Portugal permanent residence vs citizenship in 2026

Since May 19, 2026, naturalizing as a Portuguese citizen requires 10 years of legal residence, or 7 years for citizens of EU member states and of Portuguese-speaking countries (Organic Law 1/2026, which amended Nationality Law 37/81). Permanent residence has not changed: after 5 years with a temporary residence permit you can apply for it under Article 80 of Law 23/2007, or for EU long-term resident status after 5 years of legal and uninterrupted residence. For many non-EU residents, permanent residence is now the realistic first goal.

What changed on May 19, 2026

Organic Law 1/2026 was published on May 18, 2026 and entered into force the next day. Article 6(1)(b) of the Nationality Law now requires legal residence of "pelo menos sete anos" for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries and EU citizens, "ou 10 anos" for everyone else. Before the change, the requirement was five years.

The other naturalization conditions in Article 6(1) still apply. You must be an adult, prove by test or certificate that you know Portuguese language and culture, history and national symbols, know a citizen's basic rights and duties and how the state is organized, declare adherence to the rule of law, have no disqualifying conviction, and be able to support yourself. The law gave the Government 90 days to update the Nationality Regulation, which sets how these conditions are proven, so check the current procedure with IRN before you apply.

How the years are counted

Article 15 of the Nationality Law counts as legal residence any period in Portugal with your situation regularized under the visas, permits or authorizations of the foreigners' law. Periods can be added together, continuous or not, as long as they fall within a maximum window of 12 years for nationals of non-EU, non-Portuguese-speaking countries (9 years for EU and Portuguese-speaking nationals).

One counting rule is gone. The former Article 15(4) also counted the time from the day you applied for your temporary residence permit, provided it was later granted. Organic Law 1/2026 revoked it. With current AIMA waiting times (see our AIMA processing times guide), this can add months. Ask an immigration lawyer how your own periods count.

Permanent residence after 5 years

Law 23/2007 offers two long-stay statuses:

• Permanent residence permit (Article 80). For holders of a temporary residence permit for at least five years, with no prison sentence over one year in that period, means of subsistence, accommodation and basic Portuguese. The permit has no expiry date, but the card is renewed every five years (Article 76).
• EU long-term resident status (Article 126). For five years of legal and uninterrupted residence immediately before the application, with stable and regular resources, health insurance, accommodation and basic Portuguese. The EU card is valid for at least five years and renewable (Article 130). Under EU Directive 2003/109/EC, this status gives a right to reside in other member states for work, study or other purposes, under that directive's conditions.

Both give the right to work, study and access health care in Portugal (Article 83). Long absences can cost you the status: a permanent permit can be cancelled after 24 consecutive months away, or 30 months within three years, without good reason (Article 85). The EU status is lost after 12 consecutive months outside the EU (Article 131).

Golden Visa holders follow the same five-year step; see our guides to the Golden Visa in 2026 and the investment fund route.

Permanent residence vs citizenship

Descent routes: Sephardic closed, others still open

Article 6(7), which let descendants of Portuguese Sephardic Jews naturalize without the general residence and language requirements (since Organic Law 1/2024, it required 3 years of legal residence instead), now reads "[Revogado.]". Applications filed before the change keep the old rules: Article 7(2) of Organic Law 1/2026 states that administrative procedures pending when it entered into force are governed by the Nationality Law as worded before it. Ask IRN about the status of a pending file.

Two descent routes remain. Grandchildren of a Portuguese national of origin can obtain nationality of origin under Article 1(1)(d), if they declare that they want to be Portuguese and have effective ties to the national community; they must also meet conditions (c) to (h) of Article 6(1). Great-grandchildren (descendants in the 3rd degree in the direct line) can naturalize after five years of legal residence under Article 6(8).

By home country

Portugal does not ask you to give up another nationality. Your home country may.

• Japan. Under Article 11(1) of the Nationality Act, a Japanese national who acquires a foreign nationality by choice, for example through naturalization, automatically loses Japanese nationality (Ministry of Justice).
• Mainland China. Article 3 of the PRC Nationality Law does not recognize dual nationality, and Article 9 says a Chinese national settled abroad who voluntarily acquires a foreign nationality automatically loses Chinese nationality.
• United States. The State Department says a US citizen "may naturalize in a foreign state without any risk to their U.S. citizenship". US citizens must still use a US passport to enter and leave the United States.
• Israel. The Population and Immigration Authority treats giving up Israeli citizenship as a request the citizen files, with proof of another citizenship (gov.il). We found no official statement on dual nationality for this case; confirm with the Authority or an Israeli lawyer.

What Urbanis does

Urbanis is a licensed real estate agency (AMI 24596) in Porto. We coordinate relocation: finding a home, contracts, utilities and the practical steps around AIMA appointments. For nationality and residence applications, we refer you to independent immigration lawyers. We do not give legal advice. Our team works in Portuguese, English, Spanish and Hebrew. See Urbanis Relocation.

Frequently asked questions

How many years of residence do I need for Portuguese citizenship in 2026?

Ten years of legal residence, or seven for citizens of EU member states and Portuguese-speaking countries, since May 19, 2026.

Source: Nationality Law 37/81, Article 6(1)(b), consolidated text, Diário da República

Does the time I waited for my first residence permit count?

Not anymore. The rule that counted time from the date of the permit application (former Article 15(4)) was revoked on May 19, 2026.

Source: Organic Law 1/2026, Article 5, Diário da República

Can I still get permanent residence after five years?

Yes. Law 23/2007 still grants a permanent residence permit after five years with a temporary permit, and EU long-term resident status after five years of legal and uninterrupted residence, both with basic Portuguese among other conditions.

Source: Law 23/2007, Articles 80 and 126, consolidated text, Diário da República

I filed a Sephardic application before May 19, 2026. Which rules apply?

Procedures pending when Organic Law 1/2026 entered into force follow the Nationality Law as worded before it. New Sephardic applications are no longer possible.

Source: Organic Law 1/2026, Article 7(2), Diário da República

Will I lose my Japanese nationality if I become Portuguese?

Yes. Acquiring a foreign nationality by your own choice, such as by naturalization, ends Japanese nationality automatically.

Source: Japanese Ministry of Justice, Nationality Act Article 11(1), Q12

This article is general information, not legal advice. Laws change; check the official sources above before you act.