Portugal Extends Citizenship Residency Requirement to 10 Years
Portugal has amended its Nationality Law, raising the minimum legal residency period required for naturalization to 10 years for nationals of countries where Portuguese is not an official language and that are not European Union member states. These changes took effect on May 19, 2026, following the introduction of Organic Law No. 1/2026, published in the Official Gazette on May 18.
The new rules apply only to applications submitted after the law's enactment, while pending applications will be assessed under previous regulations. The law also stipulates that nationals from Portuguese-speaking countries and EU member states must complete a seven-year residency requirement.
Additional provisions include requirements for children born in Portugal to foreign parents, adoptees, and descendants of Sephardic Jews. Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of Portuguese culture and history, financial self-sufficiency, and must not have serious criminal convictions.
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