Portugal’s centre‑right government has approved a significant change to the nationality law: the residency requirement for citizenship by naturalisation will rise from 5 years to 10 years for most applicants, pending final parliamentary approval.

This move is part of a broader effort to tighten Portugal’s immigration system and align it more closely with other European countries.

🔍 Key Details

• Most Immigrants will need 10 years of legal residency to qualify for Portuguese citizenship, double the previous requirement of five years.
• Citizens of CPLP countries (Commonwealth of Portuguese‑Speaking Countries, such as Brazil, Angola, Mozambique) will benefit from a reduced residency threshold of 7 years.
• Applicants must pass an exam on Portuguese language and culture, demonstrate knowledge of civil rights and duties, and declare commitment to democratic values.
• Portuguese nationality can now be revoked in cases of serious crimes.

Source: Reuters

👶 Impact on Children Born in Portugal

The reform also changes the process for children born in Portugal to foreign parents:

• Automatic citizenship at birth will no longer apply.
• Parents must have held legal residency in Portugal for at least 3 years at the time of the child’s birth.
• Nationality must now be formally requested.

Source: El País

🗓️ When Does It Start?

The changes were approved by the Council of Ministers on 23 June 2025 and will now move to Parliament for final ratification. The proposal is expected to pass, as it has political backing from the centre‑right coalition and the Chega party.

The Portuguese government has confirmed that:

• Pending applications submitted before 19 June 2025 will follow the current 5-year rule.
• The new rules will apply only to future applications.

🧭 Why Is Portugal Making This Change?

Portugal has experienced a surge in citizenship applications in recent years, with 141,300 people acquiring Portuguese nationality in 2023 alone.

The government argues that the system needs to become more rigorous and ensure that new citizens are genuinely integrated into Portuguese society. Officials say these reforms will help protect the integrity of the nationality process.

Critics, however, warn that this may discourage immigration and could make Portugal less attractive to long-term residents.

Source: Economic Times

🌱 Population Growth at Risk?

It’s important to note that the Beira Baixa region has only recently started to reverse decades of population decline, largely thanks to immigration. New residents from outside Portugal have been crucial in bringing life back to villages, supporting local businesses, and contributing to the economy.

Delaying access to citizenship may make Portugal less attractive compared to other countries, potentially slowing down this fragile growth. For rural areas like ours, this could mean missed opportunities to stabilise our ageing populations and keep essential services alive.

Sources:

• Reuters – Portugal tightens naturalisation rules, doubles residency requirement
• El País – Portugal endurece el acceso a la nacionalidad
• Economic Times – Portugal tightens citizenship rules