Published: 12.06.2026
According to the source, the residence period required to apply for Portuguese citizenship increased from five to seven years for Brazilian and other CPLP nationals, and to ten years for nationals of other countries. The period is now counted from the date the residence permit was issued; applications already submitted are protected by transitional rules.
For new applicants, the path to citizenship becomes significantly longer: both the actual residence period and the date of residence-permit issuance matter. This particularly affects nationals of countries outside the CPLP, who must now plan around a ten-year period, as well as people who expected to apply shortly after five years. Those who have already filed applications retain protection under the transitional rules, but future movers should plan for a longer timeline. This is important reading for anyone considering citizenship as a long-term relocation goal.