The new nationality law is in force. Which regime applies to you?

If you've been living in Portugal on a D7, D8, Golden Visa, or work permit, the rules for citizenship changed on 19 May 2026. Law no. 1/2026 replaced the standard five-year residence period with seven years for nationals of official Portuguese-speaking countries and EU Member States, and ten years for nationals of other States — alongside reinforced requirements covering language and culture, national history and symbols, fundamental rights and duties, a solemn declaration of adherence to the democratic rule of law, and subsistence. Applications already pending on 19 May 2026 remain governed by the previous wording of the Nationality Law. Organic Law no. 1/2026 requires corresponding amendments to the Portuguese Nationality Regulation, so practical requirements should be confirmed against the regulations and administrative guidance in force when the application is prepared. Whether you had an application pending, are recalculating your timeline, or simply need to know which regime applies to you, the starting point is a careful review of your dates, titles, and documents.

Selected professional affiliations

1. 19 MAY 2026 — Law no. 1/2026 in force. Published in the official gazette — no longer a proposal.
2. 7 or 10 years — new residence periods. 7 years for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries and the EU; 10 years for other nationals.
3. Reinforced requirements. Culture, history, national symbols, rights and duties, solemn declaration, subsistence.
4. Pending applications. Applications already pending on 19 May 2026 remain governed by the previous wording of the law.
5. Supplementary regulation. Organic Law no. 1/2026 requires corresponding amendments to the Nationality Regulation.

The 5-year rule is no longer the default — but it may still be yours

The amendments to the Portuguese nationality law entered into force on 19 May 2026. Since that date, the legal framework is no longer a set of proposals but the established Law no. 1/2026. The main alteration lies in the regime for naturalisation by residence: the minimum legal residence period is now seven years for nationals of official Portuguese-speaking countries and EU Member States, and ten years for nationals of other States — under the previous framework, the standard period was five years.

Beyond the timeframe, the new law demands a more stringent set of material requirements: sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language and culture, national history and symbols, fundamental rights and duties, the political organisation of the State, a solemn declaration of adherence to the democratic rule of law, and the capacity to ensure one's own subsistence.

The new law did not eliminate all routes to Portuguese citizenship. Regimes for original attribution, acquisition by declaration, and naturalisation continue to exist, each with its own requirements — but the regime for children of foreign nationals born in Portugal became stricter, and other routes were also modified.

Key message: Law no. 1/2026 expressly establishes that administrative procedures pending on the date it entered into force continue to be governed by the previous wording of the Nationality Law. If your application was pending on 19 May 2026, it remains governed by the previous wording of the law. If you apply now, the new law applies. For a detailed breakdown, read our full analysis of the Portuguese nationality law changes.

This is one of the most crucial points of the reform. Law no. 1/2026 expressly establishes that administrative procedures pending on the date it entered into force continue to be governed by the previous wording of the Nationality Law.

In practical terms, this means applications already pending on 19 May 2026 remain governed by the previous wording — including the five-year residence period — while applications submitted after that date must be assessed under the new law.

The decisive question is therefore whether your application was pending before the new law entered into force, and in what state your procedure is today.

Where do you stand?

• Application pending on 19 May 2026: remains governed by the previous five-year wording — confirm the date of entry, the status of the procedure, and the norm actually applicable.
• Application submitted after 19 May 2026: assessed under Law no. 1/2026 — seven or ten years of legal residence and reinforced material requirements.
• Not yet submitted: assume the new rules apply, unless a specific transitional framework covers your situation.

In every scenario, it is prudent to review the entire documentary basis before proceeding: dates of legal residence, issued titles, civil registry certificates, criminal records, and other supporting elements can be decisive in avoiding delays, objections, or refusals.

Note on the new requirements

Applications pending on 19 May 2026 remain subject to the previous legal framework. Organic Law no. 1/2026 requires corresponding amendments to the Portuguese Nationality Regulation. Practical requirements should therefore be confirmed against the regulations and administrative guidance in force when the application is prepared.

We follow the applicable regulations and administrative guidance and adjust each case file accordingly, so that your application is prepared against the rules that actually apply to it.

1. Step 1: Eligibility assessment. We review your complete residence history, entry dates, visa applications, and documentation to determine which regime applies to your case — the previous framework or Law no. 1/2026 — and calculate your timeline.
2. Step 2: Document compilation. We prepare a comprehensive document checklist tailored to your situation, including criminal record certificates, proof of residence, language certification, and any additional requirements.
3. Step 3: Application preparation. We draft and review your nationality application, ensuring all information is accurate and complete before submission to the Conservatória dos Registos Centrais.
4. Step 4: Submission and tracking. We submit your application and monitor its progress, handling any requests for additional documentation or clarification from authorities.
5. Step 5: Decision and registration. If the application is granted, we assist with the nationality registration and the subsequent requests for civil-identification documents.

Our legal team has published a full breakdown of Law no. 1/2026 — what changed, what remains, who is most affected, and the before-and-after of 19 May 2026:

• The new 7 and 10-year residence periods, explained
• Reinforced requirements for naturalisation
• Children of foreign nationals born in Portugal: the stricter regime
• Pending applications: old or new regime
• The corresponding amendments required to the Portuguese Nationality Regulation
• What to do now, whatever your situation

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4050-626 Porto, Portugal
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