Portugal has announced intentions to revamp its immigration rules, extending the residency requirement for international citizens to obtain nationality from five years to 10 years.
The statement was given by Antonio Leitao Amaro, Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, as part of wider changes intended to facilitate Portugal’s immigration system.
The minister stated that the action is designed to reorganize the access of immigrants in a more organized and sustainable manner.
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Based on Amaro, the authority’s goal is to attract eligible immigrants, emigrants, and their descendants, as well as investment immigration.
MAJOR CHANGES
- Citizenship wait duration has increased.
One of the major suggestions is to prolong the number of years immigrants are required to lawfully settle in Portugal before becoming eligible for nationality from five to ten years.
Furthermore, the duration between the request and authorization of a residence permit may no longer be counted toward the total residency condition. This standard could additionally delay access to nationality for several international citizens.
- Stringent family reunification laws
Amaro declared that Portugal would also implement more demanding requirements for family reunification.
This would mainly impact migrants from non-European Union countries, with additional conditions such as proficiency in the Portuguese language and evidence of economic independence anticipated to be required.
He attributed this action to the lack of public services, which he stated cannot presently satisfy the demands of the large influx of immigrants and their households.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
- These immigration changes follow the takeover of the office of the Prime Minister by Luis Montenegro’s government on June 15, 2025. Changing the immigration system was among the major campaign pledges, and the administration demonstrates a determination to act quickly.
- The minister emphasizes that the modifications will assist match immigration flows with federal capability and long-term economic demands.
- The Portuguese administration states that it plans to attract more highly educated experts, emigrants returning from overseas, and descendants of Portuguese nationals.
In February 2024, Portugal, through the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA), introduced a digital portal designed to facilitate the conversion of work permits into nationality more efficiently.
- This program is anticipated to decrease nationality request processing durations by up to 50 percent, a significant enhancement considering that nearly 1.4 million individuals have applied for Portuguese nationality in the last six years.
- For international employees, the changes permit persons with genuine job contracts who have contributed to Portugal’s Social Security system for a minimum of 30 days (before June 4, 2024) to benefit from the facilitated residency procedure. This modification assists skilled employees transitioning to legal residency status.
- Investors applying for Portugal’s Golden Visa Program are now subject to a more streamlined and digitized procedure. Under the new structure launched by AIMA, all necessary documents are required to be presented online through the ARI portal, eradicating paperwork and decreasing delays. Beginning from January 2025, biometric appointments will be automatically booked, additionally easing the procedure.
