Changes to the Nationality Law
2 December 2020
On 10th November 2020, the Organic Law nr. 2/2020 was published, and it introduces crucial changes to the Nationality Law.
This is the ninth modification, and these changes include and are not limited to:
- Individuals born overseas, with a Portuguese grandparent
- Individuals with at least one ascendant of Portuguese nationality from the 2nd degree in the direct line who have not lost that nationality, declare that they want to be Portuguese and have ties to the national community;
- The community connection is accepted when there is sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language and the applicant has not been convicted.
- Married or with a Lifetime Partner (União de Facto) for more than 3 years with a Portuguese national
- Foreign Individuals continue to be able to apply for citizenship in case they prove that they have ties to the Portuguese community. These ties can be the fact that they have been married or together in União de Facto for at least 6 years.
- Individuals born in Portugal, with foreign parents
- A child born in Portugal is considered Portuguese if, at the time of birth, one the parents is legally living in Portugal or has been living in the country, no matter what the title is, for at least 1 year.
- Minors born in Portugal, with 16 years of age or more, with foreign parents
- They can apply for citizenship if, at the time of the application, they follow at least one of the following terms:
- One of the parents is resident here, regardless of title, for at least the five years immediately preceding the application;
- One of the parents has legal residence in the national territory;
- The minor has attended at least one year of pre-school education or basic, secondary or professional education.
- Portuguese who lost their citizenship for living in Portugal for less than five years on 25th April 1974 and their children
- These citizens can now apply for Portuguese citizenship, by naturalisation, no matter what age, even if they lived in Portugal for less than 5 years and with no proof of the Portuguese language if, after losing their citizenship:
- They did not serve for the State; and
- They remained and will remain in Portugal, regardless of title, as well as their children, born in national territory, to whom the Portuguese citizenship was not provided.
For more details please contact us at info@lvpadvogados.com.
European Union citizens planning to stay in Portugal for over three months (90 days) must apply for a Certificado de Registo de Cidadão da União Europeia (CRUE).
Bringing children under Portugal’s ARI scheme is a strategic step that strengthens family unity while paving the way toward long-term citizenship and legal security.
Portugal remains one of the EU’s most accessible and welcoming countries, consistently attracting foreign nationals who seek residency and a fresh start.
A new National Unit for Foreigners and Borders (UNEF) has been created within the Public Security Police (PSP), taking over key responsibilities from the former SEF. UNEF will handle airport border control, visa issuance, foreign nationals oversight, and related operations.
If you invested €500,000 in property or used an outdated Golden Visa path and were approved before the cutoff, you're now seen as an Immigrant Entrepreneur.
Due to stricter AL rules in urban Portugal, many owners now turn to short-term residential leases to earn legal rental income outside tourist accommodation laws.
On 16 July 2025, the Portuguese Parliament approved major changes to the legal framework governing immigration (Law no. 23/2007). The reform ends the manifestação de interesse mechanism, tightens rules for job-seeker visas and family reunification, and sets a final deadline for transitional applications.
The Portuguese Parliament has decided to postpone the vote on the proposed amendments to the Nationality Law until September 2025. The decision was taken in a meeting of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees, following pressure from several political parties who requested more time to assess the implications of the proposed reform. The delay allows for additional hearings with legal experts, immigrant associations and civil society representatives before a final vote is held in plenary session. The proposed reform introduces significant changes to the current legal framework for acquiring Portuguese nationality. Among the most impactful measures is the extension of the minimum legal residence period required before applying for naturalisation. Under the new proposal, this period would increase from the current five years to seven years for nationals of CPLP countries (Community of Portuguese Language Countries), and to ten years for applicants from all other countries. Another major change concerns the introduction of mechanisms to revoke Portuguese nationality . According to the proposal, naturalised citizens who are convicted of serious crimes — defined as those resulting in prison sentences of five years or more , within ten years of acquiring nationality — could see their Portuguese citizenship revoked by a court decision, based on a proposal from the Public Prosecutor’s Office. In addition, the reform would tighten the requirements for acquiring original Portuguese nationality through birth in Portugal. For children born in Portuguese territory to foreign parents, it would become mandatory that at least one parent has been residing legally in Portugal for a minimum of three years , instead of the current two years. Although the government initially intended to approve these changes before the summer recess, political consensus has not yet been reached. Left-wing parties have raised concerns regarding the constitutionality of retroactive revocation of nationality and the potential impact on the rights of long-term residents and immigrant communities in Portugal. In response, the parliamentary committee agreed to postpone the process and schedule a new round of expert hearings in early September. A final vote on the reform is now expected to take place later that month. Until then, the current version of the Nationality Law remains in force , including the five-year legal residence requirement for naturalisation. Applicants who meet this requirement and wish to apply under the current rules may still do so in the coming weeks.
Law No. 53/2023 transposes the EU Blue Card Directive into Portuguese law, improving conditions for highly skilled non-EU nationals to live and work in the EU.
Hiring a contractor in Portugal should be simple, but unmet terms can lead to financial loss and legal issues, especially for clients unfamiliar with local rules.