Portuguese Citizenship: A Record-Breaking Queue of 700,000 Applications

Photo: Euronews

Portugal is currently facing a massive backlog of approximately 700,000 pending applications for citizenship, according to The Portugal News. The Union of Registry and Notary Employees (STRN) attributes the surge to possible upcoming legal changes, further straining an already overwhelmed system.

Registration System in Crisis

Applications are submitted via attorneys, legal representatives, and in person at central and local civil registry offices across the country. The flood of requests has intensified pressure on an understaffed administration — with a 40% personnel deficit now reported. This has led to serious delays.

There are currently 266 registrar vacancies, while 120 trainees will only join the workforce in late 2026. Moreover, the country faces a shortage of 1,867 registry workers. A recent call for 240 positions was only half-filled due to unattractive working conditions. Frequent retirements worsen the staffing crisis.

Meanwhile, technical issues plague the system. The IT platform developed under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) continues to malfunction. Integration with the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum has remained nonfunctional for over a year. STRN calls this a “perfect storm” — combining staff shortages, tech failures, and a rising volume of applications.

The Institute of Registries and Notaries (IRN) is experiencing what union leaders describe as a “chaotic and unprecedented” situation, with temporary closures reported in some notary offices. The government recently responded by announcing a new recruitment round for 400 IRN staff and promised improved career development terms. However, the union warns that significant improvements will take years to materialize.

Proposed Changes to Citizenship Rules

The Portuguese government has proposed tightening naturalization laws, Euronews reports. The plan would extend the minimum residency requirement for most applicants from 5 to 10 years, and for CPLP (Portuguese-speaking community) citizens — to 7 years.

Applicants would also need to demonstrate deeper integration:
– Knowledge of the Portuguese language (A2 level)
– Clean criminal record
– Familiarity with Portuguese history and culture
– Commitment to democratic values

Minister António Leitão Amaro emphasized that the reform aims to ensure a “genuine connection” with Portugal. As Reuters notes, other immigration rules will also tighten, such as family reunification rights and revocation of citizenship for serious crimes.

According to Pordata, 141,300 foreigners were granted Portuguese citizenship in 2023 — down 20% from 2022. In January, over 400,000 applications were still under review. The AIMA agency estimates that 1.5 million foreign nationals now live in Portugal legally — over 450,000 are Brazilians.

Legal experts warn that the reforms are still proposals, not law. Paul Stannard, founder of Portugal Pathways, cautions against panic, noting that changes won’t be retroactive — meaning current applicants and those who meet the five-year rule can still qualify under the existing law.