Portuguese Citizenship Now Requires 10 Years of Residency

On May 3, 2026, Portuguese President António José Seguro promulgated the new nationality law. The naturalization period has doubled from 5 to 10 years for most foreign nationals. For French expatriates already living in Portugal or planning to move there, the calculation has changed dramatically.

For years, Portugal was one of the most accessible entry points to European citizenship: five years of legal residency, an A2-level language test, a clean criminal record, and dual nationality within reach. That era has officially closed.

Key changes introduced by the new law

The Portuguese Parliament approved the bill on April 1, 2026, by 152 votes to 64, following a last-minute agreement between the ruling center-right PSD and the far-right Chega party. The president, from the Socialist Party, had long hinted at a possible veto before ultimately signing the decree. The law will enter into force upon publication in the Diário da República, Portugal’s official gazette.

Three major changes affect naturalization applicants:

The residency period doubles. Third-country nationals—those outside the European Union—must now reside legally in Portugal for 10 years before applying for naturalization, up from 5 years previously. For EU citizens and Portuguese-speaking countries (CPLP: Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, East Timor), the period increases to 7 years.

The starting point for residency counting has changed. A seemingly minor detail: the residency period no longer begins on the date of the residence permit application but on the date the AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum) issues the permit. Given AIMA’s significant backlog—ranging from two to three years in some cases—lawyers estimate the actual time to obtain nationality could stretch to 9–13 years in practice.

No general transitional period. Unlike initial proposals, no broad transitional mechanism was included to protect residents already in Portugal who might have qualified under the old 5-year rule. Only applications already submitted and under review are safeguarded: Portugal’s Constitutional Court ruled in late 2025 that automatic retroactive application to pending cases would be unconstitutional.

Stricter integration requirements

Beyond the residency period, the substantive conditions have tightened. Applicants must still demonstrate A2-level Portuguese proficiency (except for CPLP nationals), but now must also pass a test on Portuguese culture, history, and fundamental rights.

Criminal record checks have become stricter, with ineligibility set at three years of actual imprisonment for serious crimes (terrorism, organized crime, state offenses, or violent crimes). Access to nationality by birth for children born in Portugal has also become more stringent: parents must have legally resided in Portugal for 3 years (CPLP) or 4 years (other nationalities) before the child’s birth.

A second decree, which proposed revoking nationality as an accessory penalty for criminal convictions, was not promulgated and remains suspended after a parliamentary group filed a preventive constitutional review request.

The president’s reservations: a political signal

President Seguro did not sign the law without comment. In a statement on the presidency’s website, he regretted that such an important law had not achieved broader consensus, warning that successive amendments undermine legal certainty and institutional credibility.

He emphasized two points that could influence future interpretation of the law: the need for pending cases not to be affected by the reform, and the importance of ensuring that state administrative delays do not penalize residency periods. While not legally binding, these remarks could be invoked in future court disputes, including the constitutional challenge filed in December 2025 by Golden Visa investors.

What about the Golden Visa?

Good news for current or prospective Golden Visa holders: the program itself is unaffected by this reform. Residency rights remain unchanged, including the ability to renew permits, travel within the Schengen Area, and reunite families. Permanent residency is still accessible after 5 years.

What has changed is the path to citizenship: applicants must now wait 10 years (instead of 5) to apply. For an investor obtaining a Golden Visa in 2026, eligibility for Portuguese citizenship would be pushed to the 2036–2038 window, accounting for processing delays.

The same applies to holders of the D7 visa (passive income), digital nomad visa, and all other D-category residence permits.

What should you do if you’re affected?

If you’ve already submitted a naturalization application, the position is relatively clear: the Constitutional Court has ruled out automatic retroactive application of the new regime. Your case remains governed by the 5-year rule. Keep all submission receipts and acknowledgments secure.

If you already live in Portugal but haven’t reached 5 years of residency, the situation is less clear. There is no general transitional protection. You will likely fall under the new 10-year (or 7-year for EU nationals) rule. Consulting a specialized Portuguese immigration lawyer is essential, especially for profiles close to the 5-year mark at the time of the law’s publication.

If you’re considering moving to Portugal, the strategic calculation has shifted. The country remains an excellent choice for living, investing, or establishing a family or tax base in Europe. However, as a fast-track route to EU citizenship, it has lost much of its appeal. Comparisons with other European jurisdictions—such as Malta (by merit) or faster programs outside the EU—should be reassessed based on your primary goal: mobility, taxation, family anchoring, or geopolitical contingency planning.

If your goal is citizenship for your children, plan ahead for the new residency requirements before birth and continuous mandatory schooling.

A broader European trend

Portugal is not alone. Sweden voted in late April 2026 to increase the naturalization period to 8 years, with a minimum income threshold, and no transitional protection for the 100,000 pending cases. Several European countries are tightening naturalization criteria amid a political shift where migration issues play a central role.

For French nationals eyeing Southern Europe as a gateway to a second passport or a long-term expatriation project, the message is clear: windows are closing, and today’s residency choices will determine tomorrow’s options. Better to plan now than wait for the next reform.