Portugal's revised Nationality Law (Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026) officially took effect on May 19, 2026. The new legislation significantly alters naturalization timelines and eligibility rules.

 

Portugal's revised Nationality Law (Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026) officially took effect on May 19, 2026. The new legislation significantly alters naturalization timelines and eligibility rules.

 

Key features of the updated legislation include:

• Extended Naturalization Timelines: For most foreign nationals, the minimum period of legal residence required to apply for citizenship has increased from 5 to 10 years.
• Special 7-Year Routes: Citizens of European Union (EU) member states and Portuguese-speaking countries (CPLP, which includes Brazil, Angola, and Cape Verde) now have a reduced but still increased requirement of 7 years.
• The Residency Clock Start Date: The residency clock officially begins on the date a residence permit is issued by the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), rather than from the date an application was submitted.
• Elimination of Sephardic Jewish Route: The regime that granted nationality to descendants of Portuguese Sephardic Jews has been completely eliminated.
• Loss of Nationality Provision: Judges can now apply the loss of nationality as an accessory penalty for anyone convicted of serious crimes resulting in a prison sentence of 5 or more years.
• Transitional Rule: Citizenship applications filed on or before May 18, 2026, will be governed by the previous laws; however, pending files started after the new law took effect are subject to the new timelines.

For more details on the exact statutes or to evaluate how the new law affects your personal timeline, refer to the published Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 in Portugal's official gazette