News & Articles
🇵🇹 Portugal Tightens Citizenship - but Residency Stays the Same
In late June 2025, Portugal’s government approved a major overhaul to its nationality laws – but with a narrower scope than many assume. Here’s a breakdown:
What the new citizenship law changes:
Longer residency period before applying
From 5 to 10 years for most non‑EU adult nationals.
7 years for nationals of Portuguese‑speaking countries (e.g., Brazil, Angola, Mozambique).
New civic integration requirements
New civic integration requirements
Pass basic Portuguese language (A2), plus a culture/history/civics exam, sign a formal declaration of democratic values.
Birth nationality tightened
Children born in Portugal to foreign parents must now have at least one parent legally resident for 3 years formally apply for the child’s citizenship.
Sephardic access revoked
The separate citizenship route for descendants of Sephardic Jews is discontinued.
Citizenship revocation
Naturalised citizens who commit serious crimes (e.g., effective prison sentence >5 years) may have citizenship revoked within 10 years of acquisition.
âť—Why This Does Not Affect Residency Permits
Important: These changes do not alter residency permit rules. Here’s why:
Residency pathways (work, D7, investor visas, family reunification) remain unchanged by this citizenship law. That means your existing ability to apply for and renew residency permits is unaffected by the citizenship reforms.
Residency backlogs eased: Since 2024, the citizenship “clock” counts from your actual residence permit issue date, not the initial visa application. Time spent waiting (e.g. pending AIMA backlog) counts toward the 5‑ or soon‑to‑be 10‑year requirement.
Family reunification rules continue under the separate Immigration Law—not this nationality reform. The new nationality bill does not affect your ability to sponsor family stays or renew current residency.
No change to visa eligibility or extensions: D‑visas such as the D7 (passive income), work permits, or Golden Visa-type programs (now via investment funds, not real estate) carry on as before .
⚖️ Putting It in Perspective
| Aspect | Before Citizenship Reform | After Reform |
|---|---|---|
| Residency permits | Apply, renew as usual | Unchanged—law affects nationality only |
| Citizenship eligibility | 5 years + A2 Portuguese | 10 years (7 for CPLP) + A2 + civics exam & values oath |
| Birthright citizenship | Child born in Portugal automatically | Parent must have 3 years’ residency + application |
| Backlogged time counting | From residence permit issuance | Still counts toward citizenship requirements |
In essence, this is a citizenship tightening, not a residency crackdown. Whether you hold a Golden Visa, D7 permit, job permit, or are in the family reunification stream, your right to live, work, and renew your permit remains intact.
🧠What You Should Know
If you’re AMONG the 400,000+ current residency applicants, nothing changes—your wait time still accumulates.
If you’re planning to transition to citizenship, act swiftly—applications received before June 19, 2025 may be processed under the current 5-year timeline.
Continue meeting residency renewals and integration rules—citizenship is still a future option, albeit on a longer timeline.
🧡 Final Takeaway
Portugal’s mid-2025 law reforms significantly raise the bar for citizenship, doubling the residency requirement and introducing exams and declarations. But residency pathways remain untouched – your visa rights and permit renewals are safe. As long as you’re legally resident, contributing, and compliant, nothing in this law impacts your stay in Portugal.
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