July 2025
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!
On June 25, 2025, the Portuguese government proposed new changes to the Nationality Law.
These updates aim to tighten the rules for people who want to get Portuguese citizenship, while staying aligned with a human-focused approach.
Parents will have to make an official request for citizenship for their child — it won’t be automatic.
Longer wait times:
Citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries: residency requirement will go from 5 to 7 years.
Everyone else: residency requirement will increase to 10 years.
The clock starts when you get your first residence permit, not when you apply for citizenship.
Applicants must show they know Portuguese language and have knowledge of Portuguese culture, rights, duties, and how the political system works. They must also agree to respect the core principles of Portugal’s democracy.
Stricter criminal record checks: anyone convicted of crimes that could lead to prison time under Portuguese law will be disqualified — no matter what sentence they actually received.
Overall, the government wants stronger ties to the community and country — similar to trends in other European countries.
If passed, these new rules will affect all citizenship applications submitted after June 19, 2025.
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If MPs agree, it moves to a committee
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The President can sign it into law, send it to the Constitutional Court, or veto it
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No. The changes are just proposals for now. Nothing has officially changed yet.
No. The draft law does not mention the Golden Visa program. The government plans to improve it, not remove it.
Any retroactive application would be questionable and could be unconstitutional. Legal challenges could follow if that happens.
If passed exactly as proposed, you might need to live in Portugal for up to 10 years from the date you get your first residence card before you can apply for citizenship.
You can still apply for a Permanent Residency Permit, which lets you live in Portugal indefinitely. You’d then wait the remaining years to become eligible for citizenship.
Standard: You must live in Portugal full-time and not leave for 24 consecutive months or 30 months over 3 years.
Golden: For Golden Visa holders wanting flexibility, no need to meet physical presence rules.
Only if you already meet the current requirements.
No. The government is not targeting the Golden Visa with this proposal.
Not at all. Parliament still needs to debate and approve it. The government doesn’t have a majority, so they’ll need broad support. The President could also send it back or ask the Constitutional Court to review it.
