Portuguese American Journal

Travel Alert! Portuguese passports now valid for ten years – Portugal

As of July 2024, the Portuguese government announced that starting from the first quarter of 2026, the validity of the newly issued Portuguese Electronic Passport (PEP) will increase from five to ten years. The measure emphasizes that at present the PEP is only valid for five years.

The “More simplification, less bureaucracy” program is part of 15 measures aimed at simplifying and reducing bureaucracy enhancing convenience and security for Portuguese citizens.

Other changes include reducing the frequency of passport renewals; making the renewal process less bureaucratic; introducing new security features; and addressing an increase in high-quality counterfeits of the previous passport model. 

In addition to extending passport validity, Portugal is also streamlining the allocation of identification numbers for key public services. This includes unifying the Tax Identification Number (NIF), Social Security Number (NISS), and User Number (NNU) for access to the National Health System. These changes aim to simplify processes for immigrants and enhance the efficiency of public service delivery.

The new ten-year passports will continue to feature biometric information, as has been the standard since the introduction of the electronically enhanced Passaporte Eletrónico Português (PEP) in 2006. This biometric data helps ensure the security and authenticity of the passports, making them more difficult to forge.

Ranking 4th in the world, Portugal’s passport is one of the most powerful and desirable passports, providing its holders visa-free access to more than 190 countries and territories.

Portuguese citizenship can be acquired in a number of ways, including by birth or descent, naturalization, marriage, or adoption.

US citizens can acquire Portuguese citizenship after five years of legal residence in the country, by securing a visa, being married to a Portuguese citizen, investing in Portugal under the Golden Visa Program, or having Portuguese ancestry. It may take as long as four to five years to get a Portuguese passport.

At present, there are five types of Portuguese passports. In 2006, authorities in Portugal started issuing electronically enhanced passports (Passaporte Eletrónico Português – PEP) with biometric information. Now, all standard passports are PEP. Portuguese passports: (1) Standard Portuguese electronic passport (PEP) issued to Portuguese citizens; (2) Diplomatic Passport (PD) issued to officials carrying out diplomatic business; (3) Passport for Foreign Citizens (PCE) issued to stateless persons with no other passports who have been granted the right to reside in the country. This kind of passport is valid for two years; (4) Special passport (PES): Issued to Portuguese officials who perform certain public administration functions or for public service missions; (5) Temporary passport (PT): Issued in urgent situations on the day of travel and valid for up to one year.

PAJ/Staff