The Nationality Law has not yet reached the Portuguese president for a final decision.
The law hasn't changed yet.
Despite the recent votes in the Portuguese Parliament, The new Nationality Law has not yet come into effect.The final draft of the decree was only completed on November 5th and, at any moment, it will have to go through the process again. analysis by the President of the RepublicMarcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who may to veto, approve, or forward the bill to the Constitutional Court..
New applications via the Sephardic route or through transmission to minor children and spouses remain valid....until any new law is enacted and published in the Official Gazette. Since each process requires document preparation and prior analysis, it is best to start as soon as possible to ensure that it is filed under the current rules.
Understand the stages of the legislative process.
To understand the current stage and what still needs to happen, see the main steps in the process:
- Project presentation The Government has submitted a proposal to amend the Nationality Law.
- Approval by the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, and Freedoms and Guarantees Voting held in October 24th.
- Final vote in Parliament Approved in October 28.
- The text was sent by Parliament to the President of the Republic. - It hasn't happened yet.
- Analysis of the draft reform of the Nationality Law by the President, who may:
- Approve and send the text for publication in the Official Gazette;
- To veto it politically, returning it to Parliament;
- Or refer the diploma to the Constitutional Court to verify its compliance with the Constitution.
- Final decision and publication. – If approved, the text will be published in the Official Gazette and will become law.
- Regulation The Government will then need to define the details of how the new rules, which add requirements (such as tests of Portuguese culture and history), will be implemented.
Only after all these steps have been completed The change could produce concrete effects.
Safety and ongoing monitoring
Until the enactment, there is still room for vetoes, revisions or legal consultationsThe situation remains open and under review by the President of the Republic.
Martins Castro It monitors legislative progress daily. and advises its clients based on the current legal situation, reinforcing the importance of acting with information and peace of mind.
If you have not yet started your order via the Sephardic route, please fill out the form below:
Portuguese | Spanish | English | Hebrew
If you wish to transfer to children and spouses, access and submit the form:
Portuguese | Spanish | Hebrew
Monitoring of Nationality Processes in Portugal – November 2025
In November 2025, Martins Castro continues to closely monitor the Portuguese nationality processes, which continue to face deadlines […]
Transmission of nationality to children and spouses: what needs to change and why acting now is crucial.
The amendments to the Portuguese Nationality Law approved by Parliament are not yet in effect. The text is awaiting review by […]
Legal action: an alternative to expedite nationality processes.
When the nationality process exceeds the legal deadline of 90 working days without a decision, it is possible to appeal to a […]