President António José Seguro has promulgated Portugal’s revised Nationality Law on May 3, ending months of uncertainty over whether the decree would be vetoed or referred back to the Constitutional Court. The reform introduces significant changes to the country’s naturalization framework and signals a shift toward stricter and longer-term citizenship requirements.
- Law Approval & Status
The law was approved by parliament 152–64 on April 1, following a last-minute political agreement between the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and Chega. Despite political debate, the strong majority ensured its passage. The law is now awaiting publication in the Diário da República, which is the final step before it officially enters into force.
- Key Changes to Citizenship Timelines
The most significant change is the extension of naturalization timelines:
- 10 years for most foreign nationals, doubling the previous 5-year requirement
- 7 years for citizens of EU Member States and Community of Portuguese Language Countries nations
This marks a clear policy shift toward longer integration periods before granting citizenship.
- Residency Clock Adjustment
A major procedural change is the way residency is calculated. The timeline now begins only when the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) issues a residence permit, rather than when the application is submitted. This reverses a 2024 amendment that was originally introduced to protect applicants from bureaucratic delays, effectively shifting the impact of delays back onto the applicant.
- Signed With Reservations
Although the law was signed, the President expressed clear reservations. He emphasized that reforms of such importance should be based on broader political consensus, rather than relying solely on a parliamentary majority.
He also warned that frequent legislative changes could:
- Undermine legal certainty
- Affect the credibility of institutions
- Operational Concerns Highlighted
In his statement, the President stressed two key operational concerns:
- Pending applications should not be negatively affected by the new law
- Administrative delays should not distort legally defined timelines
These remarks highlight concerns about fairness and trust in the system, both domestically and internationally.
- Impact of Processing Delays
Processing delays at AIMA play a critical role in the real impact of the law.
Since residence permits can take 2 to 3 years to be issued, the effective timeline for citizenship could extend to approximately 9 to 13 years.
This significantly reduces predictability for applicants and lengthens the overall pathway beyond the official legal requirement.
- Golden Visa Clarification
The Golden Visa program was not part of the legislative changes.
- Permanent residency after 5 years remains unchanged
- The new rules apply only to citizenship eligibility, not residency rights
However, the longer path to citizenship may still impact the overall attractiveness of the program.
Summary
Portugal’s revised Nationality Law introduces a stricter and longer pathway to citizenship, doubling the required timeline and changing how residency is calculated. While the legal framework emphasizes stability and integration, administrative delays and extended timelines may push naturalization to up to 13 years in practice, reducing predictability and potentially affecting investor and migration decisions.
