Portugal’s New Citizenship Rules: What Changes Now?

Portugal has approved new regulations that will determine how foreign residents qualify for Portuguese citizenship, introducing clearer procedures for knowledge tests, financial requirements and identity checks. The decision was taken by the Council of Ministers on 29 October 2026, with the Government also promising simpler digital applications and faster processing of nationality cases.

The announcement is important for thousands of immigrants living in Portugal who are planning to apply for citizenship or are preparing to meet the new requirements.

According to the official announcement published on the Portuguese Government’s website, the approved decree-law explains how several requirements of the revised Nationality Law will work in practice.

Here is what the latest government decision means for foreign residents and future citizenship applicants.

Portuguese citizenship applicants will face new knowledge assessments

One of the main developments announced on 29 October concerns the knowledge requirements for people applying for Portuguese citizenship.

The Government has approved rules covering assessments of Portuguese language, culture, history and national institutions.

In simple terms, applicants will need to demonstrate that they understand Portugal beyond simply living and working in the country.

The assessment framework covers knowledge of:

• The Portuguese language and culture.
• Portugal’s history and national symbols.
• The country’s political institutions.
• The fundamental rights and responsibilities of Portuguese citizens.

These requirements are intended to ensure that people applying for citizenship have a better understanding of Portuguese society and the country they want to become citizens of.

The Government has confirmed that the new regulations establish the conditions for these assessments. However, the 29 October announcement does not provide a complete breakdown of the examination format, number of questions, passing marks or examination dates.

Applicants should therefore wait for the detailed official instructions rather than relying on examination details circulating on social media.

Applicants must demonstrate that they can support themselves financially

Another important part of the newly approved regulations concerns financial independence.

Under the revised citizenship framework, applicants must demonstrate that they have the financial capacity to support themselves.

The Government confirmed on 29 October that the new decree-law establishes how this requirement will be applied.

For immigrants, this means that simply meeting the required residence period may not be enough. Applicants will also need to demonstrate that they can financially maintain themselves.

This requirement is particularly important for people who are preparing their citizenship applications and want to understand which financial documents they may need.

However, the Government’s public announcement does not specify a fixed monthly salary, minimum bank balance or exact amount of savings that applicants must demonstrate.

It would therefore be misleading to suggest that a particular income figure has already been officially confirmed by the 29 October announcement.

A declaration supporting Portugal’s democratic principles will be required

The new regulations also explain how citizenship applicants must formally declare their support for Portugal’s democratic principles.

This requirement relates to the country’s constitutional system, fundamental rights and democratic institutions.

In practical terms, applicants will have to make a formal declaration confirming their commitment to the basic principles of Portugal’s democratic rule of law.

The requirement is intended to reinforce the importance of understanding and respecting the country’s democratic system when becoming a Portuguese citizen.

The Government has confirmed that the approved decree-law establishes the terms of this declaration.

However, the public announcement does not provide the complete declaration form or detailed instructions about how and where applicants must submit it.

Portugal introduces biometric checks in citizenship applications

Another significant development concerns the collection of biometric information.

The Government confirmed that the new regulations establish procedures for collecting biometric data from nationality applicants.

Biometric information is personal information used to confirm someone’s identity. It can include identifying features such as facial images and fingerprints.

The revised Nationality Law already provides for the collection of facial images, fingerprints and height measurements.

The 29 October decision addresses how the biometric collection process will be carried out.

For applicants, this means that identity verification will become an important part of the nationality application process.

The purpose is to help authorities confirm applicants’ identities and improve the reliability of nationality records.

The exact practical arrangements, including where applicants will provide their information and how appointments will work, should be confirmed through the published regulations and official instructions.

Government promises faster citizenship applications through digitalisation

Alongside the additional requirements, Portugal’s Government has announced measures intended to make citizenship applications easier to manage.

According to the Council of Ministers’ announcement, the new regulations promote greater digitalisation and better communication between public services.

This is particularly important because citizenship applicants have frequently faced administrative difficulties involving documents, government departments and lengthy processing periods.

The new approach aims to reduce unnecessary paperwork and improve the exchange of information between public authorities.

The Government specifically highlighted three improvements:

• More digital procedures: Greater use of electronic systems to manage nationality applications.
• Better communication between public services: Government departments will be able to exchange relevant information more efficiently.
• Easier access to documents: The process of obtaining the documents needed for applications should become simpler.

The Government says these changes are intended to reduce bureaucracy and accelerate decisions on nationality applications.

For immigrants, this could mean fewer administrative difficulties when submitting documents and following the progress of their cases.

However, no guaranteed processing time or specific reduction in the current application backlog has been announced.

What about the seven-year and 10-year citizenship requirements?

The Government’s announcement on 29 October also reiterated the residence periods under the revised Nationality Law.

These requirements are important for immigrants who are planning to apply for Portuguese citizenship through naturalisation.

The current framework establishes:

• Seven years of legal residence for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries and European Union member states.
• 10 years of legal residence for nationals of other countries.

For example, an eligible Brazilian national falls under the seven-year category, while an eligible Indian, British or American national falls under the 10-year category.

These residence periods were established by Organic Law No. 1/2026, which entered into force on 19 May 2026. They were not introduced for the first time on 29 October.

The latest Government decision concerns the regulations needed to put the wider citizenship requirements into practice.

What should immigrants do now?

For people planning to apply for Portuguese citizenship, the latest announcement is a reason to prepare carefully.

Although the Government has approved the implementing regulations, applicants should not assume that every practical detail is already available.

For now, immigrants should:

• Keep their residence permits and other immigration documents organised.
• Maintain records of their legal residence in Portugal.
• Continue improving their Portuguese language skills.
• Learn about Portuguese history, culture and national institutions.
• Keep relevant employment and financial documents.
• Follow official announcements about biometric appointments and citizenship assessments.

Applicants should also check whether their applications fall under the previous or revised legal framework, particularly if they submitted their paperwork before 19 May 2026.

The Government has previously confirmed that nationality applications already pending when the revised law entered into force remain subject to the previous version of the law.

When will the new citizenship regulations take effect?

Although the Council of Ministers approved the decree-law on 29 October 2026, approval and formal entry into force are two different steps.

The implementing legislation must be formally published in the Diário da República, Portugal’s official government gazette, and its commencement provisions must be checked to establish when the new procedures become legally applicable.

As of 31 October, the Government’s announcement confirms the approval, but the precise commencement arrangements should not be assumed.

Immigrants should follow updates from the Ministry of Justice and the Institute of Registries and Notaries (IRN) for official instructions.

What this means for Portugal’s immigrant community

Portugal’s latest citizenship decision brings an important change for foreign residents who hope to become Portuguese citizens.

The Government is moving towards a system that places greater emphasis on applicants’ knowledge of Portugal, financial independence, identity verification and understanding of democratic principles.

At the same time, it says it wants to make the application process less complicated through digital services and better communication between public authorities.

For immigrants, the key message is clear: preparing for Portuguese citizenship will involve more than simply meeting the residence requirement. Applicants should also prepare to demonstrate their knowledge of Portugal and meet the additional conditions set out in the new regulations.

The next important development will be the formal publication and implementation of the approved decree-law, which will provide applicants with the detailed instructions they need to prepare their citizenship applications.