THE NEW PORTUGUESE NATIONALITY LAW

The new rules governing the acquisition of Portuguese nationality came into force on 19 May.

Among the main changes is an increase in the minimum period of legal residence required to apply for Portuguese nationality:

- 7 years of legal residence in Portugal for citizens of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) and nationals of European Union Member States;

- 10 years for nationals of other countries;

Children of foreign nationals born in Portugal: at least one parent must now have been legally resident in Portugal for five years at the time of the child’s birth; minors born in Portuguese territory, may only acquire nationality by naturalisation if they are enrolled in and attending compulsory education, where applicable.

Additional integration criteria have been introduced, including:
a) knowledge of the Portuguese language;
b) evidence of integration into the community;
c) knowledge of Portuguese culture, as well as civic rights and duties.

The new law also introduces additional requirements relating to **security and criminal records**. Applications may be refused where applicants have been convicted of serious offences, such as terrorism or organised crime, and sentenced to more than three years’ imprisonment.

The legislation also provides for the collection of biometric data as part of nationality applications.

The new legislation further establishes that the period spent waiting for a residence permit to be issued will no longer count towards the period required to qualify for Portuguese nationality. The relevant period will therefore be calculated only from the date on which the residence permit is issued.

The legislation also maintains the abolition of the special regime applicable to descendants of Sephardic Jews.

Despite these changes, administrative proceedings already underway will continue to be governed by the previous rules, with the new legislation having no retroactive effect.

The final version was published as Organic Law No. 1/2026.

The Government will now have 90 days to adapt the regulations governing the Nationality Law to the provisions approved by the Assembly of the Republic.

See in: Diário da República: https://diariodarepublica.pt/d