Portugal Parliament Approves Citizenship Law Revisions

Portugal’s parliament has approved revisions to the country’s nationality law, confirming that the residence requirement for citizenship will remain seven years for EU and Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) nationals and ten years for all other applicants.

The legislation was approved in the Assembly of the Republic with the two-thirds majority required for nationality law changes.

While the core residence timeline remains unchanged, the revisions introduce several adjustments to the broader citizenship framework.

Parliament Passes Nationality Law Revisions

According to official sources, the approved text includes changes to the criteria that may affect citizenship eligibility and potential revocation.

Among the revisions is a lower criminal conviction threshold that can block citizenship eligibility, along with an expanded list of serious offences that could lead to the loss of nationality in specific cases.

The measures were adopted as part of a broader political compromise reached shortly before the parliamentary debate.

No Transitional Protections for Current Residents

One of the most closely watched elements of the debate was whether transitional protections would be introduced for individuals already residing in Portugal.

However, proposals to preserve previous eligibility conditions or introduce a phased transition were not included in the final legislation.

As a result, the revised framework may affect future citizenship planning for residents currently progressing toward eligibility.

Presidential Review Is the Next Step

The decree will now be sent to President António José Seguro for promulgation.

Under Portugal’s legislative process, the president may approve the law, veto it, or refer it to the Constitutional Court for preventive review before it enters into force.

Until that process is completed, the final implementation timeline for the revised nationality law remains subject to presidential review.