Portuguese citizenship waiting times exceed 40 months for golden visa holders
In Portugal, the waiting period for citizenship applications from golden visa holders has surpassed 40 months. Previously, passports were granted after five years, but authorities have now extended this period to ten years, marking a significant change for investors.
This policy shift is reportedly based on ideological considerations affecting the processing of applications. Those who have invested at least €500,000 are being deferred to the end of the queue, resulting in longer wait times.
On average, other countries, such as those in the Caribbean, process similar applications much faster compared to Portugal, Latvia, and Greece. This presents additional challenges for investors considering citizenship through investment.
Portugal's golden visa program has operated for several years, aimed at attracting investment by offering residency rights leading to citizenship. The increased waiting times might affect the program’s attractiveness.
Overall, the situation reflects a tightening of citizenship acquisition processes for foreign investors in Portugal, potentially causing them to seek alternatives in countries with more favourable conditions.
