This article will cover:
- How Portugal’s May 18th election may reshape the Golden Visa program?
- What changes on the Golden Visa Program investors should expect in 2025
- The end of Malta’s Golden Visa program and its implications for Portugal
- Why VIDA offers a safe, long-term path for EU citizenship?
As Portugal heads into national elections on May 18th, investors considering a move to Europe via the Golden Visa program are facing a narrowing window of opportunity. Both leading political parties, the Democratic Alliance (AD) and the Socialist Party, have indicated their intentions to reform the program altogether.
This debate gains urgency as the European Union’s top court ruled on April 29th, 2025, that Malta’s “golden passport” violates EU law. The court found that granting citizenship to foreign investors without requiring any real connection to the country undermines the EU legal framework. As a result, Malta must revise or terminate its citizenship-by-investment offering immediately.
For global investors seeking a secure path to European citizenship, this signals a broader trend: European governments are tightening access. The time to act is now.
What May Change in Portugal in 2025?
Both major parties have made reform a priority. Their proposals include:
1. A Longer Path to Citizenship
Currently, Golden Visa holders can apply for Portuguese citizenship after five years. The AD party has proposed extending this timeline, although specific details have yet to be released.
2. More Demanding Residency Requirements
Investors are currently required to spend just 14 days every two years in Portugal. This may increase, reducing the appeal for passive investors seeking flexibility.
Although no official legislation has passed, both proposals would make Portugal’s program less accessible and more restrictive than it is today.
Election Outcomes:
What Investors Should Expect?
A Majority Government:
If a single party secures a majority, new rules could be implemented swiftly, possibly before the end of 2025.
A Coalition Government:
A more divided Parliament could slow down reform efforts. However, since both leading parties support changes, reform is still likely to happen, just with more legislative negotiation.
In either case, applications submitted before any reform is passed will remain valid under current rules till your application to citizenship.
The End of Malta’s Golden Passport: A Cautionary Tale
On April 29, 2025, the European Court of Justice ruled that Malta’s practice of granting citizenship in exchange for financial contributions violated EU law. The court emphasized that citizenship must be based on a genuine connection to the country, such as residence or cultural integration.
This decision sets a new precedent. Programs like Portugal’s, which offer a low physical presence requirement and a fast-track to citizenship, could come under greater scrutiny from EU authorities in the near future.
VIDA: A Golden Visa Program Path That Adds Real Value
In this shifting legal and political environment, VIDA offers a secure, high-quality investment pathway to residency, grounded in real assets and long-term strategy.
- €500,000 minimum investment, eligible under current Golden Visa program rules
- 12% targeted internal rate of return over 6.5 years
- 0% withholding tax for non-residents
- Support in legal, banking, and residency application processes
- Projects backed by income-producing hospitality businesses in Portugal’s top tourist regions
Act Before the Golden Visa Program Rules Change
Portugal’s Golden Visa program remains one of the last high-quality, investor-friendly programs in Europe. But the combination of political pressure and EU scrutiny means that this window may not stay open much longer.
If you are considering EU residency and citizenship, secure your future before the opportunity passes.
