On October 28, 2025, the Portuguese Parliament approved amendments to the Citizenship Law (Lei n.º 37/81). The residency period for naturalization has doubled, from 5 to 10 years for most applicants. For citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries, the CPLP, and the European Union, it is 7 years. The decision was made with the support of the center-right coalition and the Chega party. A compromise was reached after months of negotiations. A separate Chega bill on reversing citizenship was rejected by parliament.
The law has now been sent to the president for approval. According to Chega leader André Ventura, both parties have made mutual concessions. The new regulations will come into force the day after their publication in the Official Gazette.
номад-эксперт
Why Portugal is changing the rules
The context is clear. The number of foreigners in the country has grown from 400,000 in 2017 to 1.1 million in 2024. This represents 15% of the population, up from the previous 4%. This represents a fourfold increase in seven years.
At the same time, the number of citizenship applications has skyrocketed. In the first four months of 2024 alone, 63,000 applications were submitted. For the entire year, approximately 198,000 applications are expected. Between 230,000 and 500,000 applications are currently awaiting review. Processing times have stretched to 24-30 months instead of the standard 105 days. In 2023, Portugal naturalized 141,300 people – a 20% drop compared to the previous year, despite the growing influx of applications. The system is overloaded.
What’s changing for applicants?
The new requirements cover several areas:
- The minimum period of legal residence has been increased to 10 years (7 years for CPLP and EU citizens).
- The countdown begins from the date the residence card is issued, not from the date the residence permit application is submitted.
- An examination on knowledge of Portuguese culture, history, and government is mandatory.
- A declaration of commitment to democratic principles is required.
- The criminal conviction threshold has been lowered – the ban applies for a period of at least 2 years (previously at least 3 years).
- Job search visa. The visa is now only for highly qualified specialists. Moreover, the issuance of even these visas has been suspended until the “highly qualified” criteria are approved. Simply “wanting to move” won’t do.
- Family reunification. Wait two years of legal residence to invite family. Family members are now required to learn Portuguese and the basics of the constitution. Renewal of a residence permit requires certification. There are exceptions (children, marriage >1.5 years), but this doesn’t apply to everyone.
CPLP countries include Brazil, Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, and East Timor. Most citizenship applications come from Brazilians – by descent, marriage, or residency.
All that remains is the president’s signature, and these changes will come into force. The next step is submitting the approved law to the President of Portugal for signature or possible veto. The current Portuguese president is on the eve of elections (scheduled for late January 2026), so it is unlikely he will engage in discussions with the government’s decisions.
How Portugal Brings Its Neighbors into Line
Portugal was considered one of the most accessible EU countries for obtaining citizenship. A CanadaCIS study ranked it fourth among 32 European countries for ease of naturalization. The situation is now changing.
Comparison with other EU countries:
- France – 5 years.
- Spain – 10 years (2 years for citizens of Latin American countries, the Philippines, and Portugal).
- Germany – 5 years.
- Greece – 7 years.
- Italy – 10 years.
“Portugal is now joining the group of European countries where obtaining citizenship has become more difficult,” said Chega leader André Ventura.
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If your ultimate goal is an EU passport, France and Germany remain available after 5 years of residence. The route through Portugal will now be extended. Our immigration lawyers will help you choose the optimal country for obtaining residency and citizenship, taking into account your timeline, budget, and family situation. Submit a request for a consultation – we will analyze all available options.
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