Portugal has doubled the time you must live here before you can apply for citizenship, from five years to ten. The change is now law and already in force, so if Portuguese citizenship is part of your long-term plan, here is exactly what changed, who is protected, and what it means for your move.
It is law, and it is already in force
This is not a proposal. Portugal’s revised Nationality Law (Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026, which amends the core Nationality Law, Lei n.º 37/81) was approved by the Assembly of the Republic on 1 April 2026 by 152 votes to 64, promulgated by the President on 3 May 2026, published in the Diário da República on 18 May 2026, and entered into force on 19 May 2026. The government has 90 days from publication to update the accompanying Nationality Regulation, so some procedural detail is still being finalised.
What the new rules say
- Ten years of legal residency before you can apply for citizenship, for most applicants.
- Seven years for citizens of EU member states and of Portuguese-speaking (CPLP) countries: Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste.
- The clock is counted from when you hold legal residency, not from when you first arrived or applied for a visa.
- You still need A2-level Portuguese (if you are not from a Portuguese-speaking country) and a clean enough record; the reform also tightens grounds for refusal and revocation.
Are people already in the system protected?
The law includes a transitional clause: administrative procedures that were already pending when the law entered into force (19 May 2026) continue under the previous five-year rule. In plain terms, that protects people who had already filed a citizenship application. It does not protect everyone who simply holds residency or a Golden Visa process but had not yet filed for nationality. If you are close to your five-year mark, speak to a Portuguese lawyer about your specific timing.
What it means for your move
For most people moving on a D7 or D8, this changes the finish line, not the move itself. Your residency rights, your ability to live, work and use healthcare in Portugal, are unchanged. What changes is the citizenship timeline. Plan for a ten-year horizon rather than six, and treat permanent residency, available at five years, as the meaningful milestone for most of that journey.
Frequently asked questions
Does this affect my residency permit?
No. The change is to the citizenship timeline only. Your right to live in Portugal as a resident is unaffected.
I am from Brazil. How long for me?
Seven years, the shorter track that also applies to EU and other CPLP nationals.
Can I still qualify in five years?
Only if your citizenship application was already pending before 19 May 2026. Otherwise plan for the new timeline.
See how the new timeline fits your plans
Sources
- Diário da República, Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 (the amending law): diariodarepublica.pt
- AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum): aima.gov.pt
- Background and analysis: Portugalist, “Portuguese Citizenship Now Takes 10 Years”; Global Citizen Solutions, “Portuguese Nationality Law updates”
General information, current as of June 2026. Nationality rules and the accompanying regulation are still being finalised; confirm the current position and speak to a qualified Portuguese lawyer before relying on any date. Related reading: the Ultimate D7 Visa Guide.
