Portugal Eases Path to Citizenship for Long-Term Immigrants

Immigrants with five or more years of legal residence in Portugal may soon find it easier to apply for Portuguese citizenship, thanks to proposed legislative changes. The government has clarified that these changes will only affect those who have not yet completed the currently required minimum residency period by June 18, 2025. This move is part of a broader effort to streamline immigration policies while protecting the rights of those who have already met the existing criteria.

Key Changes in Citizenship Rules

• Citizens from Portuguese-speaking countries (CPLP) will need to prove at least seven years of residency, up from the current five. Notably, the waiting period for residency authorization will no longer count towards this total.
• Other foreigners will see the minimum residency requirement double from five to ten years.

The government emphasizes that these adjustments are designed to ensure smoother integration for immigrants, particularly those from CPLP countries, due to shared language and cultural ties.

Legislative Process and Next Steps

The proposed changes are set for an urgent parliamentary vote next week. If approved, they will proceed to the President for final sanctioning. The government aims to complete the entire legislative process by the end of July, addressing the backlog of approximately 700,000 pending citizenship applications.

Impact on Immigration Backlog

With a significant shortage of staff to process applications, the government acknowledges the need to increase personnel by 40% to handle the expected surge in requests from eligible immigrants.