Portuguese Citizenship by Residence: The 7 and 10 Year Rules
Portugal's 2026 nationality reform doubled the wait for most foreigners. Here is what the new law says, how residence time adds up and what happens to applications already filed.
Since 19 May 2026, adults can apply for Portuguese citizenship by naturalisation after 7 years of legal residence if they are nationals of a Portuguese-speaking country or an EU member state, and after 10 years otherwise. Organic Law (Lei Orgânica) 1/2026 also requires proof of Portuguese language and culture, civic knowledge and self-sufficiency.
Before the reform the period was five years for everyone. Applications already pending on 19 May 2026 are decided under the old rules. Everything below is as of November 2026 and is general information; for your own case, speak to a lawyer (advogado) or the registry service.
How many years of residence do I need now?
The answer depends on your nationality, according to article 6 of the Nationality Law as amended by Organic Law 1/2026:
| Applicant (as of November 2026) | Legal residence required |
|---|---|
| Nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries (CPLP), such as Brazil, Angola or Cabo Verde | 7 years |
| EU citizens | 7 years |
| Nationals of all other countries, including the UK and US | 10 years |
| Stateless people | 4 years |
| Great-grandchildren of Portuguese citizens by origin | 5 years of legal residence |
Children born in Portugal to foreign parents can be naturalised if one parent has lived here legally for at least five years and the child attends compulsory schooling where it applies. The law was published in the Diário da República on 18 May 2026 and took effect the next day; you can read the official text of Organic Law 1/2026.
How is residence time counted?
Only legal residence counts, meaning time when your stay was regularised under a visa, residence permit or other title recognised by Portuguese immigration law. Breaks are allowed: the law adds up all periods of legal residence, continuous or not, as long as they fall within a maximum window of 9 years for CPLP and EU nationals, 12 years for nationals of other countries, or 6 years for stateless people.
The 2026 law also revoked paragraph 4 of article 15, one of the earlier rules on counting residence time. How the registry and AIMA apply the new counting in practice depends on the updated Nationality Regulation, which the government had 90 days from publication to adopt. Check whether it has been published before you plan around a specific date. AIMA issues certificates of residence time for nationality purposes, which is the official record of your years here.
What are the language and civic requirements?
Applicants must prove, by test or certificate, sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language and culture, history and national symbols, and must know the fundamental rights and duties of citizens and how the Portuguese state is organised. Nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries are presumed to meet the language part, unless their lack of Portuguese is obvious.
Applicants also make a solemn declaration of adherence to the principles of a democratic state under the rule of law. Under the previous rules the CIPLE A2 exam was one of the accepted language certificates; see our guide to the CIPLE Portuguese language test. The format of the culture and civics test depends on the regulation.
What disqualifies an applicant?
You cannot be naturalised if you were finally sentenced to more than 3 years of effective prison for terrorism, violent or highly organised crime, crimes against state security or assisting illegal immigration. Other bars are being a threat to national security or defence, or being subject to UN or EU restrictive measures.
Criminal record certificates from Portugal and from your country of nationality, and from countries where you lived, are part of the file. The law also requires that you can support yourself.
Where do I apply and what about pending cases?
Nationality applications are handled by the registry service, IRN (Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado), not by AIMA. Applicants can file in person at registry desks that handle nationality or through a lawyer or solicitor. IRN sets the fees and documents, so check its current list before you file.
If you filed before 19 May 2026, your application follows the old five-year law, under the transitional rule in article 7 of Organic Law 1/2026. The Ministry of Justice announcement on the new rules confirms this. A first version of the reform was partly struck down by the Constitutional Court in Ruling 1133/2025; parliament approved the revised text on 1 April 2026.
Bottom line
For most non-EU, non-CPLP residents, the clock is now 10 years of legal residence, and gaps in your papers can cost you more than before. Keep every residence card, renewal receipt and certificate, renew on time through the AIMA Renewals Portal, and watch for the regulation that will settle how the years are counted.
FAQ
Does marriage to a Portuguese citizen change the waiting time?
Acquisition by marriage or civil partnership is a separate route with its own conditions, not the residence-based naturalisation described here. Check the rules for that route with IRN or a lawyer.
Do years on a D7 or digital nomad visa count?
The law counts time spent in Portugal under visas and residence permits recognised by immigration law. Ask IRN or a lawyer how the months between your arrival on a visa and your first residence card will be counted in your case.
Is there an investment route to citizenship?
No. The investment residence permit (golden visa) can lead to naturalisation only through the same residence requirements as everyone else.
Can I keep my other nationality?
Portuguese law allows dual nationality. The law of your other country decides if you can keep that nationality too.
