Published: 05.05.2026
According to the sources, after Lei Orgânica 1/2026 entered into force, the naturalisation residence period is seven years for nationals of EU and CPLP countries and ten years for other foreign nationals. For children born in Portugal to foreign parents, at least one parent must have been legally resident in the country for at least five years.
The change extends the path to citizenship to ten years of legal residence for most new arrivals, while nationals of EU and CPLP countries are subject to a seven-year period. For families with children born in Portugal, the child’s citizenship route now depends on proving that at least one parent has lived legally in the country for five years. This is particularly relevant to people relocating with the aim of eventual naturalisation or relying on a child’s citizenship prospects, since residence history and supporting documents become central to long-term planning. It is worth following because it materially changes the expected timeline for obtaining citizenship.