Published: 30.10.2026
Portugal’s government approved a decree-law implementing the revised Nationality Law. Naturalisation now requires seven years of lawful residence for citizens of EU and PALOP countries and ten years for nationals of other countries, alongside assessments of language, history, culture and institutions, proof of means, biometric data and a declaration accepting democratic principles.
According to the sources, the route to Portuguese citizenship is becoming significantly longer: nationals of countries outside the EU and PALOP generally face a ten-year residence period, while EU and PALOP citizens face seven years instead of the previous five-year framework. Applications will also involve language, history, culture and institutions assessments, proof of means, biometric data and a formal declaration. This primarily affects current and future residents planning to naturalise, as well as families making long-term relocation decisions. It is important to factor the revised timeline and additional application requirements into residence planning from the outset.