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Portugal has introduced major changes to its nationality law through Organic Law no. 1/2026, introducing stricter residency, integration, and eligibility requirements for citizenship applicants. The reform affects several routes to Portuguese nationality, including naturalization, citizenship by descent, marriage, and children born in Portugal to foreign parents.
One of the most significant changes in the Portuguese nationality law in 2026 is the increase in the residency requirement for naturalization applications. Under the new rules, the minimum legal residence period increases from 5 years to 7 years for EU and CPLP nationals, and 10 years for applicants of other nationalities.
The reform also introduces additional integration and security requirements. Applicants may now need to demonstrate knowledge of the Portuguese language, culture, history, democratic principles, and political system, alongside stricter criminal background and national security checks.
At the same time, certain nationality pathways have become more restrictive or have been revoked entirely, including the special regime for descendants of Portuguese Sephardic Jews.
This guide explains the new Portuguese citizenship law in 2026, who is affected by the Portuguese 10-year citizenship rule, how pending applications are treated, and what applicants should consider before starting the nationality process.
(Article Updated May 2026)
Table of Contents
- Current Status: May 2026 (What Is and Isn’t in Force)
- What the New Portuguese Citizenship Law Changes
- Pending Applications: Who Is Protected?
- What Does NOT Change: Permanent Residency Still Remains at 5 Years
- Frequently Asked Questions About the Portuguese Citizenship Law Changes
- Portugal Citizenship Law Changes in 2026: What Applicants Should Do Next
Current Status: May 2026 (What Is and Isn’t in Force)
Portugal’s new nationality law reform introduces major changes to the country’s citizenship framework. The reform increases residency requirements for naturalization applicants and introduces stricter eligibility, integration, and security criteria across several nationality pathways.
One of the most important points for applicants to understand is that the transitional regime protects applications already pending before the law entered into force. Applicants who have already submitted their Portuguese citizenship application will continue to be assessed under the previous rules.
For applicants who have not yet submitted their nationality application, the new rules may significantly affect eligibility timelines. The standard naturalization period has increased from 5 years to 10 years for most foreign nationals, while EU and CPLP nationals now face a 7-year requirement.
The reform also changes how legal residence is calculated. Time spent waiting for a residence permit application to be approved no longer counts toward the nationality residency requirement.
Additional changes include:
- Stricter integration and security checks;
- New requirements related to the Portuguese language, culture, history, and democratic principles;
- Tighter rules for children born in Portugal to foreign parents; and
- The revocation of the Sephardic Jewish ancestry nationality regime.
If you are approaching the previous 5-year residency threshold, already have a pending application, or are planning a future move to Portugal, understanding how these new citizenship rules apply to your situation is now essential.
What the New Portuguese Citizenship Law Changes
The new Portuguese nationality law introduces significant changes across several citizenship pathways, including naturalization, citizenship by descent, birthright citizenship, and nationality applications through marriage.
The reform mainly focuses on longer residency requirements, stricter integration criteria, tighter security checks, and more restrictive eligibility rules. The most important changes are outlined below.
1. Residency Requirement: The Biggest Change
One of the most significant changes introduced under Organic Law no. 1/2026 is the increase in the residency period required for Portuguese citizenship through naturalization.
| Applicant Type | Previous Requirement | New Requirement |
| EU Nationals | 5 years | 7 years |
| CPLP Nationals | 5 years | 7 years |
| Other Nationalities | 5 years | 10 years |
The new Portugal 10 year citizenship rule mainly affects non-EU and non-CPLP nationals, including many Golden Visa holders, D7 visa holders, digital nomads, and foreign workers living in Portugal.
2. How the Residency Period Is Now Calculated
The new Portuguese nationality law also changes when the citizenship residency clock begins.
Under the previous rules, residency time could count from the date a residence permit application was submitted. Under the new rules, residency only begins counting from the date the residence permit is officially issued.
| Residency Calculation | Previous Rule | New Rule |
| Start of residency period | Residence application submission | Residence permit issuance |
This change may significantly increase the real waiting period for many applicants, especially those affected by AIMA processing delays.
3. Children Born in Portugal: Stricter Citizenship Rules
The new law also tightens the rules for children born in Portugal to foreign parents.
Under the previous rules, Portuguese nationality could be granted if one parent had been residing in Portugal for at least 1 year. Under the new law, one parent must now be legally residing in Portugal for at least 5 years at the time of the child’s birth.
| Citizenship by Birth in Portugal | Previous Rule | New Rule |
| Parent residency requirement | 1 year of legal residence | 5 years of legal residence |
The reform also introduces additional requirements for minors applying for Portuguese nationality, including compulsory school attendance and stricter criminal and security checks where applicable.
4. New Integration and Security Requirements
The reform also introduces stricter integration, financial, and security requirements for nationality applicants.
In addition to Portuguese language requirements, applicants may now need to demonstrate:
- knowledge of Portuguese culture, history, and national symbols;
- understanding of the rights and duties associated with Portuguese nationality;
- knowledge of Portugal’s political system and democratic principles; and
- sufficient financial means to support themselves.
The law also strengthens criminal background and national security checks for nationality applications. Applicants with serious criminal convictions, security concerns, or restrictive measures imposed by the United Nations or European Union may be excluded from eligibility. The reform also introduces stricter documentary verification requirements and increased data sharing between public authorities.
5. Sephardic Jewish Ancestry Route Revoked
The new Portuguese nationality law revokes the special citizenship regime for descendants of Portuguese Sephardic Jews.
| Sephardic Citizenship Route | Previous Rule | New Rule |
| Descendants of Portuguese Sephardic Jews | Eligible to apply for nationality | Regime revoked |
This pathway previously allowed applicants to obtain Portuguese nationality based on proven Sephardic ancestry and cultural ties to Portugal. Under the new law, new applications through this route are no longer permitted.
However, applications already pending before the law entered into force remain protected under the transitional regime.
6. New Pathway for Third-Degree Descendants
The new law also introduces a potential pathway to Portuguese nationality for third-degree direct descendants of Portuguese nationals by origin. This may include certain great-grandchildren of Portuguese citizens, depending on the family line and eligibility criteria.
Under the new regime, the Government may grant Portuguese nationality to eligible applicants who have legally resided in Portugal for at least 5 years, exempting them from the standard naturalization residence requirements.
Pending Applications: Who Is Protected?
The new law includes a transitional regime confirming that nationality applications already pending before the law entered into force will continue to be assessed under the previous rules.
In practical terms, applicants who already submitted their Portuguese citizenship application with the IRN (Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado) before the new rules took effect remain protected under the previous 5-year framework.
It is important to understand that a “pending application” refers to a nationality application formally submitted to the IRN. Delays or pending residence permit applications with AIMA do not automatically protect an applicant under the transitional regime.
For many applicants approaching the previous 5-year residency threshold, timing may now play a critical role in determining eligibility under the old or new framework.
Your Situation: What These Changes Mean for You
| Your Situation | What This means |
| Citizenship application already submitted | Your application remains protected under the previous rules. |
| 5 years completed but application not yet submitted | Your eligibility is affected by the new residency requirements. |
| EU or CPLP national | Citizenship through naturalization now generally requires 7 years of legal residence. |
| Non-EU and non-CPLP national | Citizenship through naturalization now generally requires 10 years of legal residence. |
| Golden Visa holder | Permanent residency rules remain unchanged, but citizenship timelines are now significantly longer. |
| Sephardic ancestry application already submitted | Pending applications remain protected under the transitional regime. |
What Does NOT Change: Permanent Residency Still Remains at 5 Years
While the new law significantly changes the timeline for Portuguese citizenship, it does not change the rules for permanent residency in Portugal.
Permanent residency and EU long-term resident status remain available after 5 years of legal residence in Portugal.
This distinction is important because applicants may still secure long-term residence rights in Portugal after 5 years, even though the timeline for Portuguese citizenship through naturalization is now significantly longer.
The A2 Portuguese language requirement for naturalization also remains in place through the CIPLE exam or an equivalent qualification.
The new Portuguese nationality law affects applicants differently depending on their residency pathway and nationality. Below are some of the groups most directly impacted by the reform.
Golden Visa (ARI) Holders
The nationality reform does not change the current 5-year permanent residency pathway for Golden Visa holders. However, investors pursuing Portuguese citizenship through naturalization may now face a significantly longer timeline than originally expected.
D7 and D8 (Digital Nomad) Visa Holders
Permanent residency pathways remain unchanged for D7 and D8 visa holders. However, citizenship eligibility timelines are now significantly longer for most non-EU applicants.
CPLP Nationals
CPLP nationals, including Brazilian citizens, continue to benefit from a preferential pathway compared to other nationalities. However, the residency requirement has increased under the new law.
Sephardic Jewish Ancestry Applicants
New Sephardic ancestry applications are no longer permitted under the revised nationality law. Pending applications submitted before the law entered into force remain protected under the transitional regime.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Portuguese Citizenship Law Changes
Is the new Portuguese citizenship law in force?
Yes. Portugal has introduced major changes to its nationality law through Organic Law no. 1/2026, including longer residency requirements and stricter eligibility criteria for citizenship applicants.
What is the new residency requirement for Portuguese citizenship?
The residency requirement for naturalization has increased from 5 years to:
- 7 years for EU and CPLP nationals; and
- 10 years for applicants of other nationalities.
Are pending citizenship applications protected under the new law?
Yes. Applications already pending before the law entered into force continue to be assessed under the previous rules through the transitional regime.
Does the 10-year rule apply to CPLP nationals and Brazilians?
No. CPLP nationals, including Brazilian citizens, are generally subject to a 7-year residency requirement instead of 10 years.
Is the Sephardic Jewish ancestry citizenship route still available?
No. The special nationality regime for descendants of Portuguese Sephardic Jews has been revoked for new applicants.
Does the new citizenship law affect permanent residency in Portugal?
No. Permanent residency and EU long-term resident status remain available after 5 years of legal residence in Portugal.
When does the residency clock start for Portuguese citizenship?
Under the new rules, residency time counts from the date the residence permit is officially issued, not from the date the residence application was submitted.
Can Golden Visa holders still get Portuguese citizenship?
Yes. Golden Visa holders may still apply for Portuguese citizenship through naturalization, but most non-EU applicants are now subject to the new 10-year residency requirement.
Portugal Citizenship Law Changes in 2026: What Applicants Should Do Next
Portugal’s new nationality law marks one of the most significant changes to Portuguese citizenship eligibility in recent years. The changes also introduce stricter rules for calculating residence and revoke several previously available nationality pathways.
For many applicants, the biggest impact will be the increase from the previous 5-year citizenship framework to a 7- or 10-year residency requirement, depending on nationality. At the same time, pending applications already submitted before the law entered into force remain protected under the transitional regime.
Whether you are a Golden Visa holder, D7 visa holder, CPLP national, or planning a future move to Portugal, understanding how these new rules apply to your situation is now essential.
If you would like guidance on your eligibility, residency timeline, or nationality application strategy under the new Portuguese citizenship law, fill out the form below to speak with a Portuguese immigration lawyer.