Everything You Need to Know About the Upcoming Changes to Portugal’s Nationality Law (2025 Reform Explained)

Portugal is preparing to implement significant changes to its Nationality Law, following approval in the Portuguese Parliament in October 2025. However, the reform has not yet been promulgated by the President of the Republic, nor has it been published in the Diário da República (Official Gazette). Additionally, on 19 November, the Socialist Party formally requested a review of the law by the Constitutional Court, which may impact its timeline or final wording. Despite this, the law is still expected to come into force once the constitutional review is concluded and publication takes place.

This reform marks one of the most substantial updates in the past decade, introducing stricter residency criteria, new integration obligations, and the revocation of several exceptional pathways. At the same time, the legislation aims to create greater clarity, consistency, and alignment with European standards by emphasising long-term residence, civic knowledge, and legal compliance.

At moviinn®, we know that nationality represents a key milestone for many families and expats who choose Portugal as their long-term home. Whether you already live here or are planning your future path to citizenship, understanding these changes is essential.

This guide breaks everything down in clear terms, with examples that reflect real expat scenarios from the U.S., UK, Canada, Brazil, South Africa, India, and more.

Quick Summary of the 2025 Nationality Law Reform

- Residency requirements increase significantly: 7 years for EU and Lusophone nationals, 10 years for everyone else.

- Birth in Portugal: parents must now have 5 years of legal residence (not 1 year).

- Grandchildren route now aligned with naturalisation rules: language, civic knowledge, moral requirements.

- New path for great-grandchildren, provided they reside legally in Portugal for 5+ years.

- Revocation of several exceptional paths, including the Sephardic Jewish route.

- More rigorous civic integration requirements: language, culture, national symbols, rights & duties.

- Biometric verification expanded.

- The Public Prosecutor has 2 years to oppose unlawful acquisitions.

- Residence periods now count within strict time frames (6, 9, 12 years).

- Nationality becomes more demanding, but also clearer and more structured.

1. Birth in Portugal: New 5-Year Legal Residence Requirement for Parents

What Changed

Under the current law, a child born in Portugal can obtain Portuguese nationality if one parent has lived in the country for at least one year, even without a formal residence permit. This has been a widely used and relatively open pathway.

The new law changes this substantially:

- Parents must have at least 5 years of legal residence, not informal residence.

- Nationality is no longer automatic; parents must declare the intention to request nationality for the child.

- The goal is to strengthen the connection between the family and Portugal.

What This Means in Practice

This new requirement raises the threshold significantly and aligns Portugal with other EU countries that condition jus soli rights on longer-term residence.

Example:
An American couple living legally in Portugal for 6 years and giving birth in Lisbon may request nationality for their newborn.
But if they only have 2 or 3 years of legal residence, the child no longer qualifies.

moviinn® insight:
Families planning to grow or settle long-term in Portugal should assess their residence status early, ensuring permits are up-to-date. Our legal team can review your current residence history and forecast eligibility under the new rules.

2. Nationality Through Portuguese Grandparents: Much Stricter Requirements

What Changed

Today, anyone with a Portuguese grandparent can apply for nationality if they can demonstrate “effective ties” to the national community. This has been one of the most popular routes among diaspora descendants.

Under the reform, this pathway becomes much more demanding. Applicants must now satisfy all requirements listed under Article 6(1)(c)-(h)  effectively aligning this route with standard naturalization.

These requirements now include:

New Mandatory Criteria

- Portuguese language test or certificate

- Knowledge of Portuguese culture, history, and national symbols

- Understanding of civic rights, duties, and the democratic State

- A solemn declaration of adherence to Portuguese democratic principles

- No criminal conviction of 2 years or more

- No involvement in terrorism or organized crime

- Not included in UN/EU sanctions lists

What This Means in Practice

Applicants can no longer rely on ancestry alone, they must actively demonstrate integration.

Example:
A Canadian with a Portuguese grandmother must now:
✔ prove the family connection
✔ demonstrate Portuguese language skills
✔ pass civic and cultural knowledge assessments
✔ meet stringent security and moral criteria

moviinn® insight:
Many diaspora applicants will now require language preparation or residency plans. moviinn® can help design a realistic pathway combining legal residence and integration planning.

3. Naturalization: Longer Residency + Expanded Integration Requirements

This is the most impactful reform for most expats.

What Changed

Current rule: 5 years of legal residency for everyone.

New rule:

- 7 years of legal residency → for EU citizens and citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries (Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, Guinea-Bissau, Timor-Leste)

- 10 years of legal residency → for all other nationalities (USA, UK, Canada, India, China, South Africa, etc.)

New Integration Requirements for Naturalization

Applicants must now demonstrate:

- Portuguese language proficiency

- Knowledge of culture, history, political organization, and national symbols

- Knowledge of civic rights and duties

- A declaration of commitment to the democratic principles of the Republic

- Financial self-sufficiency

- Criminal clearance (no conviction of 2+ years)

- No involvement in terrorism or organized crime

- No UN/EU sanctions

What This Means in Practice

The path to citizenship becomes longer and more structured, but also clearer.

Example:
An American software engineer who moved to Porto in 2020 could previously apply for citizenship in 2025.
Under the new law, they will only qualify in 2030 (after 10 years).

moviinn® insight:
Legal residence continuity becomes critical. Even small gaps can impact eligibility once the new counting rules apply. moviinn® helps clients maintain fully compliant, uninterrupted residence histories.

4. Nationality for Minors Born in Portugal: Simplified, but Tighter

What Changed

Previously, minors could obtain nationality if:

- A parent lived in Portugal (even irregularly) for 5+ years
or

- A parent lived legally in Portugal for any period, or

- They attended school in Portugal for at least one year

Now both conditions change:

New Requirements for Minors

- One parent must have 5 years of legal residence (not irregular residence) and

- The child must be enrolled in compulsory education and attending regularly

What This Means in Practice

The emphasis is now on legal residence + integration.

Example:
A 10-year-old born in Lisbon to Ukrainian parents with 6 years of legal residence and school attendance qualifies.
A child whose parents lived irregularly for 5 years no longer qualifies.

moviinn® insight:
Families planning for nationality for their children should ensure their residence permits remain fully valid and renewals timely.

5. Revocation of Several Nationality Pathways

The following nationality routes are now revoked:

1. Article 6(5) - Nationality for adults born in Portugal who lived here for 5 years even without legal residence (and whose parents also lived here at the date of birth).

2. Article 6(7) - Sephardic Jewish Descent Route
This pathway, once widely used, has been fully repealed.

3. Article 6(8)Nationality for foreign parents of Portuguese citizens by origin who resided in Portugal for 5 years (even irregularly).

Why This Matters

These routes offered flexibility and exceptions. The new law eliminates them to create greater uniformity and prevent misuse.

moviinn® insight:
If you were considering one of these routes, you will now need to explore either naturalization or ancestry-based pathways with stricter criteria.

6. New Nationality Route for Great-Grandchildren (3rd Degree Descendants)

This reform introduces a new opportunity for families with Portuguese roots.

New Rule

Great-grandchildren of Portuguese citizens may apply for nationality if:

- They have lived legally in Portugal for at least 5 years

This is an expansion of the family connection routes.

What This Means in Practice

Someone with deep Portuguese ancestry can now combine descent + legal residence to qualify.

Example:
An American whose great-grandfather was Portuguese moves to Portugal in 2020 and lives legally until 2025.
They can now apply under this new provision.

moviinn® insight:
This pathway benefits long-term residents with Portuguese family heritage extending eligibility beyond the generations.

7. Opposition to Nationality: Extended to 2 Years

The Public Prosecutor now has two years (instead of one) to oppose nationality if fraud or irregularities are suspected.

This enhances state oversight and ensures greater legal certainty.

8. Expanded Biometric Data Collection

Authorities will now collect and cross-check:

- Facial image

- Fingerprints

- Height

- Identity documents across databases

These checks aim to:

- Confirm identity

- Verify legal compliance

- Detect fraud or irregularities

This aligns Portugal with EU-wide security and migration standards.

9. Counting Residence Periods: A Major Change for Expats

What Changed

Article 15(4), which allowed several types of residence periods to be counted toward citizenship, has been revoked.

Additionally, residence time now counts only if within strict time intervals, depending on nationality:

- 6 years → stateless persons

- 9 years → Lusophone or EU nationals

- 12 years → all other foreign nationals

What This Means in Practice

Residence periods must be:

- Legal

- Within the defined interval

- Consistent

Example:
A Canadian lives in Portugal from 2014 to 2020 (6 years), leaves, then returns in 2021 to 2025 (4 years).
Total: 10 years of legal residence within a 12-year window → counts toward eligibility.

But someone who spreads their residence across 15+ years may not meet the window threshold.

moviinn® insight:
If your residence history includes gaps, visa switches, or periods awaiting regularization, we can map your eligibility accurately based on the new intervals.

What These Changes Mean for Expats and Future Applicants

The new law signals a clear move toward a more structured, integration-driven nationality system, where:

- Long-term residence is essential

- Understanding of the Portuguese community is mandatory

- Language and civic knowledge become central

- Legal compliance is non-negotiable

Portugal remains welcoming, but citizenship will increasingly be reserved for those who build a genuine, lasting connection with the country.

For many expats, the path may become longer, but also more predictable and transparent.

Why Portugal Is Making These Changes: Alignment With EU Naturalisation Standards

These reforms also reflect a broader effort to align Portugal with European Union naturalization standards, particularly regarding minimum residency periods. Over the past decade, the EU has strongly encouraged Member States to standardize naturalization requirements, especially the 10-year residency rule for non-EU foreign nationals. Countries such as Germany, Austria, Italy, and Spain already apply similar timelines, often ranging from 8 to 10 years depending on the applicant’s status and integration level. Until now, Portugal was one of the few EU countries offering a comparatively short five-year path to citizenship, making it an exception within the Union. By adopting longer residency periods and clearer integration criteria, Portugal is moving closer to the norms already in place across Europe and responding to longstanding EU recommendations aimed at harmonizing naturalization processes across all Member States.

Still Unsure How These Changes Affect You? We Can Help.

At moviinn®, we guide thousands of expats and families through Portugal’s residency and nationality pathways. Our legal specialists:

- Analyse your current eligibility under the existing law

- Forecast your eligibility under the new rules

- Review your residence history

- Identify the optimal path (residency, naturalisation, descent)

- Prepare documentation and guide the entire process

Whether you're a long-term resident, a parent, a descendant of Portuguese citizens, or a newcomer planning your move, we ensure clarity and confidence at every step.

Book a consultation today and we’ll help you plan your secure path to Portuguese citizenship with certainty and expert guidance.