Portugal has doubled the residency requirement for citizenship from five to ten years, making it harder for migrants to become naturalised.
The change follows the signing of a new law by Portugal’s President, António José Seguro, who took office in March, formalising legislation that had already passed through parliament last year.
The updated rules will increase the standard residency period required for naturalisation from five years to ten, extending the timeframe applicants must spend living in the country before becoming eligible.
This is a reduced seven years for citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries such as Brazil, seven years for EU citizens.
In comments accompanying the signing of the bill, the President indicated that he hoped those already in the system would not be affected by the change, warning of the implications if they were.
“That would constitute an undesirable breach of trust in the state, at the domestic and international level,” he said.
He also stated that any future legislative changes of this sort “must always pay special attention to the protection and integration of children and minors born in Portugal,” particularly as regards humanitarian protection, health and education.
The development comes at a time when Portugal has seen a sharp rise in its foreign population, with approximately 1.5 million foreign residents now living in the country, representing a record high.
Foreign nationals account for around 15% of Portugal’s total population, a figure that has nearly tripled since 2019.
As reported by Gript last week, the move follows similar developments elsewhere in Europe, including Sweden, where new legislation is set to introduce stricter citizenship criteria.
Sweden to make citizenship requirements significantly stricter
Under the Swedish changes, the residency requirement will rise from five years to eight, alongside additional conditions such as income thresholds, language requirements, and checks relating to personal conduct such as having no criminal record and not having any outstanding debts.
In Ireland, naturalisation rules currently require applicants to have lived in the country for five out of the previous nine years, including one continuous year immediately before applying, with final decisions made at the discretion of the Justice Minister.