The terms for Portugal nationality have modified significantly under the new Portuguese government. The extended residency period for citizenship is one of the most important change. Previously, after five years of lawful residency, immigrants may request for Portuguese nationality.

Surprisingly the new government extend this time period to ten years under the new rule. Another major change is children will only be Portuguese or passport holder at the time of birth if the parents have been legally living in the country for three years, according to changes to the Nationality Law that were agreed by the Council of Ministers.

The Portuguese government announced new changes to the basis of the country’s nationality law on June 23, 2025, representing a move toward stricter standards for nationalization and other nationality pathways. These policies, which were implemented with a focus on national unity and expected to have an effect on those applying for Portuguese nationality through a variety of ways.

Portugal Nationality proposed changes

• Increased Residency Requirement: A person should live in Portugal 7 to 10 years.
•  A person must understands Portugal’s politics and culture and should speak Portuguese.
• A person should declare that he is loyal to the Portugal republic.
• An applicant should not be threat to the national security and no any criminal record.

Portugal nationality through families

People who have Portuguese families like grand fathers and parents are eligible to apply for the Portugal nationality directly. Or at the time of birth if one of the parent is Portuguese citizen , this will help out to make the process easier.

Portuguese nationality loss conditions

The new governmental changings may also permit to cancel your nationality if you are involved in major crimes against country or its citizens, like you will be sent to prison for more than five years and may be huge fine to pay.  This is a judicial measure that is subject to proportionality analysis and is not automatic.

Portugal nationality, which can be obtained at birth or throughout a person’s lifetime. The applicant’s place of birth, the number of years they have lived in Portugal, the nationality of their spouse or family, and their connection to the Portuguese community are some of the variables that may influence the attribution of Portuguese nationality. In this context, we shall examine the procedure for obtaining nationality through naturalization based on residency, which is permitted under article 6 of the aforementioned statute in situations when a foreign national has been a lawful resident of Portugal for at least five years.

Portugal Nationality: An Introduction

The Portuguese Republic has a population of 10,561,614, based on preliminary 2011 census data. The primary language in the country is Portuguese, which originated. This territory corresponds to Galicia (N-W Spain) and the northern part of Portugal today. Portuguese continued to be spoken and reclaimed its position as the primary language among its speakers during the time of Arabic supremacy.

Portugal Nationality based on residence

Portugal nationality, which can be obtained at birth or throughout a person’s lifetime. The applicant’s place of birth, the number of years they have lived in Portugal, the nationality of their spouse or family, and their connection to the Portuguese community are some of the variables that may influence the attribution of Portuguese nationality. In this context, we shall examine the procedure for obtaining nationality through naturalization based on residency, which is permitted under article 6 of the aforementioned statute in situations when a foreign national has been a lawful resident of Portugal for at least five years.

Portugal Nationality (legal requirements)

Portugal nationality can be granted to those foreign nationals who collectively fulfill the following criteria are granted by the Portuguese government through naturalization (Article 6.1 of the Nationality Law): a) Be of legal age or emancipated under Portuguese law; b) Have lived lawfully in Portugal for a minimum of five years; c) speak Portuguese; d) Not have been found guilty of a crime punishable by Portuguese law carrying a final, irrevocable sentence of three years or more in prison.

Under any of the permits, visas, or authorizations allowed by the regime for the entry, stay, departure, and exit of foreigners (including holders of Golden Visas) and the regime for the right to asylum, a person who is a lawful resident of Portugal is regarded by the Portuguese authorities as having a regularized situation.

Portugal Nationality: Necessary Documents Required

An applicant should have the legal birth certificate at the time of applying for nationality and its should be totally approved and attested by the country of origin. Later on , applicant needs to translated the document into Portuguese language. The criminal record certificate or certificates from each country the applicant has lived in since the age of sixteen, as well as from their country of birth and nationality, must also be attached to the application. The criminal record needs to be properly translated into Portuguese and validated, just like the birth certificate.

Portugal nationality’s one of the major requirement is the Portuguese language. A paper attesting to one’s adequate proficiency in Portuguese is also essential. If a person receives an A2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which is set by the Council of Europe, they are said to know enough Portuguese. By taking a test in Portuguese as a foreign language at a Portuguese assessment center approved by the Ministry of Education.

The candidate will not be required to provide documentation attesting to their proficiency in Portuguese if they were born in a nation that speaks the language and are a citizen of that nation.

Portugal Nationality: How to Submit the Application

Applying for Portugal nationality online through the Legal Portal for representatives registered with the Portuguese Bar Association and the Portuguese Bar Association of Legal Executives and Enforcement Agents is possible if you have a representative (a lawyer or legal executive).

The online service makes the process more efficient by enabling professionals to submit applications for Portugal nationality along with the required paperwork in a fully dematerialized manner, pay, track the status of cases, and provide accurate and complete information without having to visit a Registry office. Since the necessary documents need to be translated and certified if they are not in Portuguese, it is also advisable to choose a representative.

If a representative is not available, the application must be submitted in person at the Central Registry Office, a Portuguese consulate in the applicant’s area, a civil registry office, a nationality desk, or the National Support Center for the Integration of Migrants.

Portugal Nationality: Application Fees and Costs

You only required 250 euros for application fee to obtain Portugal nationality. After the application is received by the registry office, the Portuguese nationality procedure starts. The Institute of Registries and Notaries (IRN), where it is registered, verifies and examines the paperwork. Portugal nationality is awarded and the new citizen is listed in the Portuguese Civil Registry upon fulfilling all legal conditions.

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