Portugal Citizenship: President Approves 10-Year Naturalisation Requirement
The President of Portugal approved a reform of the citizenship law that increases the naturalisation period for most foreign nationals from five to ten years. The measure concludes a lengthy debate and changes key rules for obtaining Portuguese citizenship, including the way residency periods are calculated, according to Imidaily.
What Changes in Portuguese Citizenship Rules
Portugal’s parliament approved the amendments on 1 April 2026 by a vote of 152 to 64. The decision followed a compromise between the ruling Social Democratic Party and the Chega party. President António José Seguro signed the revised law on 3 May. It will enter into force after publication in the official gazette Diário da República, with no date announced yet.
The main change is the extension of the naturalisation period for most foreign nationals from five to ten years. Citizens of the European Union and Portuguese-speaking countries are subject to a reduced requirement of seven years.
The method for calculating residency has also been revised. The countdown now begins when the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) issues a residence permit, rather than from the date of application. This reverses a 2024 amendment that allowed applicants to include waiting periods, which can last several years.
President’s Remarks on the Law
The decision was accompanied by critical remarks. In an official statement, the President stressed that such significant changes should be based on broader political consensus rather than a simple parliamentary majority. He also warned against frequent legal changes that could undermine legal certainty and public trust in institutions.
António José Seguro highlighted two key practical concerns. First, pending citizenship applications should not be negatively affected by the new rules, as this could damage trust in the state domestically and internationally. Second, administrative delays should not further extend statutory processing timelines.
This point is significant: in practice, AIMA often takes two to three years to issue residence permits. Legal estimates suggest that under the new framework, the effective path to citizenship could extend to between nine and thirteen years.
Protection of Children and Golden Visa Context
The President also noted that stricter rules should not hinder the protection of immigrant children born in Portugal. This includes access to healthcare and education guaranteed under existing law. Future policy, he said, should give special attention to such children.
At the same time, these remarks are interpretative and not legally binding. However, they may influence judicial practice, including cases related to the Golden Visa programme, as investors are challenging the reform before the Constitutional Court. The programme itself remains unaffected. Eligibility for permanent residency after five years is preserved, while the new requirements apply only to naturalisation.
Citizenship Revocation: Amendment Delayed
The President signed only one of two legislative acts sent after the parliamentary vote. The second — amendments to the Penal Code introducing loss of citizenship as an additional criminal penalty — remains suspended.
One parliamentary bloc has referred the measure for preliminary review by the Constitutional Court. In December 2025, the court had already struck down a similar provision in the earlier version of the bill. The upcoming ruling will determine whether courts may revoke citizenship from naturalised individuals following criminal convictions.
Expert Opinions
Madalena Monteiro, founder of the law firm Liberty Legal, described the signing as an expected step, noting that a two-thirds parliamentary majority effectively ruled out a presidential veto. Minister for Presidential Affairs António Leitão Amaro said the changes represent an opportunity to “correct historical mistakes,” adding that a decade-long consensus on citizenship policy was disrupted after 2018.
Socialist Party MP Pedro Delgado Alves warned that certain Constitutional Court rulings appear to have been overlooked. He added that extending residency periods without transitional rules could create difficulties for foreigners already living in the country.
Analysts at International Investment note that Portugal previously attracted foreign residents through relatively accessible residence pathways and fast-track naturalisation, distinguishing it from many European countries. They argue that successive tightening of rules in recent years now appears to be reaching a final stage and may reduce migration flows and weaken interest from high-net-worth investors.