"A few years ago, Portugal made changes to make access to citizenship more humane."
In an interview with the column Portugal Giro, from the newspaper The globeLegal expert Isabel Comte analyzed the impact of the changes to the Nationality Law that are currently under review by the Constitutional Court. The proposal approved by Parliament significantly increases the required residency time for naturalization and repositions Portugal among the most stringent countries in the European Union.
Who will be affected: the main deadlines under discussion
The new legislation creates two distinct minimum residency requirements:
- Brazilians, citizens of the CPLP (Community of Portuguese Language Countries) and EU residents: would increase from 5 to 7 years.
- Other foreigners: the requirement would increase from 5 to 10 years, the maximum limit allowed in the European Union.
If the change is approved and takes effect in legislation, Portugal will leave the group of countries with moderate rules and move closer to more restrictive legislation, such as that of Austria, Italy, or Lithuania. Countries like Germany, France, and Sweden, for example, maintain the five-year requirement.
A debate that was already brewing.
In the analysis presented to The globeIsabel Comte recalled that, years ago, there was discussion about a possible harmonization of nationality rules in the EU. Portugal, which at that time was moving towards more inclusive access models, could, if this convergence progressed, be pressured to move closer to the more demanding models — a scenario that is now materializing with the proposal under debate.
A comparison with neighboring Spain highlights Portugal's shift in position: the Spanish maintain differentiated rules for Ibero-American immigrants, requiring only two years of official residency, while Portugal is moving towards stricter regulations.
The rule of time counting and its practical effects for immigrants.
In addition to the increased timeframes, the method of counting the seven years is worrying experts. The period would only begin to apply... from the date of issuance of the residence permit, disregarding the time many immigrants spend waiting for the document due to administrative delays.
"A few years ago, there was talk of the evolution of laws in each European country at a time when Portugal was making changes to make access to nationality more humane," Comte analyzes.
The process is suspended while the Constitutional Court reviews the law.
After approval in Parliament, the bill went to the President of the Republic, who is awaiting the decision of the Constitutional Court before signing or vetoing it.
Therefore, all changes remain suspended until the Court determines whether the proposal complies with the Constitution. The decision will be crucial in determining whether Portugal will proceed with the new restrictive architecture or whether Parliament will have to reassess the model.
The interview reinforces that Portugal is currently undergoing a redefinition of its nationality policies. The proposed changes directly affect thousands of residents who plan to consolidate their relationship with the country. The Constitutional Court's decision will bring the final direction to a debate that combines integration, legal certainty, and European alignment—central themes for the future of Portuguese migration policy.
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