The President of Portugal promulgated the new citizenship law and signed the decree on May 3rd, 2026.
Pedro Barata, Senior Investment Migration Advisor at Immigrant Invest, explained the key changes to the law and whether it is still possible to obtain citizenship under the old rules.
Changes to the waiting period for naturalisation
One of the key changes concerns the naturalisation procedure for foreigners. Under the old rules, Portuguese citizenship could be obtained after 5 years of permanent residence in the country.
For adult foreigners
The new law establishes the following rules:
- The naturalisation period has been increased to 10 years. To apply for a passport, third-country nationals now need to live in Portugal for 10 years instead of the previous 5. For citizens of the EU and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, the naturalisation period will be 7 years.
- The 10-year period will be counted from the date the first residence permit is issued, rather than from the moment the documents are submitted to the AIMA agency, as was the case before.
For children of foreigners
Previously, a child could obtain citizenship if, at the time of their birth, one of their parents had legally lived in Portugal for at least 1 year. Under the new law, the required period of the parent’s residence increases to 5 years.
Pedro Barata,
Senior Investment Migration Advisor
The President stated that citizenship applications already submitted will be considered under the old law. Applying the new naturalisation waiting period in such cases would be regarded as undermining trust in the state.
Stricter integration requirements
To obtain Portuguese citizenship, applicants need to:
- pass exams on knowledge of the Portuguese language, culture, history, and political system;
- declare in writing their commitment to democratic principles.
For descendants of Sephardic Jews, the simplified naturalisation procedure is no longer in force. Previously, they did not need to take exams or meet the minimum residence period in the country. To obtain citizenship, it was enough to confirm descent from Sephardic Jews.
The provisions on deprivation of citizenship for particularly serious crimes have not yet been signed by the President and are under further review.
When will the new law come into force?
The new rules will come into force upon official publication in Diário da República. The expected timeframe is from several days to 1 month.
The Portuguese government proposed changes to the citizenship law in June 2025. Since then, the new law has gone through a long process, including a presidential veto and constitutional review.
What should investors do?
Portugal remains a strong option for those who plan to live, invest, or build long-term ties with the EU. However, it may no longer serve as a route to fast citizenship.
When the proposed changes come into force, investors obtaining a Portuguese residence permit in 2026 could only become eligible for citizenship between 2036 and 2038. In that case, Portugal would still suit some families, but primarily as a long-term residence and naturalisation strategy.
The right decision depends on each investor’s goals, family plans, timeline, and priorities. Immigrant Invest lawyers can assess the situation and help choose the most suitable route.
