Portugal Tightens Citizenship Rules as President Warns Against Retroactive Changes

Overview

• President António José Seguro said applying the new law to already filed citizenship requests would be a breach of trust by the state.
• The government has indicated that protocolled applications may keep the old criteria, though final guidance will come in forthcoming regulation.
• The reform raises the minimum legal residence to seven years for Brazilians and other Portuguese‑language nationals, and to ten years for other foreigners.
• The law starts counting residence only after a permit is issued, narrows birthright claims, ends the Sephardic‑descendant route, and allows loss of nationality for serious crimes.
• Backlogs at immigration agency AIMA are expected to stretch timelines for naturalization, while entry, study, work, and legal residence rights for Brazilians remain unchanged.