This article is based on Movingto’s published analysis of Portugal’s approved citizenship-law changes and what they mean for foreign residents, investors and families.
Portugal is one step closer to changing how long many foreign residents must wait before applying for citizenship.
On May 3, 2026, Portugal’s President promulgated the decree amending Law No. 37/81, the country’s Nationality Law. The approved text would increase the residence period for naturalization to seven years for European Union citizens and nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries, and 10 years for most other foreign nationals.
But there is an important caveat: presidential approval does not mean the law is already in force. As of May 5, 2026, the law had not yet been published in the Diário da República, Portugal’s official gazette. Under the approved text, the changes enter into force on the day after publication.
That short gap matters for residents, investors and families who are already eligible, close to filing or waiting on a Portuguese nationality application.
The main change is the naturalization timeline. Portugal has long been known for allowing many legal residents to apply for citizenship after five years. Under the newly approved framework, that timeline would become longer for most applicants.
EU citizens and nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries, including Brazil and other CPLP countries, would face a seven-year residence requirement. Most other foreign nationals would face a 10-year requirement.
The law also adds or clarifies integration requirements, including knowledge of the Portuguese language, culture, history and national symbols, as well as basic knowledge of rights and duties. Applicants would also be expected to declare adherence to democratic rule-of-law principles.
A separate and particularly important change concerns how residence time is counted. The approved text revokes Article 15(4), a 2024 rule that allowed time to count from when a temporary residence permit was requested, provided the permit was later approved. That provision was important for people affected by long processing delays at the Portuguese authorities.
The President’s statement noted the importance of ensuring that legal timelines for nationality are not harmed by state delays. The practical effect of that point will depend on the final published law, updated regulations and administrative guidance.
For people who already have a nationality application pending, the decree includes a transition rule.
The approved text says administrative procedures pending when the law enters into force continue under the previous version of the Nationality Law. In practical terms, that means a person who has already filed a citizenship application before the law starts applying should not automatically be moved into the new seven- or 10-year timeline.
That protection is not the same as a broad grandfathering rule for everyone living in Portugal. The wording is focused on pending administrative procedures, not simply on residents who expected to apply under the old five-year framework.
For people who are already eligible but have not yet filed, timing may now be critical. The law is approved, but it is not yet in force until its official publication.
The change does not end Portugal’s Golden Visa program, D7 visa, digital nomad visa or other residence routes. It is a nationality-law change, not a cancellation of Portugal’s residency pathways.
For Golden Visa investors, the practical shift is in citizenship planning. Portugal may remain attractive as a residence option with relatively low physical presence requirements, but the citizenship timeline may become longer once the new law takes effect.
Readers assessing the residency route itself can review this Portugal Golden Visa guide, while investors comparing qualifying fund options can use a fund comparison tool to understand available strategies and next steps.
For D7, D8, work, study and family visa residents, the same planning issue applies. People who expected to apply for citizenship after five years of legal residence may need to reassess their timeline under a seven- or 10-year framework.
Permanent residence after five years may also become a more important milestone for some residents, especially if citizenship is no longer available as quickly as expected.
The next legal milestone is publication in the Diário da República. Until that happens, the law is approved but not yet in force.
After publication, the Government must update Portugal’s nationality regulation within 90 days. Those regulations and later administrative guidance will be important for practical questions, including how authorities handle pending cases, residence counting and applicants affected by state processing delays.
The President also referred to a separate decree that would amend the Penal Code and create an accessory penalty involving loss of nationality. That is not the same as the Nationality Law decree approved on May 3. According to the Presidency, that separate decree is still awaiting a Constitutional Court decision following a request for preventive constitutional review.
Residents who already filed a citizenship application should keep proof of submission, payment and any official confirmation showing when their procedure became pending.
Residents who are already eligible but have not filed should urgently seek case-specific advice before the law is published.
People with close to five years of residence should review their dates, documents and whether they can realistically file before the law enters into force.
People who are not yet eligible should update their long-term plan around the likely seven- or 10-year citizenship timeline, while continuing to manage residence renewals and permanent residence eligibility.
The key point is that Portugal’s new citizenship law has passed a major political milestone, but the operative legal trigger is still publication in the Diário da República.
This story was produced by Movingto and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.