More than 25,000 nationality applications remain pending at Portuguese consular posts due to staff shortages.
Data released by the Ministry of Justice indicates that 25,507 applications for Portuguese nationality remain pending. at Portuguese consular posts. The volume corresponds to the processes awaiting integration of birth certificates at the Central Registry Office (CRC), a necessary step for the advancement of the requests.
Of the total pending cases, 629 relate to children over one year of age, while 24.878 These measures pertain to adults. Only seats for children under one year old have been integrated on the same day, according to official information.
Why the delay? Lack of human resources.
The explanation provided by the Government highlights a structural problem: the Institute of Registries and Notaries (IRN) is facing a continuous reduction of human resourcesThis is a result of retirements, transfers, and the absence of new recruitment processes.
According to the Ministry of Justice, these limitations have a "direct and very significant impact" on the responsiveness of registry services, especially the Central Registry Office — responsible for a large part of nationality processes.
What is planned to solve the problem?
To mitigate the backlog, the Government states that it is carrying out several competitive recruitment processes aimed at replacing staff. The following are planned:
- 159 new record keepers,
- 8 professionals for reinforcement in the Autonomous Region of Madeira,
- 617 registry officials.
The expectation is that the arrival of these professionals will allow for the recovery of some of the backlogged cases and improve response times for processes handled both in Portugal and abroad. Read the full article. on here.
Impacts for applicants
The high number of pending applications particularly affects Brazilians and other citizens who go to consulates to begin nationality applications. The integration of registration records is one of the first stages of the procedure and, for many applicants, represents the point of greatest waiting.
This scenario reinforces the importance of presenting complete, accurate, and legally sound processes in order to avoid rework and reduce the risk of new issues.
Why expedite orders when possible?
The backlog of over 25,000 pending applications demonstrates that the processing time for nationality applications may remain strained, even with the announced increase in staff. Combined with the ongoing legislative debate—with potential changes still under review by the Constitutional Court—this is a time that demands careful planning.
For those who have nationality pathways already viable under current rulesExpediting the application process can be strategic. A qualified legal assessment helps identify sound legal avenues, prepare comprehensive documentation, and reduce the risk of further delays.
Legislative changes They have not yet come into effect....and all requests continue to be processed in accordance with current legislation.
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