Portugal's New Nationality Law: Residency Requirement Doubles to 10 Years for Non-EU Citizens

Portugal's Assembly of the Republic voted on 1 April 2026 to overhaul the country's Nationality Law, fundamentally changing the timeline and conditions under which foreign residents can acquire Portuguese citizenship. The legislation, passed under a last-minute pact between the governing Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the far-right Chega, removes the transitional protections that had previously shielded existing residents from stricter rules.

The most consequential change is an extension of the minimum legal residency period required for naturalisation. Third-country nationals — those from outside the European Union and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) — will now need to reside in Portugal for 10 years before applying for citizenship, up from the previous five. EU citizens and nationals from CPLP countries such as Brazil, Cape Verde and Angola will need seven years, also up from five.

How the counting changes

The reform also alters how residency is calculated. The 10-year period now runs from the date of the first residence permit, rather than from the application date as was previously the case. For many applicants mid-way through the old timeline, this could push their naturalisation eligibility further into the future than the headline figures suggest.

Children born in Portugal no longer receive automatic citizenship

One of the most striking departures from the previous framework is the removal of near-automatic citizenship for children born in Portugal to foreign parents. Under the new law, such children will require five years of legal parental residency in Portugal before citizenship can be granted. This affects families whose children were born here but whose legal residency standing may have been uncertain or interrupted.

Criminal convictions bar lowered

The threshold for criminal disqualification has been tightened. Individuals convicted of crimes carrying a prison sentence of three years or more will be barred from naturalisation — the previous bar was five years. The change applies to a broader range of offences and is intended, according to the PSD, to reinforce integrity standards in the citizenship process.

No transitional protections

The most contested aspect of the PSD-Chega deal was the removal of transitional provisions that had been negotiated with the Socialist Party (PS). Under the earlier drafts, residents who had begun the old five-year clock would have been allowed to continue under the previous rules. That protection is now gone. Thousands of expats who expected to be eligible within the next few years will instead face a significantly longer wait.

The approved decree was sent to President António José Seguro for promulgation. Seguro, who is affiliated with the PS and has publicly opposed the legislation, may exercise his right to refer the text to the Constitutional Court for review — a process that could delay implementation by several months.

What expats and investors should do now

Those already holding a Portuguese residence permit should review their timeline carefully. If you started your residency clock before April 2026, legal advice on whether any transitional arrangements still apply is strongly recommended. Applicants for the D7 visa, Golden Visa, or other residency routes beginning now should plan their citizenship timelines on the basis of the new 10-year requirement for non-EU nationals.

The law does not affect the right to reside and work in Portugal — only the timeline for naturalisation. EU Blue Card holders and long-term residents retain their existing rights under EU law, though Portuguese citizenship applications will be judged under the new framework.