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Text voted in the Assembly extends deadlines, changes the counting of residence, abolishes the rule for Sephardim, and now awaits a decision from President António José Seguro.
Portuguese citizenship has become more difficult to obtain after the Portuguese Assembly approved a new Nationality Law. The change directly affects Brazilians and other citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries, with new residency requirements and stricter rules in sensitive points of the process.
At the center of the new law is the extension of deadlines and the alteration of what counts as valid time. Citizenship now depends on legal residence for more years, and in addition, the waiting period for residence authorization is no longer counted, which can further lengthen the path in practice.
What was approved in the Nationality Law
The Portuguese Assembly approved the proposal with 152 votes in favor, 64 against, and one abstention. Support came from PSD, Chega, Liberal Initiative, and CDS-PP, while PS, Livre, PCP, Left Bloc, and PAN voted against. There was one abstention from Juntos Pelo Povo.
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The approved text alters central criteria for obtaining nationality and creates new restrictions for future applications, changing the landscape for those planning for citizenship in Portugal.
Longer deadline for Brazilians from CPLP and for other foreigners
The most immediate change involves the minimum time of legal residence required to apply for nationality. For citizens of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, a group that includes Brazil, the deadline increases from five to seven years.
For foreigners outside the CPLP, the requirement rises to ten years. In practice, this makes citizenship a longer process for everyone, with particularly significant impact on Brazilians who were relying on the previous rule.
Waiting time for authorization no longer counts
In addition to extending the deadline, the law changes the way residence time is counted. The waiting period for residence authorization is no longer computed.
As a result, the time now counts only from the effective issuance of the title by the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum. This point is crucial because, even if the person is already in Portugal, citizenship may take longer if the title takes time to be issued.
Changes for children born in Portugal and for their parents
The new legislation also tightens the rules for children born in Portuguese territory. Now, these minors will only have the right to citizenship after five years with a valid residence title in the country, a condition that did not exist in this way before.
Another relevant change affects foreign parents: they lose the right to apply for nationality based on the parentage of children born in Portugal, closing a door that was previously used as a pathway to citizenship.
End of the special regime for descendants of Sephardic Jews
The special regime that benefited descendants of Sephardic Jews, historically linked to the Iberian Peninsula, has been abolished by the new norm.
In practice, this eliminates a specific avenue for obtaining nationality, reducing alternatives for those seeking citizenship through this framework.
Possibility of withdrawal of citizenship and new barriers due to conviction
The law provides for the possibility of withdrawing citizenship from naturalized foreigners who are sentenced to prison terms of five years or more for serious crimes.
Moreover, the conviction limit that prevents the acquisition of nationality decreases from five to three years, increasing the rigor for those with a criminal record and making the granting of citizenship more restrictive.
Reciprocity with Brazil and diplomatic impact
The approved text raises a diplomatic point: if the Brazilian government decides to apply the principle of reciprocity, Portuguese residents in Brazil, a large community, could face equivalent restrictions.
This scenario adds a political layer to the debate, as citizenship and immigration rules may start to influence the relationship between the two countries.
Next steps: decision of President António José Seguro
The law is not yet in effect, as it awaits a decision from the President of the Republic, António José Seguro, who took office in March. He has three options: to promulgate the text, veto it and return it to Parliament, or refer it to the Constitutional Court to assess its constitutionality.
There is no defined public deadline for this decision, which leaves open when the new rules will effectively impact those seeking citizenship in Portugal.
Do you think it is fair for Portugal to tighten citizenship in these areas, or does the new law go too far and make life too difficult for those already living in the country?
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