On June 23, 2025, the Portuguese government presented a draft law introducing the most substantial changes to the country’s nationality and immigration framework in decades.
These proposed reforms aim to reinforce integration standards, extend residency requirements for naturalisation, and strengthen public security measures. While described as a shift toward a “regulated and humanist” immigration model, the changes represent a significant policy pivot, aligning Portugal more closely with other European Union countries in terms of citizenship timelines and eligibility criteria.
The proposals have not yet entered into force and remain subject to parliamentary debate and potential amendments. However, they mark a decisive move toward stricter naturalisation processes and tighter residence permit regulations, directly affecting foreign nationals residing in Portugal or planning to relocate.
Why Is Portugal Proposing Changes to Its Immigration and Nationality Laws?
The Portuguese government has cited multiple factors behind these proposed reforms.
Demographic and political pressures have played a central role. In recent years, Portugal has seen a rapid increase in its foreign resident population, surpassing 1.5 million individuals in 2024 — a record in the country’s modern history. This growth, while beneficial for economic dynamism, has also raised concerns about integration capacity and administrative backlogs, particularly in urban centres.
Additionally, the reforms reflect a broader effort toward alignment with European Union standards. Many EU countries require longer residency periods and stricter integration criteria before granting Portuguese citizenship.
By extending the deadline for naturalisation and tightening security checks, Portugal aims to reinforce its position within this European framework and ensure that applicants demonstrate genuine ties to the country.
Finally, the government frames these changes as an attempt to balance “regulated and humanist” values. The stated goal is to maintain Portugal’s openness to newcomers while safeguarding social cohesion and public security.
The combination of higher integration demands and enhanced screening measures reflects this dual objective: preserving Portugal’s tradition of hospitality but under clearer and more demanding conditions.
⚠️ Changes Are Not Yet in Force
It is important to emphasise that the draft law presented on June 23, 2025, has not yet been enacted.
Before these measures become binding, the proposal must undergo several additional steps, including:
- Debates and review in Parliament
- Potential amendments during committee discussions
- Approval by a parliamentary majority
- The President of the Republic will promulgate the amendments.
- Development and publication of implementing regulations
The legislative timeline is expected to be gradual, providing foreign residents and prospective applicants time to adapt.
Proposed Citizenship Law Changes: Essential Points for Applicants
The draft law presented on June 23, 2025, introduces substantial updates to Portugal’s nationality framework. If approved, these changes will directly impact applicants pursuing naturalisation, including holders of residence permits under programs such as the Portuguese Golden Visa, the D7 Visa, and other long-term residency options.
Key Proposed Changes to Citizenship
- Longer residency requirement:
- Increase from five to ten years of legal residence for most applicants.
- For nationals of CPLP countries such as Brazil and Angola, the residency requirement has been reduced to seven years.
- Counting from the first residence permit:
- The residency period starts strictly from the date of issuance of the first valid residence permit, not from any earlier stays.
- Additional integration requirements:
- Maintain A2-level Portuguese language proficiency.
- The new civic knowledge test encompasses Portuguese history, culture, and constitutional principles.
- The test also requires applicants to affirm their commitment to democratic values.
- Stricter criminal record standards:
- Applicants with any criminal conviction that is punishable by imprisonment will be excluded, regardless of whether the sentence was suspended or served.
These proposed adjustments emphasise stronger integration and reinforce Portugal’s alignment with broader European naturalisation standards.
Residency Changes: Rules for Staying in Portugal
Alongside nationality reforms the recent changes propose significant updates to residency rules, affecting both new applicants and current residents under various visa categories and other long-term permits.
Key proposed changes include:
- Family reunification restrictions:
- Sponsors must hold at least two years of legal residence before applying to bring family members.
- Adult family members will be required to apply from their country of origin through Portuguese consulates, rather than entering Portugal first.
- Stricter criteria for financial means and housing adequacy, ensuring sponsors can support dependants without public assistance.
- CPLP residence permits:
- Citizens from the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) must now obtain an entry visa before travelling to Portugal.
- The previous system allowing in-country regularisation without a visa will be discontinued.
- All applications will be subject to enhanced security and background checks.
- Job-seeker visa adjustments:
- Future access limited to highly qualified professionals only.
- Applicants must prove specialised skills are aligned with national labour market needs.
These proposed measures reflect a shift toward greater control over migration flows and closer alignment with EU standards.
While Portugal remains open to attracting new residents, the government emphasises the importance of ensuring genuine integration and economic contribution.
End of the Sephardic Jewish Citizenship Program
The draft law presented on June 23, 2025, proposes to terminate the special nationality route for descendants of Sephardic Jews.
Originally introduced in 2015, this pathway aimed to address historical injustices related to the 15th-century expulsions.
Key points:
- Program purpose: to recognise and repair historical injustices toward Sephardic Jewish communities.
- Reason for closure: The government states the program has fulfilled its reparative objective, raising concerns about document verification and misuse.
- Future applications: No new applications will be accepted once the law is enacted.
- Pending cases: Applications submitted before the new law takes effect will continue to be processed, subject to stricter documentation checks.
New Path for Portuguese Descendants (Great-Grandchildren)
Another notable change in the June 23, 2025, draft law is the proposal to expand citizenship eligibility by descent to include great-grandchildren of Portuguese nationals born abroad.
This measure recognises Portugal’s global diaspora and aims to strengthen ties with families who, despite being several generations removed, maintain cultural or personal connections to the country.
Under the proposed law, individuals who meet the following criteria may qualify:
- The individual must be the great-grandchild of a Portuguese citizen.
- The individual must demonstrate an effective connection to the national community, which may include factors such as knowledge of the Portuguese language, regular visits to Portugal, property ownership, or active involvement in Portuguese cultural associations abroad.
Summary of Proposed Eligibility
Opportunities for Global Diaspora
This change is expected to benefit Portuguese communities in countries with large emigrant populations, such as Brazil, Venezuela, the United States, South Africa, and France.
It offers an additional pathway for descendants who wish to formalise their connection with Portugal and potentially obtain citizenship.
If enacted, this provision would strengthen the legal framework supporting Portugal’s commitment to preserving ties with its extended global community.
New Enforcement and Administrative Bodies
The draft law also introduces structural changes to immigration enforcement and administration, aiming to improve oversight and operational efficiency.
Creation of UNEF (Unit for Foreigners and Borders)
- A new National Unit for Foreigners and Borders (UNEF) will be established under the Public Security Police (PSP).
- UNEF will handle border control at airports and other entry points, conduct inland inspections, and execute deportation or removal orders for individuals without legal status.
- This marks a further separation of enforcement duties from purely administrative processing, reinforcing Portugal’s focus on public security.
AIMA’s evolving role
- The Agency for Migration and Asylum (AIMA) will continue managing administrative tasks, including residence permit applications, renewals, and general immigration services.
- AIMA will not have policing powers but will focus on processing and integration support, improving service delivery through new digital systems and procedural updates.
What residents can expect on the ground
- Increased PSP presence at airports and during routine inspections in urban areas.
- Clearer division between administrative support (AIMA) and enforcement actions (UNEF), which may result in more efficient processing and stricter compliance checks.
- Continued emphasis on digitalisation to reduce in-person bottlenecks and improve transparency.
These structural updates are intended to provide stronger enforcement capacity while maintaining streamlined administrative procedures for compliant residents.
Transition Period and Permit Extensions
To address administrative backlogs and ensure a smoother transition, the government has approved a temporary extension for residence permits as part of the proposed reforms.
- Automatic extension:
All residence permits expiring between February 2020 and June 30, 2025, will be considered valid until October 15, 2025. This measure allows residents to maintain their legal status during the implementation of the new framework. - Renewal process:
Starting July 1, 2025, affected residents can begin renewing their permits. A new digital platform is expected to facilitate appointment scheduling, application submissions, and temporary proof of legal status. - Practical considerations:
- Prepare all necessary supporting documents (proof of income, housing, updated identification).
- Monitor AIMA’s official communication channels for appointment availability and specific procedural requirements.
- Avoid travel complications by ensuring your legal status is clearly documented, especially if travelling outside Portugal before completing renewal.
While this is designed as a temporary measure, residents are strongly encouraged to act promptly once renewal systems reopen to avoid delays and potential gaps in status.
Impact on Golden Visa Holders
The June 23, 2025, draft law does not introduce direct changes to the Portugal Golden Visa program (ARI — Autorizações de Residência para Atividade de Investimento).
Key points for investors:
- No immediate changes:
The proposed reforms do not modify the investment criteria, minimum stay requirements, or permitted investment types under the Golden Visa scheme. - Longer path to citizenship:
Although the Golden Visa program remains operational, investors seeking Portuguese citizenship through this route will be subject to the extended residency requirement of 10 years, as with other naturalisation applicants. Previously, investors could pursue citizenship eligibility after five years. - Possible future adjustments:
The government has indicated it may introduce further incentives or refinements to maintain Portugal’s attractiveness to international investors. Although the government has not announced specific measures, it has discussed potential tax benefits or streamlined processes for certain strategic investments.
Overall, the Golden Visa continues to provide a valid residency route for investors; however, individuals considering naturalisation should account for the longer timeline when planning.
Extended Residency Requirements for Citizenship
Overview of New Citizenship Pathways (2025 Changes)
The portugal immigration and nationality reform fundamentally restructures citizenship acquisition timelines, representing the most significant change to nationality law in decades.
The standard naturalization track now requires ten years of legal residency, doubling the previous five-year requirement.
Standard Track: 10-Year Residency Requirement (Increased from 5 Years)
Foreign nationals seeking portuguese citizenship through standard naturalization must now maintain continuous legal residence for ten years, counted from their first residence permit issuance.
This timeline applies to all applicants except those from portuguese language countries, who benefit from preferential treatment reflecting historical and cultural ties.
The ten-year requirement ensures deeper integration into the national community while aligning Portugal with broader European trends prioritizing long-term commitment to citizenship acquisition.
CPLP Track: 7-Year Residency for Portuguese-Speaking Country Nationals
Citizens from the Community of Portuguese Language Countries benefit from a reduced seven-year residency requirement, acknowledging shared linguistic and cultural heritage. This preferential pathway applies to nationals from Brazil, Angola, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste.
Despite the reduced timeline, CPLP nationals must meet the same integration, language, and documentation standards as other applicants, ensuring consistent quality in citizenship acquisition.
Key Documentation Requirements
The reformed citizenship law establishes comprehensive documentation standards:
- Proof of Legal Residence requires continuous, uninterrupted status documentation covering the entire residency period. Applicants must provide evidence of legal residence from their first residence permit through the application date, with no gaps or lapses in status.
- Language Proficiency Certificate mandates A2-level portuguese language competency through certified testing centers. This standardized requirement ensures all naturalized citizens possess fundamental communication abilities in Portuguese.
- Integration Test Results assess understanding of democratic values, constitutional principles, and Portuguese cultural knowledge. These examinations verify applicants’ commitment to democratic institutions and cultural integration.
- Clean Criminal Record documentation must cover both Portuguese territory and applicants’ countries of origin, including any offense punishable by imprisonment. This zero-tolerance approach significantly tightens security standards.
- Financial Self-Sufficiency Evidence requires proof of stable income, employment, or savings adequate for self-support without dependence on social assistance programs.
Portugal-Born Children Requirements
Children born in Portugal to foreign parents face specific requirements reflecting the reform’s emphasis on genuine integration:
Parents must maintain three years of legal residence before applying for their child’s portuguese citizenship, ensuring family stability and commitment. The formal application process becomes mandatory despite birth location, eliminating automatic citizenship acquisition.
Child integration into the Portuguese educational system requires documentation of school attendance and academic participation. Parents must demonstrate their legal resident status through comprehensive documentation, while birth registration and certification procedures ensure proper legal documentation.
Citizenship Revocation for Serious Crimes
Overview of Revocation Provisions (New to Portuguese Law)
The 2025 immigration and nationality reform introduces citizenship revocation as an accessory penalty for naturalised citizens convicted of serious crimes.
This represents a fundamental shift in Portuguese nationality law, previously offering permanent, irrevocable citizenship regardless of post-naturalization conduct.
Qualifying Offenses and Conviction Threshold
Revocation applies to convictions for terrorism, homicide, rape, or crimes against state security carrying minimum five-year prison sentences. These serious crimes reflect threats to fundamental democratic values and public safety that justify the extreme measure of citizenship loss.
The five-year minimum sentence threshold ensures revocation applies only to the most serious offenses, maintaining proportionality between crime severity and citizenship consequences.
Procedural Safeguards and Implementation
- Judicial Oversight Requirement mandates court determination for all revocation proceedings, preventing administrative citizenship removal. Courts must formally order revocation as an accessory punishment following criminal conviction.
- 10-Year Vulnerability Window limits revocation eligibility to the first decade after naturalization, recognizing that long-term citizens develop stronger ties warranting enhanced protection.
- Constitutional Court Options provide appeal mechanisms for contested revocations, ensuring fundamental rights protection and due process compliance.
- Statelessness Prevention Measures respect international law obligations, preventing revocation that would render individuals stateless.
Natural-Born Citizen Exemption
Revocation applies exclusively to naturalised citizens, maintaining constitutional protections for birthright citizens. This legal distinction reflects different acquisition methods and acknowledges that natural-born citizens possess inherent, irrevocable nationality rights.
The exemption ensures compliance with international standards while targeting the revocation mechanism toward those who voluntarily acquired portuguese nationality through naturalization processes.
Why You Need Legal Guidance Through the Reform
The complexity of Portugal’s immigration and nationality reform demands expert legal navigation for successful compliance with new requirements.
Complexity of Managing New Multi-Jurisdictional Requirements
The reformed legal framework spans multiple jurisdictions, administrative bodies, and documentation standards requiring coordinated compliance strategies. Investment regulations, visa requirements, and citizenship procedures now involve AIMA, UNEF, consulates, and courts in complex procedural sequences.
Managing parallel processes across these entities while ensuring documentation consistency and timeline compliance exceeds most individuals’ capabilities without professional legal support.
Ensuring Application Completeness and Avoiding Rejection
Incomplete or improperly documented applications face outright rejection under the new regulations, with limited appeal options for procedural failures. Document checklists spanning multiple languages, authentication requirements, and certification standards require meticulous attention to detail.
Legal professionals ensure comprehensive documentation preparation, reducing rejection risks and maximizing approval prospects through proper procedure compliance.
Coordinating with AIMA, Consulates, and Government Agencies
The new administrative structure requires coordination between AIMA for residence permits, consulates for certain applications, UNEF for enforcement matters, and courts for appeals. Each agency maintains distinct procedures, timelines, and documentation requirements.
Expert legal guidance ensures proper agency coordination while avoiding procedural conflicts that could jeopardize application success.
Protecting Your Residence Status During Transition
Legal due diligence and compliance verification ensure residence status protection during the complex transition period. The October 15, 2025 deadline creates urgency for status maintenance, while retroactive application of certain provisions complicates legal analysis.
Professional legal representation safeguards against inadvertent status loss while maximizing opportunities under transitional provisions.
Speeding Up Processing Time Through Expert Knowledge
Insider knowledge of local timelines, procedures, and administrative preferences enables expedited processing for urgent cases. Legal professionals maintain relationships with relevant agencies and understand unofficial practices that affect processing speed.
This expertise proves particularly valuable for family applications, business-critical renewals, and time-sensitive citizenship acquisitions.
Long-Term Planning: Permanent Residency, Tax Planning, and Citizenship Pathways
The extended citizenship timelines require sophisticated long-term planning integrating residency, tax, and investment considerations. Professional guidance ensures optimal pathway selection while maintaining compliance across multiple legal frameworks.
Tax planning becomes particularly important given the extended residence periods and potential changes to fiscal benefits affecting long-term residents and naturalized citizens.
Criteria for Successfully Navigating the New Rules
Successfully obtaining portuguese citizenship or maintaining legal resident status under the reformed immigration and nationality laws requires meeting specific, enhanced criteria.
Extended Residency Period Documentation and Proof Requirements
Applicants must provide uninterrupted proof of legal residence, with precise start dates calculated from the first residence permit issuance. The legal framework now requires comprehensive documentation covering the entire residency period, with gaps in stays or documentation likely resulting in delays or rejection.
Legal residents must maintain continuous documentation proving their status throughout the extended residency requirement, whether seven years for CPLP nationals or ten years for other foreign nationals.
Language Proficiency and Cultural Integration Demonstrations
A2-level portuguese language proficiency has become mandatory, requiring certified test results from approved centers nationwide. Integration tests assess knowledge of Portuguese culture, constitutional principles, and basic rights and duties under Portugal’s democratic rule.
Language learning resources and testing centers are being established across the country to support compliance with these requirements. Adequate knowledge of the portuguese language and culture now represents a fundamental gateway to citizenship acquisition.
Criminal Record Verification and Security Clearance Standards
The reform implements zero-tolerance for criminal records, requiring clean certificates from both Portugal and applicants’ countries of origin. This covers all offenses punishable by prison sentences, expanding beyond the previous restriction limited to sentences of three years or more.
Criminal records verification now includes comprehensive background checks covering any offense that would carry an effective prison sentence in Portugal, significantly tightening security clearance standards.
Financial Stability and Housing Adequacy Evidence
New regulations elevate scrutiny of financial means, requiring documented proof of income, employment, or savings sufficient for self-support. Housing adequacy standards include minimum space requirements per occupant, with formal assessment procedures for adequacy verification.
These financial and housing standards extend to family reunification applications, requiring sponsors to demonstrate stable financial means and adequate accommodation for family members.
Family Status Documentation and Relationship Verification
Family relationships require rigorous documentation through legalized, authenticated birth certificates and relationship verification. For children born in Portugal, parents must prove at least three years of legal residency at application time and demonstrate their child’s integration into the Portuguese school system.
School attendance records and educational integration documentation have become mandatory components of citizenship applications for families with children born in Portugal.
Application Timing and Transition Period Compliance
Timing remains critical during the transition period, with current permits automatically extended until October 15, 2025. However, this represents a hard deadline—applicants must act before this date to avoid loss of legal status under the existing rules.
The retroactive application of certain provisions from June 19, 2025, creates complex timing considerations requiring careful legal analysis and strategic application planning.
Administrative Appeals and Legal Remedies Understanding
The reforms formalize judicial and constitutional appeal channels, particularly for contested citizenship revocations or refused applications. Understanding available legal remedies becomes essential for complex cases involving documentation challenges or administrative disputes.
Appeals processes now include constitutional court options for citizenship revocation cases, ensuring fundamental rights protection while maintaining enhanced security standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion and Next Steps
Portugal’s immigration and nationality reform represents a fundamental shift toward stricter integration requirements, extended citizenship timelines, and enhanced security standards. Understanding these changes is crucial for anyone seeking to maintain legal residency or acquire portuguese citizenship under the new legal framework.
The reform’s complexity demands careful planning, comprehensive documentation, and strategic navigation of multiple administrative processes. With residence permits automatically extended only until October 15, 2025, time is critical for ensuring compliance with new regulations.
Foreign residents should begin immediate preparation including documentation compilation, Portuguese language learning, and legal status verification. The extended citizenship timelines require long-term planning integrating residency, tax, and investment considerations.
Professional legal guidance provides essential support for navigating the reformed system’s complexity while maximizing success prospects. Expert assistance ensures proper documentation, agency coordination, and strategic planning for long-term residency and citizenship goals.
Portugal’s transformed immigration landscape offers continued opportunities for those prepared to meet enhanced requirements and navigate the reformed procedures. Early preparation, comprehensive understanding, and professional support remain key to successful navigation of portugal immigration and nationality reform.
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