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Citizenship · Portugal

Portuguese citizenship by naturalisation

For legal residents of Portugal and applicants with files pending under the old law.

Since 19 May 2026 naturalisation needs 10 years of legal residence, or 7 for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries and EU citizens, instead of 5 for everyone. Years count if accumulated within 12 years (9 for CPLP and EU). Procedures pending on 19 May 2026 are decided under the previous law.

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Facts checked on

Route status

ChangedNaturalisation (Nationality Law, Lei 37/81, as amended by Lei Orgânica 1/2026)

Updated

Changed by Lei Orgânica 1/2026

New requirements: test or certificate of Portuguese language, culture, history and national symbols; knowledge of citizens' rights and political organisation; solemn declaration of adherence to democratic principles; ability to support oneself; no final prison sentence over 3 years for listed serious crimes. Spouses/partners after 3 years remain eligible by declaration.

Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026, de 18 de maio — amends the Nationality Law (Lei 37/81)

Procedures pending on 19 May 2026 are decided under the previous law. Spouses and partners after 3 years remain eligible by declaration.

Other open routes

  • PortugalResidence visa for remote work abroad ('digital nomad', Aliens Act art. 88.º(1)/89.º)€3,680/monthChecked on
  • PortugalResidence visa for retirees and people living on own income (D7 / passive income)€920/monthChecked on
  • PortugalEU Blue Card (Aliens Act art. 121.º-A ff.)Not publishedno data in EUR — salary must be at least 1.5x the national average gross annual salary (1.2x in shortage cases under art. 61.º-A(2)); the current euro amount was not verified.Checked on
  • PortugalPermanent residence permit (art. 80.º) / EU long-term resident status (art. 125.º)

Dated list of changes

Portuguese naturalisation in figures

PortugalEUSchengen

Years to citizenship
10 yearsChecked onsource
Sources behind each figure

How it works

Twice the wait, and a new test

Lei Orgânica 1/2026 doubled the period for most applicants.

Ten years within twelve

10 years of legal residence, accumulated within 12 years. For CPLP and EU nationals, 7 years within 9.

Files pending on 19 May 2026 keep the old 5-year rule.

New conditions

A test or certificate of Portuguese language, culture, history and national symbols; knowledge of citizens’ rights and political organisation; a solemn declaration of adherence to democratic principles; the ability to support yourself; and no final prison sentence over 3 years for listed serious crimes.

Who this is not for

  • Residents counting on the old 5-year rule without a pending file
  • Golden visa holders expecting citizenship after 5 years

How we handle it

We count qualifying years within the window, check which law applies to you and prepare the application.

What you getEUSchengen

What Portuguese citizenship gives

Requirements

Who can naturalise

Conditions since 19 May 2026.

Legal basis:Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026, de 18 de maio — amends the Nationality Law (Lei 37/81)

Applicant

  • 10 years of legal residence within 12 (7 within 9 for CPLP and EU)
  • Language, culture, history and civics test
  • Declaration of adherence to democratic principles
  • Self-support and a clean record for listed crimes
Reasons for refusal

Spouses and partners

  • Eligible by declaration after 3 years of marriage or partnership

Pending files

Decided under the previous law.

Who this is not for

  • Short-term residents

Where files usually break

Years counted outside the 12-year window.

Which law applies to you?

Indicative prices; the final quote depends on your case. We usually reply within one business day.

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Process

From year count to decision

Three steps.

  1. 01We

    Year count

    We count your years within the window and check the applicable law.

    Written count

  2. 02You

    Test and records

    You pass the test; we arrange translated civil records.

    Complete file

  3. 03Authority

    Decision

    The registry authority decides.

    Portuguese nationality

    What you receive

    • Year count
    • Filed application
Our part
Not published
AuthorityPortuguese registry authority
Not published

After the decision

  • Apply for the Portuguese citizen card and passport.

Get a quoteDocuments

Refusals

Why applications are refused

Two grounds.

Checked on

Reason for refusalWhat closes itLegal basis
Too few years within the windowWe count before filing.10 yearsChecked onLei Orgânica n.º 1/2026, de 18 de maio — amends the Nationality Law (Lei 37/81)
Test not passedWe ask for the certificate first.Not published

After approval

  • Keep records of residence periods; they are checked against the window.

Long term

Permanent residence on the way

Permanent residence comes after 5 years of temporary residence.

  1. Permit validityNot published
  2. Years to permanent residence5 yearsChecked onsource
  3. Years to citizenship10 yearsChecked onsource
  • Permanent residence after 5 years
  • Citizenship after 10 (7 for CPLP and EU)
Law:Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026, de 18 de maio — amends the Nationality Law (Lei 37/81)

Changes

Dated changes in Portugal

Updated

Naturalisation (Nationality Law, Lei 37/81, as amended by Lei Orgânica 1/2026)Changed

DateWhat changedApplies toSource
ReformNationality Law amended (Lei Orgânica 1/2026): naturalisation now requires 10 years of legal residence (7 for CPLP/EU nationals) instead of 5, plus language, culture and civics tests; pending applications keep the old rules.Whole countryDiário da República
ReformIRC rate cut to 19% for 2026 (18% in 2027, 17% from 2028); SME rate on the first EUR 50,000 down to 15%. Minimum wage raised to EUR 920, lifting the digital nomad threshold to EUR 3,680/month.Whole countryDiário da República
ReformAliens Act amended (Lei 61/2025): 2-year wait for family reunification (exemptions for ARI, Blue Card, highly qualified), job-seeker visa limited to qualified work, startup residence without prior visa.Whole countryDiário da República
ReformVAT small-business exemption reformed: threshold EUR 15,000 and new cross-border EU exemption scheme (EU turnover up to EUR 100,000).Whole countryAutoridade Tributária e Aduaneira
ClosureDecree-Law 37-A/2024 abolished the 'manifestação de interesse' route to residence for people already in Portugal (transitional filings closed 31.12.2025).Whole countryDiário da República
TransitionNHR regime repealed by the 2024 State Budget (Lei 82/2023) with a transitional window for people resident by end-2024 with pre-existing ties; replaced by IFICI (20% flat rate for 10 years on qualifying activities).Whole countryAutoridade Tributária e Aduaneira
ClosureGolden Visa reformed by Lei 56/2023 (Mais Habitação): real estate, rehabilitation and EUR 1.5M capital-transfer routes abolished; fund, research, culture and job-creation routes remain.Whole countryDiário da República

Check your eligibilityHow often we check changes

Documents

Documents

Four documents.

Checked on

DocumentWho issues itApostilleTranslationWho prepares
Applicant
Residence permits historyMigration authorityNoNoYou provide
Birth certificateCivil registry of birth countryYesYesYou provide
Test certificateApproved providerNoNoYou provide
ApplicationPrepared from your recordsNoNoWe prepare

Send us your permit dates.Get a quote

Request

Check your Portuguese naturalisation

Nationality and permit dates are enough.

Privacy Policy

We use your details only to answer this request.

We usually reply within one business day.

Legal disclaimer

The information on this site is general and is not legal advice for your specific situation.

Legal disclaimer

Questions

Portuguese citizenship: short answers

Law in force since 19 May 2026.

Rules

How many years for Portuguese citizenship now?

10 years, or 7 for CPLP and EU nationals, since 19 May 2026.

I applied before 19 May 2026. Which rules apply?

Pending procedures are decided under the previous law.

Can I still get citizenship through marriage?

Spouses and partners remain eligible by declaration after 3 years.

Sources

Where the figures come from

Portuguese law behind this page.

1Sources
SourcePublisherTypeChecked on
Laws and regulations
Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026, de 18 de maio — amends the Nationality Law (Lei 37/81)Diário da RepúblicaLaws and regulationsChecked on
Editorial policy

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Portuguese citizenship after Lei Orgânica 1/2026: 10 years, 7 for CPLP and EU | Clearfile