What the New Nationality Law Changes
Naturalisation residency requirement (Artigo 6.º). Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 sets the legal-residence requirement at:
- 7 years for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries (CPLP) and of European Union member states.
- 10 years for nationals of all other countries.
The prior universal 5-year baseline is no longer available to new applicants from 19 May 2026 onward.
Civic and democratic-values requirements (Artigo 6.º(1)(c)(d)(e)). Applicants must now demonstrate:
- Sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language, culture, history, and national symbols (test or certificate).
- Sufficient knowledge of the fundamental rights and duties of nationality and of the political organisation of the Portuguese State.
- A solemn declaration of adherence to the fundamental principles of the democratic rule-of-law State.
The A2 Portuguese language requirement (CIPLE / CAPLE) is retained for non-Lusophone applicants.
Criminal-record framework (Artigo 6.º(1)(f)). The denial threshold of three years' imprisonment now applies specifically to terrorism, violent and especially-violent crime, highly organised crime, crimes against State security, and crimes of aid to illegal immigration. For these categories, paragraphs 14–16 add a rebuttable-presumption regime. For ordinary crimes outside these categories, the prior automatic three-year denial ground no longer applies in the same form.
Consolidation period (Artigo 12.º-B). The good-faith holding period before nullity-protection takes effect has been doubled from six to ten years.
Loss of nationality (Artigo 8.º). The statute retains only voluntary renunciation by dual nationals as a ground for loss of nationality. The broader loss-of-nationality grounds proposed in the separate Decreto AR 49/XVII are not included in Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026.
Other paths — unchanged:
- Spouse / união de facto path: 3 years.
- Descent (jus sanguinis), including third-degree descendants.
- Permanent residency: still available after 5 years of legal residence (separate from citizenship).
In Force From 19 May 2026 — What This Means for Pending Applications
Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 was published in Diário da República n.º 95/2026, Série I, on 18 May 2026 and enters into force on 19 May 2026 under Artigo 8.º of the statute ("entra em vigor no dia seguinte ao da sua publicação").
For nationality applications filed with the IRN on or before 18 May 2026 (the day before entry into force): Artigo 7.º.2 of the new law confirms that the prior Lei n.º 37/81 regime continues to apply — "Aos procedimentos administrativos pendentes à data da entrada em vigor da presente lei aplica-se a Lei n.º 37/81, de 3 de outubro, na redação anterior à presente lei." These applications are not affected by the new 7/10-year residency change.
For investors at the residency stage who have not yet filed a nationality application — including Portugal Golden Visa holders who are still accruing the qualifying residency period — the new 7-year requirement (for CPLP and EU nationals) or 10-year requirement (for nationals of other countries) applies to any nationality application filed from 19 May 2026 onward. The statute contains no transitional provision for residency-stage holders. Whether residency time already accrued counts toward the new clock is currently disputed and the subject of an ongoing collective legal action led by Liberty Legal and Prime Legal. We recommend monitoring guidance from AIMA and the forthcoming Regulamento da Nacionalidade Portuguesa, which the Government is required to update within 90 days of 18 May 2026 under Artigo 4.º (Regulamentação).
Source: Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026, Diário da República n.º 95/2026, Série I, 18 May 2026 — https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/detalhe/lei-organica/1-2026-1123539996
