Portugal's New Nationality Law 2026: Your Questions Answered
Atualizado: 31 de out.
By Dra. Sandra Gomes Pinto, Founding Partner, SGP – Sandra Gomes Pinto & Associados, Lisbon · Published 1 July 2026
In short: Portugal’s new nationality law entered into force in May 2026. Most non-EU nationals now need ten years of legal residence to apply for Portuguese citizenship by naturalisation (previously five), while citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries such as Brazil need seven. Applications submitted before 18 May 2026 are protected, and the ancestry and marriage routes are unchanged. The answers below come from a live webinar hosted by PALCUS, in which Lisbon lawyer Dra. Sandra Gomes Pinto answered audience questions.
Portugal’s 2026 nationality law at a glance
Topic | Rule under the 2026 law |
New nationality law in force | May 2026 |
Residence needed (most non-EU nationals) | 10 years (previously 5) |
Residence needed (Portuguese-speaking countries, e.g. Brazil) | 7 years |
Applications submitted before 18 May 2026 | Old rules still apply |
Residency clock starts | Date the residence card is issued |
Language requirement | A2 Portuguese (Brazilian citizens exempt) |
Spouses married to a Portuguese citizen for more than 6 years | A2 requirement waived |
Citizenship through ancestry or marriage | Unchanged |
Typical processing time | Around 3 years or more |
Permanent residency | After 5 years of legal residence |
What changed in Portugal’s nationality law in 2026
What changed with Portugal’s citizenship law in 2026?
The biggest change affects citizenship by naturalisation, that is, through legal residence in Portugal: non-EU nationals now need ten years of legal residence instead of five. Citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries, such as Brazil, need seven years. Applicants must also now demonstrate integration into the Portuguese community and knowledge of the country’s history, culture and legal principles.
Do the 2026 changes affect citizenship through ancestry or marriage, or people already living in Portugal?
No. Citizenship through ancestry (parents or grandparents) or through marriage is unaffected by the new law. The existing expat community in Portugal also faces no change: residents keep full rights to use the national health service, attend public schools, renew visas and travel within the Schengen Area exactly as before.
Are citizenship applications submitted before the new law protected?
Yes, fully. The law expressly protects anyone who submitted an application before 18 May 2026, or who had already passed the five-year residence threshold before that date. Their rights are secure and the new rules do not apply to them.
Residence, language and timelines
When does the residency clock start for Portuguese citizenship under the 2026 law?
The clock starts on the date the physical residence permit card is issued, not the date you submitted your application. An earlier 2024 amendment had linked the start date to the submission of the application, but the new law clarifies that card issuance is what counts.
What is the A2 Portuguese requirement, and will there be a culture and history exam?
A2 is a basic conversational level of Portuguese: simple conversation, basic reading and elementary writing. It is similar to a first English certificate. The new law also provides for a culture and history component, but Portugal has not yet published how it will work in practice. SGP will update clients as soon as the authorities clarify the details.
Does the language requirement apply to spouses of Portuguese citizens?
Not if you have been married to a Portuguese citizen for more than six years: the A2 requirement is waived and you do not need to demonstrate a strong connection to the Portuguese community. Spouses of Portuguese citizens are not affected by the new naturalisation rules at all.
How are AIMA delays affecting citizenship timelines?
Because the citizenship clock only starts when the residence card is issued, any delay at AIMA, Portugal’s immigration agency, pushes the whole citizenship timeline back. Renewals, however, have improved significantly and are now processed much more quickly than before.
How long are Portuguese citizenship applications taking in 2026?
In SGP’s experience, most citizenship applications are taking around three years or more. Ancestry applications tend to be slightly faster than spousal applications. SGP tracks all client processes on the official platform 365 days a year and intervenes immediately if an additional requirement or communication appears.
Choosing the right route to Portugal
I have dual American and Brazilian citizenship. Which route to Portuguese citizenship is better?
The Brazilian route is clearly easier: as a Brazilian citizen you need seven years of legal residence instead of ten, and you are exempt from the A2 Portuguese language requirement.
What is the difference between permanent residency and citizenship in Portugal?
After five years of legal residence you can apply for permanent residency, the right to live in Portugal indefinitely subject to minimum stay requirements; citizenship goes one step further. Residents can also obtain EU long-term resident status, which simplifies the right to study, work or retire in any EU country. Citizenship adds the right to vote in certain situations and the unrestricted freedom to live in any EU member state. SGP generally advises clients to apply for permanent residency while their citizenship application is pending.
What is Portugal’s Golden Visa, and how much does it cost?
Portugal’s Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment route that does not require you to live in Portugal: only 14 days every two years are mandatory. Real estate is no longer an eligible investment. Current options include investment funds (with at least 60% invested in Portuguese companies), job creation, or cultural and environmental donations from €250,000. One Golden Visa investment can cover the whole family, including children, parents and in-laws, giving you a legal foothold in Europe without needing to relocate immediately.
Should I get a visa first or apply for Portuguese citizenship directly?
Get the visa first. With a D7 (passive income and retirement) visa or a D8 (digital nomad) visa, you can be living in Portugal within six to seven months if your documents are in order. Citizenship takes at least three years for the application process alone, and that comes on top of the required years of residence. Residency lets you start your life in Portugal immediately; citizenship follows over time. For the current visa rules, read Moving to Portugal in 2026: Visa, Residency and Citizenship Questions Answered.
What does Dra. Sandra Gomes Pinto advise people considering Portuguese residency or citizenship?
Act sooner rather than later: both citizenship law and visa requirements are trending toward greater complexity. This applies even if your goal is simply to secure a safe harbour for your family or to pass citizenship on to your children. The D7 visa remains one of the best routes into European residency. And clients consistently tell SGP that within weeks of arriving they feel healthier, safer and happier: Portugal offers a quality of life that is very hard to put a price on.
About the author
Dra. Sandra Gomes Pinto is the Founding Partner of SGP – Sandra Gomes Pinto & Associados, a Lisbon law firm advising international clients on Portuguese immigration and citizenship, property transactions, tax, and wills and estate planning. SGP was a pioneer in helping Americans move to Portugal and has assisted more than 500 Americans and other international clients with their relocation.
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📩 Have a question about your specific situation? Contact SGP at sgp@sandragomespinto.com or visit sandragomespinto.com. We offer a free initial consultation for the first applicants who reach out.
This article summarises general information shared in a webinar and reflects Portuguese law and practice as of July 2026. It is not legal advice for your specific situation.
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