Organic Law 1/2026, published on 18 May, amended Portugal's Nationality Law. The new rules have applied since 19 May 2026 and mainly change the period of legal residence required for naturalisation.
The new periods
- 7 years of legal residence for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries (CPLP) and EU citizens
- 10 years of legal residence for nationals of other countries
The law also requires sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language and culture, history and national symbols.
What if my application was already pending?
Applications already pending on 19 May 2026 continue to be decided under the previous wording of the law. If you had already applied, the old period applies to you.
Children born in Portugal and descendants
The law allows naturalisation of minors born in Portugal to foreign parents when one parent has lived legally in the country for at least five years, among other requirements. It also extended the route for descendants of Portuguese citizens to great-grandchildren.
What it means if you are arriving now
If you arrive on a D7, D8, D2 or Golden Visa, permanent residence is still possible after 5 years. Citizenship becomes a longer-term goal, which is why it pays to keep your residence permit valid and renewed on time: every period of legal residence counts.
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