New IRN board faces challenge of accelerating process analysis
The year begins with a change in the board of directors of the Institute of Registries and Notaries (IRN), the body responsible for analyzing applications for Portuguese nationality. By decision of the Secretary of State for Justice, Maria José Barros, the then vice-president Jorge Rodrigues da Ponte takes over the management of the institute.
The new vice-president will be the current director of the Civil Registry Office of Lisbon, Registry Officer Cristina Mesquita.
According to Isabel Comte, a lawyer at Martins Castro, the expectation of this change is a greater investment in the area of technology for analyzing accumulated processes: “as vice-president, he was the one who encouraged the implementation of new technologies at IRN. That is why I believe that this new Board of Directors should invest more in this area”.
Regarding the current situation at IRN, Isabel adds: “Upon being appointed to the position, Ponte must deal with challenges that are already known: delays in resolving requests and a lack of employees”. In parallel, another challenge for this president is to advance the preparation and hiring of new employees, as commented by Renato Martins in interview with Público.
The replacement aims to bring the IRN closer to the objectives defined by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) created by the Portuguese government to resume economic development after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Changes to the Nationality Law will not be implemented until at least September
Sephardic nationality remains valid until at least September. The Portuguese Parliament's Committee on Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees […]
Per Marketing Martins Castro
on July 9, 2025
“This measure is not just legal, it is deeply symbolic,” says Isabel Comte
More than eight years after Portugal created the Sephardic route for granting Portuguese nationality, the government now proposes to revoke […]
Per Marketing Martins Castro
on July 8, 2025
Nationality Process Monitor in Portugal – July 2025
In July 2025, Martins Castro continues to closely monitor Portuguese nationality processes, which continue to face deadlines […]
Per Marketing Martins Castro
on July 3, 2025