Portugal’s New Citizenship Law: a Missed Opportunity for Genuine Early Integration

On 1 April 2026, Portugal’s parliament (Assembleia da República) adopted amendments to the citizenship framework in a vote of 152–64. Because this is organic legislation, it needs a two-thirds majority. The bill now awaits the signature of President António José Seguro, who—given his political ties to the Socialist Party—could still sign, hold the measure, or seek an opinion from the Constitutional Court.

The reform emerged from an urgent political bargain between the center-right PSD and the far-right Chega. It has already triggered strong reactions from expatriates, potential investors, and members of the Portuguese diaspora. At the center of the criticism is a tougher path to Portuguese citizenship, along with a reworking of how quickly applicants can move through the integration process.

What changes in naturalisation requirements

The most visible adjustment concerns the residency period needed before an applicant can apply for citizenship. For most third-country nationals, the qualifying time increases from 5 to 10 years. For citizens of the EU and CPLP states (the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries), the requirement grows from 5 to 7 years.

There is also a change in how residency is calculated. The “clock” will start only when the residence permit is actually issued, not from the moment an application is submitted. In practice, this reverses the logic introduced by the 2024 amendment, which took account of administrative delays and waiting times handled by Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (AIMA). For many applicants, that means the overall waiting period is likely to stretch further.

Just as important, the new rules introduce no transitional provisions—no “grandfathering” for people already living in Portugal under the previous legal framework. Thousands of residents who relocated expecting the earlier five-year pathway may now face a much longer route before they can obtain a Portuguese passport.

Stricter jus soli: citizenship for children born in Portugal

Another major point concerns jus soli, i.e., citizenship based on being born in Portugal. Under the updated approach, a child born in Portugal to foreign parents would receive citizenship at birth only if at least one parent has held lawful residence for five years.

Previously, one year of parental residence could be sufficient, and in certain circumstances some cases without a fully settled immigration status were still accepted. The new standard makes family outcomes less predictable and increases the likelihood of administrative inconsistencies.

Why supporters say the reform is necessary: “portugalidade” and less formalism

Supporters frame the reform as a typical integration debate. They argue that the former citizenship model was too easy to access. In their view, fast inflows of migrants under different legal bases have produced new citizens who do not yet demonstrate sufficiently strong ties—such as Portuguese language skills, familiarity with culture, and commitment to democratic principles.

Reform advocates claim the amendments strengthen portugalidade, meaning a more authentic sense of Portuguese identity. The underlying belief is that a passport should not be treated as a purely administrative outcome, detached from real participation and belonging.

Why the author agrees with the goal—but not the method

The intention—promoting genuine integration—sounds reasonable. However, the law applies a heavy-handed tool: it extends the required time in residence without directly evaluating whether integration has actually occurred. Put simply, it postpones the reward rather than testing readiness for inclusion in society.

In addition, the revised model effectively punishes people who followed the rules in good faith. Long-term residents and investors paid taxes, created jobs, and complied with the law. Yet the reality is that AIMA procedures already involve paperwork and status processing that can take time. Under the new approach, those administrative delays are effectively transferred onto the citizenship timeline.

There is also a separate concern: illogical “family timing mismatches.” For instance, children born in the same Portuguese hospital could receive different outcomes depending on whether their birth date falls before or after a parent reaches the “five-year threshold.” This does not resemble a structured integration test—it resembles a calendar coincidence.

A more practical alternative: integrate on the path to permanent residence

In the author’s view, a better-balanced reform would move away from “time spent in a status” and toward verifiable links to society. Citizenship could remain the final goal, but the real “gate” should be permanent residence (PR). Integration would then be assessed at the PR stage.

Since AIMA already manages residence permits, it would be logical to broaden its role. PR could be tied to measurable achievements, such as language proficiency, basic understanding of civic institutions, and knowledge of Portugal’s history.

One possible design would look like this:

• Non-EU and non-CPLP nationals could request PR after two years of continuous lawful temporary residence, provided they pass a Portuguese language test at A2, complete an exam on civil governance and history (institutions, constitutional values, and key national milestones), and show financial self-sufficiency.
• EU and CPLP citizens would follow the same accelerated route—also after two years—reflecting the closer linguistic and cultural environment.
• Golden Visa and other high-qualified categories could obtain PR immediately after the residence permit is approved, but within two years they would still need to provide proof meeting the same language, civic knowledge, and history requirements. If the criteria are not met, the “PR clock” would reset, encouraging early and genuine involvement in national life.

Then, naturalisation after five years of PR could be supported by two additional elements: first, a B1 language certificate (for CPLP, an exception could be handled through separate rules); and second, an updated confirmation of basic knowledge of Portugal’s civic system and history.

Why a PR-first approach may work better

First, integration becomes earlier and more controllable. People would know from the start that their route to citizenship depends on concrete actions—learning the language and understanding the country’s values.

Second, the framework keeps incentives for investment and attracting talent. Portugal gains not only from welcoming people, but also from retaining skilled professionals and reducing “brain drain.”

Third, it relies less on nationality as a purely formal category and more on actual contribution and engagement.

Finally, it reduces the emphasis on “counting days” on a calendar and places more responsibility on AIMA. The agency could organise tests and procedures in a transparent, predictable way. In most cases, PR would already require A2 Portuguese. Extending that into a standardised civic knowledge component (covering culture and history) would require limited administrative effort, but could deliver a meaningful impact.

Transitional measures and grandfathering: why they matter

Any reform should include full grandfathering, meaning that people who already began their process under the prior conditions should not lose rights. Individuals made decisions based on the rules that were in force. A sudden change with retroactive effect weakens confidence in the legal system and harms Portugal’s image as a stable destination for investors.

A transition could introduce the PR-based model step by step while protecting legitimate expectations. This is the general logic the Socialist Party reportedly followed—yet in the PSD–Chega agreement, that approach was effectively sidelined.

A further issue: citizenship for children and “family mathematics”

Birth-based citizenship changes are already appearing in real family situations. The pattern is often the same: a first child may receive citizenship at birth if the parents arrived and the birth occurs relatively soon after (for example, about 18 months later). A second child born later (for example, three years after arrival) might not receive citizenship if, at the time of birth, the parents have not yet reached the required five years of lawful residence (for example, they have four and a half years).

This is not only emotionally difficult for families, but it can also create administrative complications—potentially including risks related to statelessness or difficulties in obtaining consistent legal status for children whose outcomes differ.

As a reasonable safeguard, the amendment could be: if parents already have one child who obtained Portuguese citizenship at birth under the former rules (or who satisfies the new five-year threshold), then all subsequent children born in Portugal to the same parents should automatically receive citizenship. This would protect family unity without undermining the broader principle of rootedness.

What to expect in the coming weeks

Even though the bill is currently with the president, there is still a narrow window for reconsideration—or for more careful adjustments within the implementing regulations. Lawmakers and the government may still clarify how the new rules will be applied to better achieve the integration objective.

Portugal does not need to extend waiting periods merely “for the sake of waiting.” A more accurate approach would be to assess commitment using clear and measurable criteria: language ability, knowledge of civic matters, and understanding of history.

At this stage, it is unclear whether Portugal will choose long and rigid waiting times or a more nuanced model based on real integration. Still, for an economy that has historically benefited from international mobility, the sensible direction is a balance of openness with quality and responsibility.

If you are considering Portugal for long-term relocation, it’s important to understand how naturalisation rules and integration timelines can change. To avoid missing the right window, especially if a strategy like legalisation first — citizenship later may be more efficient, speak with Digital Nomad about your options via Portugal Golden Visa. We can help you evaluate your situation, prepare the paperwork, and choose a route that reduces the risks created by new legislative restrictions.

Our Telegram channel about various types of Greek residence permits, digital nomad programs, and the Greek Golden Visa: @digitalnomadgr