Portugal’s parliament has passed sweeping new legislation that significantly tightens the criteria for acquiring Portuguese citizenship, making the process longer and more demanding for most applicants.
Key Changes:
- Residency Requirement: The minimum legal residency period for naturalization has been extended from five to 10 years for the majority of non-EU applicants, including citizens of India and Pakistan. Citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries and the EU will now be eligible after seven years.
- Birthright Eligibility: Children born in Portugal to foreign parents will now only be eligible for nationality if at least one parent has legally resided in the country for a minimum of five years (up from one year).
- New Barriers: Applicants must now prove financial self-sufficiency and a comprehensive knowledge of the Portuguese language, culture, political system, and democratic values. They must also sign a solemn declaration adhering to the principles of the Republic.
- Sephardic Route Terminated: The special judicial system introduced in 2013 for descendants of Portuguese Sephardic Jews has been terminated.
