Portugal’s revised Nationality Law has reached a major stage in the legislative process. After several months of parliamentary debate and constitutional review, the Portuguese Parliament approved the revised law on April 1, 2026, and the President formally signed it on May 3, 2026.
The reform introduces major changes to the rules for Portuguese citizenship through naturalization. The most important change is the extension of the general citizenship eligibility period from 5 years to 10 years for most applicants. Citizens of EU countries and CPLP countries may qualify after 7 years.
Another key change is how the legal residence period will be counted. Under the revised rules, the qualifying period will begin from the date the first residence permit is issued, rather than from the date of the initial residence application.
The law will only take effect once it is published in the Diário da República, Portugal’s official gazette.
Key Changes in the Portuguese Nationality Law
The revised law introduces several important changes to the naturalization process in Portugal.
The main proposed changes include:
- Extending the citizenship eligibility period to 10 years for most applicants
- Setting a 7-year citizenship timeline for EU and CPLP nationals
- Counting legal residence from the issuance date of the first residence card
- Introducing a new civic knowledge test
- Requiring a formal declaration of adherence to democratic principles
- Maintaining the A2 Portuguese language requirement
- Requiring proof of sufficient means of subsistence
- Ending the Sephardic Jewish ancestry route
- Introducing rules that may allow loss of nationality in serious criminal cases
These changes represent one of the most significant reforms to Portugal’s nationality framework in recent years.
New Citizenship Residency Requirements
Under the revised law, the residence period required before applying for Portuguese citizenship would change as follows:
| Applicant Category | New Citizenship Eligibility Period |
| Most applicants | 10 years |
| EU nationals | 7 years |
| *CPLP nationals | 7 years |
This means that many foreign residents who previously expected to qualify for citizenship after five years may now need to wait longer, depending on when they apply and when the law enters into force.
Residence Count
One of the most important changes concerns the start date for counting legal residence. Previously, many applicants counted their eligibility period from the date of their initial residence application. Under the revised law, the qualifying period will start from the date the first residence card is issued.
This change is important because administrative delays between application submission and card issuance may affect when an applicant becomes eligible for Portuguese citizenship.
For applicants who waited months or years for their residence permit to be issued, this could significantly delay their naturalization timeline.
New Naturalization Requirements
The revised law also introduces additional requirements for citizenship applicants. Applicants may need to provide or complete the following:
| Requirement | Status Under Revised Law |
| A2 Portuguese language proficiency | Still required |
| Civic knowledge test | Newly introduced |
| Declaration of adherence to democratic principles | Required |
| Clean criminal record | Required |
| Proof of sufficient means of subsistence | Required |
| No UN or EU sanctions | Required |
| Proof of integration or real ties | May become more relevant |
The new civic knowledge test is expected to cover topics such as Portuguese culture, rights, duties, democratic principles, and history.
Changes to Criminal Record Rules
The revised law also changes the rules related to criminal convictions. According to the revised version approved by Parliament, individuals sentenced to three or more years in prison may be ineligible to apply for Portuguese citizenship.
Earlier versions of the law faced constitutional concerns because they included automatic restrictions based on criminal sentences. The Constitutional Court objected to certain provisions that were considered too broad or unclear.
The revised version attempts to address those concerns by adjusting the threshold and clarifying the rules.
End of the Sephardic Jewish Ancestry Route
The reform also includes the termination of the Sephardic Jewish ancestry route to Portuguese nationality.
This route previously allowed eligible descendants of Sephardic Jews of Portuguese origin to apply for nationality under specific legal conditions.
Under the revised law, this path is expected to end, marking another major shift in Portugal’s nationality system.
Constitutional Court Findings on December 15, 2025
Before the revised law returned to Parliament, Portugal’s Constitutional Court reviewed parts of the proposed legislation.
On December 15, 2025, the Court declared several provisions unconstitutional. The Court objected to:
- Automatic barriers to nationality based on criminal sentences above a defined threshold
- Vague legal concepts such as “manifest fraud.”
- Provisions allowing nationality cancellation based on unclear ideas, such as “rejection of the national community.”
- Rules that would assess pending citizenship applications based on the law in force at the time of decision, rather than the law in force at the time of filing
The Court also declared unconstitutional a separate decree that would have introduced loss of nationality as an accessory criminal penalty. After this decision, the law was sent back to Parliament for revision.
Parliamentary Approval on April 1, 2026
On April 1, 2026, the Portuguese Parliament approved the revised Nationality Law with a two-thirds majority.
The revised law kept the longer naturalization timelines:
- 10 years for most applicants
- 7 years for EU and CPLP nationals
The revised text also adjusted the criminal conviction restriction. Individuals sentenced to three or more years in prison would be ineligible to apply for Portuguese citizenship.
However, the law did not clearly introduce a grandfathering rule for current residents or pending applicants. This has created uncertainty for people who are already living in Portugal or who are close to becoming eligible for citizenship.
Presidential Approval on May 3, 2026
Following parliamentary approval, the revised law was sent to the President for final review.
On May 3, 2026, the President signed, or promulgated, the revised Nationality Law. This marked an important step toward the law becoming active.
When signing the law, the President also emphasized that:
- Existing applicants should not be unfairly harmed
- Government delays should not count against applicants
- Pending cases should be handled in a fair and coherent way
The law is now awaiting publication in the Diário da República. It will enter into force only after that publication.
Is the New Portuguese Nationality Law Already in Effect?
No. The law has been approved by Parliament and signed by the President, but it is not yet in force until it is published in the Diário da República.
Until publication and final implementation, the current naturalization rules remain unchanged. This means that, for now, the existing five-year citizenship timeline still applies.
What Happens to Pending Citizenship Applications?
One of the biggest concerns is how the new law will affect people who have already submitted citizenship applications.
Based on the information provided, completed citizenship applications submitted before the new law enters into force are expected to continue under the existing five-year rule. In practical terms:
| Application Status | Expected Treatment |
| Application submitted before the new law enters into force | Expected to follow the current five-year rule |
| Application submitted after the new law enters into force | Expected to follow the new 7-year or 10-year rule |
| Applications are still being prepared, but have not yet been submitted | May be affected if the law enters into force before filing |
According to Executive Digest, the IRN has confirmed that nationality applications are counted from the date of submission for the purpose of applying the law. This means applications submitted before the new law was approved or entered into force should be reviewed under the previous legal criteria, including the shorter residence period.
The President also stressed the importance of protecting pending cases from unfair harm caused by legislative changes.
Even so, the absence of a clear formal transition clause has raised concerns and may require further clarification.
What If You Have Not Yet Applied for Citizenship?
Applicants who have not yet submitted a citizenship application may be affected once the revised law enters into force. If the law takes effect as approved, most future applicants may need to:
- Complete 10 years of legal residence
- Count the residence from the issuance date of the first residence card
- Meet the A2 Portuguese language requirement
- Pass the new civic knowledge test
- Provide proof of sufficient means of subsistence
- Show a clean criminal record
- Demonstrate adherence to democratic principles
For EU and CPLP nationals, the required residence period would be 7 years. Applicants may also face stronger scrutiny regarding real ties, integration, and connection to Portugal.
Can Residents Still Apply for Permanent Residency After 5 Years?
Yes. Permanent Residency in Portugal remains possible after five years of legal residence, provided the applicant meets the relevant requirements. This option may become more important if the citizenship timeline is extended to 10 years.
Permanent Residency can allow eligible residents to maintain their legal status in Portugal while continuing toward future citizenship eligibility.
The Permanent Residency card is generally valid for five years and can be renewed. A2-level Portuguese language proficiency is typically required.
Depending on the applicant’s situation, Permanent Residency may provide greater long-term security while waiting to meet the new citizenship timeline.
Why Permanent Residency May Become More Important
If the naturalization timeline increases from five to ten years for most applicants, Permanent Residency may become a key planning tool.
After five years of legal residence, eligible residents may be able to:
- Secure longer-term residence rights
- Maintain legal status in Portugal
- Reduce reliance on repeated temporary residence renewals
- Continue progressing toward citizenship
- Plan more confidently for work, family, education, and travel
For many applicants, Permanent Residency may become the practical bridge between temporary residence and eventual citizenship.
Current Status of the Portuguese Nationality Law Reform
The revised law has passed several major steps, but final implementation is still pending.
| Stage | Status |
| Constitutional Court review | Completed on December 15, 2025 |
| Parliamentary revision and approval | Approved on April 1, 2026 |
| Presidential signing | Signed on May 3, 2026 |
| Publication in Diário da República | Still pending |
| Entry into force | Not yet active until publication |
| Grandfathering rules | Still unclear |
| Pending applications | Expected to be protected, but further clarification may be needed |