Portugal’s Approved Changes to the Nationality Law: What They Mean for Foreign Residents
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Portugal’s Parliament has passed wide-ranging changes to the Nationality Law. The amendments reshape how foreign residents, including Golden Visa investors, can qualify for Portuguese citizenship. In this article, we’ll look at what the approved changes mean in practice, who they affect, and what residents and investors should expect next.
What changed — the short view
Parliament’s changes tighten some requirements and clarify others. Timelines are longer in many cases. Tests and checks are stricter. Eligibility itself is not closed off; the path remains available. But it will take longer and require clearer proof of ties to Portugal.
If you are a resident or investor, this is a moment to plan, not panic. The practical steps matter: make sure your residence paperwork, biometrics, and documentation are in order.
Why These Changes Are Happening Now
Over recent years, Portugal has become one of the most sought-after destinations for investment-based residency and long-term relocation.
With rising demand, the government aims to:
- Create clearer and more uniform requirements.
- Strengthen integration expectations.
- Extend residence periods before citizenship applications.
- Ensure applicants demonstrate real ties to the country.
These are procedural adjustments, not a restriction of access.
Portugal remains open to international residents—the path just takes longer and requires firmer documentation.
General amendments that affect most foreign residents
1. Children born in Portugal
- Previously, children born in Portugal to legally resident foreign parents could acquire nationality by origin, regardless of how long the parents had lived there.
- Now, at least one parent must have been a legal resident for five years before the child’s birth.
This aligns birthright nationality with proven residence and social integration.
2. Grandchildren of Portuguese citizens
Grandchildren claiming nationality by descent must do more than show lineage. They now need to demonstrate:
- Knowledge of the Portuguese language, and
- Familiarity with Portuguese culture, society, and traditions.
The aim is to ensure a real, sustained link to the country.
3. Citizenship by marriage or partnership
This route remains open. Two additional safeguards apply:
- The applicant must not have a criminal record; and
- The applicant must not pose a threat to national security or public order.
These rules replace discretionary administrative practice with clearer standards.
4. Proof of financial capacity
Applicants must show they are financially self-sufficient. (The law adds explicit financial capacity requirements).
5. End of the Sephardic Jewish Naturalization Route
The special Naturalization route for Sephardic Jews will formally end once the law is published. This closes a symbolic program that had already been narrowed over time.
Changes especially relevant to Golden Visa and residence-based applicants
1. Longer residence periods for naturalization
- CPLP (Portuguese-speaking) and EU citizens: minimum residence for naturalization increases from 5 to 7 years.
- All other nationals: the period increases from 5 to 10 years.
- This affects timing, not the fact of eligibility. Golden Visa holders can still apply after meeting the new residence history rules.
2. New cultural and civic knowledge tests
Beyond the current A2 Portuguese requirement, applicants must now show:
- Knowledge of Portuguese culture, history, and national symbols, and
- An understanding of civic duties, democratic values, and the rule of law.
Detailed rules and the test format will be announced by regulation.
3. Stricter criminal record rules and sanctions
- The disqualifying threshold for convictions falls from offences punishable by three years to two years of imprisonment.
- Applicants listed on UN sanctions lists are excluded.
- These stricter limits apply to nationality applications; they do not change the current criminal checks for Golden Visa or residency permits.
4. When your residence clock starts
- The residence period for naturalization will be counted from the date the first residence card is issued, not from the initial application submission.
- This matters for Golden Visa holders because residence cards are often issued months after approval — and that delay could push back eligibility.
- This point remains politically contested and could be revised if the President or the Constitutional Court intervenes.
What Does This Mean for Golden Visa Holders?
The Golden Visa (ARI) remains a residency program, and the Government has not introduced any changes to the residency rights associated with it.
Your ability to:
- Live in Portugal.
- Renew your residence permit.
- Travel freely within Schengen.
- Include and reunite family members.
The reform does not affect your right to residency. It affects when you may apply for citizenship.
Because the required period of legal residence has changed, the timeline to citizenship will now depend on:
- When your first residence card was issued, and
- Which residency route you hold (Golden Visa, D7, employment-based, etc.)
The Golden Visa pathway itself continues — but the period of residency required before applying for nationality is now longer, and the counting of that residency begins from the issuance date of the first residence card, not the application date.
In short: Your Golden Visa residency rights stay intact — the citizenship timeline is what shifts.
What Should You Expect Next?
The reform is not yet in full effect. There are a few steps that must occur before any of the new rules become final:
H3: Next Milestones to Watch:
- Presidential Review:
The President may approve the law, return it to Parliament for adjustment, or request a Constitutional Court evaluation. - Possible Constitutional Court Review:
Several elements — particularly the treatment of residence time and the absence of transitional safeguards — have raised constitutional concerns. Legal analysts expect this point to receive further scrutiny.
Until a final decision is published:
- Applications already submitted continue to be processed under the current five-year rule.
- The absence of a formal transition clause has led many legal experts to anticipate clarification or adjustment before implementation.
- The question of whether residence should count from the permit application or the residence card issuance date is central to the constitutional discussion — and may still change.
In short: The situation is still developing, and further clarification is expected in the coming weeks.
Our Perspective
- This reform represents a meaningful shift in Portugal’s naturalization timeline and administrative expectations.
- It aligns Portugal more closely with citizenship frameworks in other EU states, but it also introduces uncertainty for residents and investors who made long-term plans under the previous rules.
- That is why clear guidance and accurate timing matter now more than ever.
How UNO Capital Helps
At UNO Capital, we remain committed to:
- Providing clear, verified updates as the legislative process advances.
- Helping clients evaluate their Permanent Residency and Citizenship timelines under the evolving framework.
- Working in coordination with reputable legal partners in Portugal to ensure documentation and applications remain compliant and strategically timed.
Once the President issues a decision and the final legal text is published, we will share:
- Confirmed eligibility timelines.
- Any transition protections for current residents and Golden Visa holders.
- Recommended next steps based on your residency start date and objectives.
Our goal is straightforward:
To keep clients informed, protected, and confident at every step of their Portuguese residency and citizenship journey.
If you would like case-specific guidance, our advisory team is available to assist. Reach out to us anytime.
Note: This blog reflects the version approved by Portugal’s Parliament. The final law may still change following the President’s review or a possible Constitutional Court decision. UNO Capital is closely monitoring the developments and will provide updated guidance once the official text is published.
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