The President of the Portuguese Republic promulgated, last Sunday, 3 May 2026, the Decree-Law amending the Portuguese Nationality Law, thereby concluding the constitutional approval process. This represents a key institutional milestone, with the amended law set to enter into force only after its publication in the Official Gazette (Diário da República).
The approved amendments include, in particular, an increase in the minimum period of legal residence required to apply for Portuguese nationality by naturalisation, which will rise to 7 years for citizens of European Union Member States and Portuguese‑speaking countries (CPLP), and to 10 years for nationals of all other countries. The decree also provides for stricter rules regarding the attribution of nationality to children born in Portugal to foreign parents.
In its official statement, the Presidency emphasised the importance of ensuring that pending nationality applications are not adversely affected by the legislative amendment, and that statutory residence periods are not undermined by administrative delays. The precise scope and practical implications of the new law will only be fully ascertainable once the final text is officially published.