Seven or ten years instead of five, a new civic test, and a clock that starts on your first permit. A plain‑language guide to the new rules and the transitional regime.
A new Nationality Law has been in force in Portugal since 19 May 2026. For foreign residents who planned citizenship around a five-year clock, the change is material. This guide sets out what changed, who is protected by the transitional regime, and what to do next.
What changed
The qualifying residence period for naturalisation is no longer five years for everyone.
- EU and CPLP nationals: 7 years of legal residence
- All other nationalities: 10 years of legal residence
Under the 2026 law, that period is counted from the issuance of your first residence permit, not from the date you applied for it. Administrative delays therefore matter more than before.
New integration requirements were also introduced, including a civic knowledge assessment, on top of the existing A2 Portuguese language standard for most naturalisation applicants.
Applications filed before 19 May 2026 continue to be assessed under the previous rules, including the five-year residence requirement.
Who is protected by the transitional regime
If you submitted a nationality application before the new law entered into force, the previous framework still applies to that file. Pending cases should not be reassessed under the longer residence periods.
If you had not yet applied by 19 May 2026, the new residence periods and integration requirements apply.
What this means in practice
- Golden Visa, D7 and work permit holders still build residence towards citizenship, but the planning horizon is longer unless you are covered by the transitional regime.
- Children and family routes remain available. Sequence matters: the family should be assessed as a whole.
- Dual citizenship remains permitted by Portugal, provided your home country also allows it.
What to do next
- Confirm whether any application was filed before 19 May 2026.
- Map your residence history from the date your first permit was issued.
- Check language and civic requirements early, so they do not become the bottleneck.
- Align visa renewals, tax residence and family filings with the new timeline.
Reis & Pellicano assesses eligibility under the 2026 law, monitors transitional files, and handles the full process through to the Portuguese passport. If you want a case-specific reading of how the reform affects you, request an assessment.