Portugal has changed the minimum residence period for foreign nationals seeking Portuguese citizenship through naturalisation. Under Organic Law No. 1/2026, which took effect on 19 May 2026, eligible citizens of European Union countries and countries where Portuguese is an official language generally need seven years of legal residence, while nationals of other countries must complete … Read more
Portugal’s nationality rules changed significantly in May 2026, changing who qualifies for citizenship and how long many foreign residents must live legally in the country before applying. Under the new law, ordinary naturalization generally requires 7 years of legal residence for EU and Portuguese-speaking-country nationals and 10 years for other nationals. But residence is only … Read more
Portugal’s new Nationality Law came into force on 19 May 2026, bringing important changes for immigrants and people applying for Portuguese citizenship. The reform made some routes to nationality harder, removed others, and created new possibilities for some applicants. The changes were introduced through Organic Law No. 1/2026, of 18 May, published in Portugal’s Diário … Read more