Portugal’s President António José Seguro signed a revised Nationality Law on 3 May 2026, extending the legal‑residence period required for naturalisation. The amendment to Law No. 37/81 will take effect the day after its publication in the Diário da República.
Main changes to the citizenship framework
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Residence requirement
- 7 years for citizens of EU member states and Portuguese‑speaking (CPLP) countries (Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea‑Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, Timor‑Leste).
- 10 years for nationals of all other countries.
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Language and civic knowledge – Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in Portuguese and knowledge of the country’s culture, history, national symbols, and the rights and duties of Portuguese citizenship, plus a formal declaration of adherence to democratic principles.
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Residence‑counting rule – The 2024 provision (Article 15 (4)) that allowed the residence clock to start from the date a residence permit was requested is revoked. The clock now starts from the issuance of a valid residence title, not from the application date.
Practical impact on foreign residents
The reform affects all legal residents seeking Portuguese citizenship, including:
- Golden Visa investors
- Holders of D7/D8 visas (retirement, remote‑work, etc.)
- Workers and students who later obtain residence permits
The Golden Visa programme itself remains unchanged; permanent residence after five years is still separate from naturalisation. However, because the residence‑counting period now begins only after a residence title is granted, processing delays at the migration agency (AIMA) could push the effective timeline beyond the statutory 7 or 10 years.
Pending applications
A transitional clause states that administrative procedures already pending on the law’s entry‑into‑force will continue under the previous rules. This appears to protect cases that have already reached the nationality stage, but it is unclear whether it covers applicants who have only filed a residence or Golden Visa request without yet submitting a nationality application. The distinction may become the subject of legal challenges.
President Seguro warned that the law should have been adopted with broader consensus and cautioned against frequent changes that could erode legal certainty. He also stressed that state‑induced delays must not undermine the statutory timelines for obtaining nationality.
Political context
- The Assembly of the Republic approved the decree on 1 April 2026 (152 votes for, 64 against, 1 abstention) after a last‑minute agreement between the governing Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the right‑wing Chega party.
- The President of the Assembly, José Pedro Aguiar‑Branco, signed the decree following the parliamentary vote.
- Minister of the Presidency António Leitão Amaro defended the reform as a correction of past policy, while opposition parties raised constitutional concerns.
Related but still pending legislation
Decree No. 49/XVII, which would amend the Penal Code to introduce loss of nationality as an accessory criminal penalty, remains suspended pending a preventive constitutional review. The Constitutional Court had previously struck down a similar loss‑of‑nationality provision in December 2025.
Implementation timeline
- Publication in the Diário da República (date to be announced).
- The law enters into force the following day.
- The government must update the Portuguese Nationality Regulation within 90 days of publication.
Applicants should monitor:
- The exact publication date.
- The updated regulation that will detail procedural steps.
- How the authorities treat pending residence or Golden Visa cases in practice.
- Any further constitutional challenges, especially concerning the residence‑counting rule or the treatment of existing residents.
The citizenship pathway is now longer, more demanding, and legally more complex, but it remains open for eligible foreign residents.
Source article: outboundinvestment.com
