People exploring Portugal’s visa programmes — including the well-known Golden Visa investment route and other D-visa residency options — have recently been asking questions about how long it takes to qualify for Portuguese citizenship.
For many years, Portugal has offered foreign residents the possibility of applying for citizenship after five years of legal residence, giving successful applicants access to a Portuguese passport and EU citizenship.
Recently, however, a legislative proposal suggested extending this timeframe. The proposal indicated that most foreign nationals might need to reside in Portugal for 10 years before becoming eligible for citizenship. This idea has created uncertainty among potential applicants.
It is important to note that the law has not changed as of March 2026. Under the current Portuguese Nationality Law, individuals can still apply for citizenship after five years of lawful residence.
Changes Introduced in 2024
A reform introduced in 2024 made the citizenship timeline clearer and more favourable for applicants. The five-year qualifying period now begins when the residency application is submitted, rather than when the residency permit is officially issued.
Previously, long administrative processing times could delay the start of the five-year period by one or even two years. The new rule prevents applicants from being penalised by processing delays.
This change has been particularly relevant for Golden Visa applicants, because their five-year eligibility period now begins immediately after submitting their application, even if the approval process takes time.
Requirements for Portuguese Citizenship
Applicants who wish to obtain Portuguese citizenship must generally meet several conditions, including:
- Demonstrating basic Portuguese language ability at A2 level, either through an exam or an approved language course
- Having no serious criminal record
- Meeting the minimum residency requirements linked to their visa category
For Golden Visa investors, the residency requirement remains relatively flexible, requiring an average stay of about seven days per year in Portugal.
Proposed Changes to the Law
Towards the end of 2025, Portugal’s parliament approved legislation that aimed to modify the Nationality Law. The proposal suggested increasing the residency requirement for citizenship from five years to ten years for most non-EU, non-EEA and non-Swiss nationals.
For citizens from countries belonging to the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), the proposed requirement would increase to seven years instead of ten.
Another suggestion included asking citizenship applicants to show basic knowledge of Portuguese culture.
However, these proposals have not been implemented.
After the bill was approved by parliament, Portugal’s Constitutional Court reviewed the legislation and ruled that certain parts of it were unconstitutional. The court raised concerns about elements that could apply retroactively or potentially create unequal treatment between applicants.
As a result, the proposed reform cannot proceed in its current form.
Current Situation in 2026
As of March 2026, the existing five-year citizenship pathway remains in force.
Even so, the Portuguese government has indicated that it may revisit the topic in the future. Many European countries require longer periods of residence before granting citizenship, and Portugal may eventually consider aligning its rules more closely with those standards.
Because of this possibility, some investors are choosing to begin the residency process now while the current rules remain in place.
Permanent Residency Rules
Even if the citizenship waiting period were to increase in the future, permanent residency eligibility after five years is expected to remain unchanged.
Permanent residency allows foreign nationals to live and work in Portugal indefinitely without needing to renew temporary residence permits every two years.
Although permanent residents do not receive a Portuguese passport or voting rights, they do gain several advantages, including visa-free travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
If a 10-year citizenship requirement were eventually introduced, applicants could still obtain permanent residency after five years and then apply for citizenship later.
Expert Commentary
According to Paul Stannard, chairman and founder of Portugal Pathways, current legislation still allows non-EU residents to apply for citizenship after five years.
He explains that the 2024 reform clarified that the five-year calculation begins when the residency application is filed, provided it is ultimately approved.
Although parliament approved a proposal to extend the period to ten years, the Constitutional Court rejected parts of the legislation in January 2026, meaning it cannot be implemented in its present form.
Additionally, further debate on the issue is unlikely until a new presidential term begins and new judges are appointed to the Constitutional Court.
Effects on the Golden Visa Programme
Much of the discussion about citizenship timelines has centred on Portugal’s Golden Visa programme. However, the proposed reforms would apply broadly to citizenship rules across all visa types and would not directly change the core benefits of the programme.
Some of the main advantages of the Golden Visa include:
- A minimal residency requirement, averaging only seven days per year
- The possibility of including family members in the application
- Visa-free travel across the Schengen Area
- A pathway to permanent residency and, under current rules, citizenship after five years
Since the real estate investment option was removed in 2023, the Golden Visa programme now focuses mainly on investment in approved funds.
Applicants must typically invest €500,000 in eligible investment funds that qualify under the programme.
