Portugal Tightens Immigration Rules: Loss of Nationality for Serious Crimes and Family Reunification Only for Minors

Apertos na Lei da Nacionalidade, na Lei de Estrangeiros e concretamente nas situações de reagrupamento familiar. During a briefing lasting over an hour, the Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, detailed the legislative changes the government plans to introduce to Parliament. These changes aim to “tighten, limit, and close” immigration policies, balancing “firmness” and “humanism.”

Key Changes in Immigration Policies:

• Loss of nationality in certain cases, potentially raising constitutional questions.
• Family reunification now only available for minors, with exceptions for “highly qualified” immigrants who can enter Portugal without a work contract.
• Increased minimum residency period for Portuguese nationality: from five to seven years for citizens from Portuguese-speaking countries and ten years for others.

New Requirements for Nationality:

• Applicants must pass tests demonstrating sufficient knowledge of Portuguese language and culture, as well as the political organization of the State.
• A declaration adhering to the fundamental principles of the democratic rule of law is required.
• Those convicted of any effective prison sentence, regardless of duration, will be ineligible for Portuguese nationality.

Background: These measures respond to what the government describes as “seven years of uncontrolled immigration and successively facilitated policies and laws.” The proposals, deemed “indispensable” by the Executive, reflect the current reality of Portugal, shaped by choices and transformations in recent years.