The Portuguese government has announced significant reforms to its Nationality Law, raising the bar for foreign nationals seeking Portuguese citizenship.
Under the new legislation, the minimum legal residency requirement for naturalisation has doubled from five to ten years for most applicants. A transitional implementation period will be established once the law is formally published in the Diário da República.
The reforms also introduce stricter enforcement of the requirement to demonstrate a “vínculo efetivo à comunidade portuguesa,” meaning an effective connection to the Portuguese community.
According to the Ministry of Internal Administration, the goal is to strengthen integration and ensure a meaningful relationship with Portuguese culture, language, and civic life. This provision applies to spouses, legal partners, and descendants of Portuguese citizens, as well as to applicants through the naturalization process.
Accordingly, spouses of Portuguese citizens will still be eligible to apply for nationality after three years of marriage, provided they can demonstrate this effective connection. The same applies to individuals in de facto unions that are legally recognized in Portugal.
Descendants of Portuguese citizens — particularly grandchildren born abroad — remain eligible under existing provisions, yet they too must now provide clear evidence of cultural or civic ties to Portugal.
Children born in Portugal to foreign parents will also be subject to tighter rules, requiring that one parent must have resided legally in the country for at least three years and that citizenship must be explicitly requested.
Applicants in these categories will be assessed more rigorously, and documentation such as Portuguese language certification, proof of travel or residence in Portugal, shared family life, and involvement in cultural or religious associations will be reviewed carefully to establish legitimacy and integration.
This may include participation in Portuguese community organizations, fluency in the language, visits to the country, or recognition by Portuguese institutions abroad.
However, authorities are expected to more strictly assess claims of connection, especially in cases where applicants have never resided in Portugal. The new law also allows for revocation of citizenship in cases involving serious crimes or fraud.
Citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries, such as Brazil, Angola, and Mozambique, will now need to reside legally in Portugal for at least seven years before becoming eligible.
In response to public and political pressure, the government argues that these changes are necessary to maintain the integrity of the nationality process and to foster greater civic engagement among new citizens.
The legislative package was presented by Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, and is expected to pass in Parliament with the support of the governing coalition and the far-right Chega party.
The policy shift follows a sharp rise in immigration. By the end of 2024, more than 1.5 million foreigners were legally residing in Portugal, including over 450,000 Brazilians. In 2023, 141,300 foreigners were naturalised, a 20% drop from the previous year, while over 400,000 applications remained pending as of January. The government says the new measures aim to align with its program and address national concerns over integration and public security.
For more information, applicants are advised to consult the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service (SEF/AGPE), the Diário da República, or their local Portuguese consulate. The Ministry of Internal Administration has stated that further guidance will be issued in the coming weeks.
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