all Golden Visa applications submitted after December 31, 2025.

The 10-Week Countdown: Why You Must Act Now

If this law passes on Wednesday, investors have a critical, but extremely narrow, 10-week window to secure the 5-year rule. A complete Golden Visa application is a complex process involving tax (NIF), banking, investment, and gathering legalized personal documents.

Starting this process in November is likely too late. To meet the deadline, you must start this week.

The Real Bottleneck Is No Longer Just AIMA

Previously, investors worried about AIMA's delays. Now, the critical bottleneck is the December 31 deadline. The speed of your fund manager and legal team is paramount.

You cannot afford to wait weeks for subscription documents. You need a partner who can provide the necessary declarations immediately.

The "48-Hour Sprint" with an Institutional Partner

To succeed, your first step (the "Sprint") must be fast:

1. NIF & Bank Account (Day 1): This must be initiated immediately.

2. Fund Investment (Day 2): You must choose a fund that can provide the Fund Subscription Declaration and CMVM Registration Declaration in 24-48 hours.

As Portugal’s largest private equity fund manager, Explorer Investments has the institutional infrastructure to provide all required documents to our investors' legal teams almost immediately, allowing them to focus on the real 8-week marathon: gathering their personal legalized documents.

"This vote changes everything. The conversation is no longer about returns; it's about speed. Investors have 10 weeks to save 2.5 years. Your choice of fund manager has become the most critical step to meeting this deadline." - André Bandeira, Explorer Investments.

Do not wait for the vote. The window to secure the 5-year rule is closing. Contact our team today to start your application sprint.