Portugal's new nationality law: what changed on 19 May 2026

Portugal changed the rules for becoming a citizen. The amended nationality law was published on 18 May 2026 and entered into force the following day, 19 May 2026. If you were counting on the old five-year rule, the arithmetic of your plan has changed.

How long you now have to live here

Legal residence required before applying for naturalisation is now seven years for citizens of European Union and CPLP countries — Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, East Timor and Equatorial Guinea — and ten years for everyone else. Before the reform it was five years for all applicants.

The detail that catches people out

The clock runs from the moment you actually hold a residence permit, not from the day you filed an application with AIMA. Given how long AIMA has taken to process applications, the gap between those two dates can be years. Two people who arrived in Portugal on the same day can now reach eligibility at very different times, depending on when their permit was actually issued.

Language and civics

Applicants must show Portuguese at A2 level and knowledge of Portuguese culture, civic rights and political organisation, together with a declaration of adherence to democratic principles.

If you already applied

Applications submitted before 19 May 2026 should, in principle, continue to be assessed under the previous framework. That protection is the reason the exact date of your submission matters, and why it is worth keeping proof of it.

One honest caveat

At the time of writing, some implementing regulations had not yet been published, so several practical points were still awaiting clarification. Treat this article as an orientation, not as advice on your own case.

Where to check: AIMA for residence and nationality procedures, and a licensed Portuguese lawyer for anything that turns on your specific dates and documents. Rules in this area move; confirm before you act.

Written 10 September 2026.