Portugal's President Signs Off New Citizenship Rules

On May 3, President António José Seguro approved the revised Nationality Law of Portugal, concluding months of uncertainty regarding whether the Socialist-affiliated leader would veto or refer the decree back to the Constitutional Court.

The law, passed by parliament with a 152-64 vote on April 1 following a last-minute agreement between the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and Chega, is now awaiting publication in the Diário da República before becoming effective.

The naturalization period for most foreign nationals has been extended from five to ten years. Citizens from European Union (EU) Member States and Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) will have a seven-year requirement.

The residency period commences when the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA) issues a residence permit, not at the time of application submission, reversing a 2024 amendment intended to protect applicants from bureaucratic delays.

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Signed With Reservations

Seguro expressed concerns upon signing. In a statement on the presidency’s website, he acknowledged the two-thirds parliamentary majority but contended that revising such a significant law should be based on broader consensus.

“Despite the parliamentary majority that approved the legislation, the President of the Republic reiterates that the revision of a law with the importance of the Nationality Law should also be grounded in greater consensus around its fundamental principles,” the statement read, “distancing itself, as previously mentioned, from any ‘ideological hallmarks of the moment.'”

The law should not be subject to frequent changes “to the detriment of legal certainty and, consequently, of individuals, and risking the essential credibility of institutions.”

Two additional parts of the statement have direct operational implications. Regarding pending applications, Seguro emphasized “the importance of ensuring that pending processes are not, in fact, affected by the legislative change, which would represent an undesirable breach of trust in the state, both domestically and internationally.”

Regarding processing delays, he noted “the importance of ensuring that the counting of legally established timelines for obtaining nationality is not affected by the state’s slowness.”

Given that AIMA has routinely taken two to three years to issue residence permits, this comment directly addresses the effective naturalization timeline, which lawyers have estimated at nine to 13 years under the new rules.

Seguro also stated that his decision to sign was influenced by the belief that stricter criteria and longer timelines “do not prevent the essential humanitarian protection and the desirable integration of children and minors born in Portugal, children of immigrants,” including their access to health and education under existing law.

He added that future legislation and public policy should always prioritize “special attention” to the protection of such children.

These are presidential interpretive remarks, not binding provisions. However, they may influence how courts interpret the law, particularly in cases brought by Golden Visa investors who challenged the legislation at the Constitutional Court in December 2025.

Madalena Monteiro, founder of Liberty Legal and the lawyer who submitted the investors’ amicus curiae brief, said the promulgation was expected. “After nearly a year, the president highlighted two concerns when signing the law,” she noted.

“First, that pending applications must not be negatively impacted by the legislative changes, as this would constitute an undesirable breach of trust in the state, both domestically and internationally,” Monteiro stated. “Second, that the legally established timeframes for acquiring nationality must not be compromised by administrative delays caused by the state.”

She noted that promulgation “was an anticipated outcome, given that a two-thirds majority was assured to override any veto.”

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Loss of Nationality Decree Still Suspended

Seguro signed only one of the two decrees sent to him after the April 1 vote. A separate measure amending the Penal Code to introduce loss of nationality as an accessory criminal penalty (Decreto n.º 49/XVII) remains suspended. A parliamentary group requested a preventive constitutional review of that decree, and the Constitutional Court has not yet made a decision.

The court struck down a similar provision in December 2025 when it reviewed the initial version of the legislation. Whether the revised version withstands scrutiny will determine if Portuguese courts can revoke the nationality of naturalized citizens upon criminal conviction.

The Golden Visa program was not part of the legislative discussion. Permanent residency after five years remains unchanged. The new timelines apply solely to naturalization.

The law will take effect upon publication in the Diário da República. No publication date has been announced.