13. Choosing Portugal, Even as Things Change

There’s no shortage of articles lately talking about how the world is changing — and how Portugal, the country my wife and I are planning to call home this year, is changing too. If you’ve been following the news, you’ve probably heard some of the same concerns we have: shifting politics, immigration reforms, and a move toward stricter residency and citizenship requirements. I’m talking in Portugal of course - though many countries are experiencing that.

Political Shifts and What They Mean

Earlier in 2025, Portugal went through another election cycle, and although the Democratic Alliance (AD) remains the largest parliamentary bloc, more right-leaning voices — particularly the Chega party — made big gains, becoming one of the largest parties in the Assembly of the Republic. That’s significant because it reflects a broader pattern across Europe: debates about immigration and national identity are becoming louder and more polarised.

For some, that shift has translated into fear — fear of tighter borders, fear of less welcoming policies, and fear that immigrants like us won’t be as welcome as they once were. Those fears aren’t entirely baseless — when figures with hardline viewpoints get more visibility, the conversation definitely changes.

Citizenship and Immigration Law Reforms

Arguably the most talked-about change recently is the ongoing reform of Portugal’s nationality and immigration laws.

In 2025, the Portuguese Parliament passed — and then re-considered — major changes to the citizenship process that would have extended the minimum residency requirement for naturalisation from 5 to 10 years (with a somewhat shorter period for Portuguese-speaking countries).

While several of these changes were found unconstitutional and sent back for revision, the debate itself signals a shift in how the country is thinking about long-term immigration and integration.

To put it plainly: if someone believed five years of residence would be enough before applying for citizenship, recent news has shown that timeline could eventually be longer or more complex, depending on how the law evolves.

But nothing is set in stone yet. Proposals are being negotiated, reviewed by the Constitutional Court, and amended. Advocates on all sides are pushing for balance between welcoming newcomers and preserving national identity.

Bureaucratic Hurdles: AIMA and Backlogs

Another real challenge we’ve heard — and will likely experience firsthand — is processing delays through Portugal’s Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA). After the closure of the old SEF (Foreigners and Borders Service), AIMA inherited a massive backlog of cases — tens or even hundreds of thousands — and processing times have lengthened significantly.

That means longer waits for appointments, delayed residence cards, and extended anxieties for applicants and families who are simply trying to navigate the system. It’s not hypothetical — people are reporting months of wait time just for basic steps like biometric appointments.

Reading Between the Headlines

Here’s where context matters: not every article is doom and gloom, and not every change is a closed door. Seemingly negative headlines often include nuance that gets missed in social feeds. Portugal still:

• Welcomes skilled workers and investors.

• Is actively reforming procedures to make some aspects of immigration more efficient.

• Has strong protections for family unity built into its immigration framework.

• Continues to debate and revise citizenship law rather than imposing rigid changes overnight.

Why We’re Still Moving Forward

My wife and I read these articles not to fear-monger but to prepare. You don’t relocate your life without understanding the environment you’re stepping into — and right now, that environment is in flux.

Here’s what we know:

• Yes, things are changing. Immigration and citizenship rules are in conversation and revision at the highest levels of Portuguese government.

• Yes, processing takes time. Agencies are working through backlogs, and patience will be essential.

• Yes, political winds shift. Parties like Chega have gained influence, and those shifts affect the public conversation — if not the legal framework yet.

But we also know this:

• Portugal is still open for relocation, and life there continues to attract thousands of international residents every year.

• The country values integration and productivity, and there are pathways for people who are committed to contributing to their communities.

• Change, while unsettling, is part of life — and we’re willing to adapt, wait when needed, and refine our plans as we learn more.

Moving Ahead with Eyes Wide Open

We’re not naïve about the challenges ahead, but we also don’t want fear to stop us from pursuing this chapter of our life. The world is changing — everywhere — and part of the adventure is learning how to navigate uncertainty while holding on to what we value: community, growth, and a sense of belonging.

So if you’re considering a move to Europe, or relocating your life anywhere in the world, know this: change doesn’t have to be a barrier. It can be clarity — a chance to make better plans, build resilience, and enter your new home with both optimism and openness.

What We’re Actually Moving Toward

All of that said, we’re not moving to Portugal because of politics, policies, or processing times.

We’re moving because of its proximity to Morocco (where most of my wife’s family is and where we have a small place) and for what life feels like there.

We think we’ll be arriving in the early summer, when the days are long, the evenings are warm, and the rhythm of life spills naturally into the streets. We’re looking forward to sitting in small neighborhood coffee shops and pastelarias, drinking espresso at a tiny table while the world passes by at a human pace.

We’re looking forward to cobblestone streets, not highways.
To walking more and driving less.
To hearing conversations in multiple languages around us instead of sitting in isolated bubbles.

We’re excited about:

• Buying fresh bread daily instead of weekly grocery runs.

• Eating food that came from a market that morning.

• Being outside more, moving more, talking more.

• Having more serendipitous social interactions instead of everything being scheduled, optimized, and rushed.

We’re excited about slow travel — hopping on a train, exploring new cities, wandering without an agenda. Not “vacation travel,” but life as travel. “LifeTrek”, if you will.  A normal Tuesday that might involve a café, a plaza, a bookstore, and a long walk home.

In short, we’re moving toward a life that feels:

• More embodied

• More social

• More walkable

• More present

Less screen.
Less commute.
Less accumulation.

More living.

Choosing Direction Over Certainty

Yes, the rules may change.
Yes, the timelines may stretch.
Yes, we may need to pivot, adapt, or wait longer than expected.

But we’re no longer optimizing for certainty.

We’re optimizing for direction.

We know the kind of life we want to build:
One with more connection, more movement, more beauty in the everyday, and more space to simply be.

Portugal isn’t a guarantee.
Europe isn’t a guarantee.
Even the future isn’t a guarantee.

But the direction feels right.

And sometimes that’s the most honest compass you get.