Portugal has unveiled plans to overhaul its immigration laws, extending the residency requirement for foreign nationals to obtain citizenship from five to ten years.
The announcement was made by António Leitão Amaro, Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, as part of broader reforms aimed at streamlining Portugal’s immigration system.
The minister said the move is designed to reorganise the entry of immigrants in a more orderly and sustainable way.
According to Amaro, the government’s objective is to attract qualified immigrants, emigrants and their descendants and investment immigration.
One of the central proposals is to extend the number of years immigrants must legally reside in Portugal before qualifying for citizenship from five to ten years.
In addition, the period between the application and approval of a residence permit may no longer count toward the total residency requirement. This measure could further delay access to citizenship for thousands of foreign nationals.
Amaro stated that Portugal would also enforce more demanding conditions for family reunification.
This would particularly affect migrants from non-European Union countries, with additional requirements such as Portuguese language proficiency and proof of economic independence expected to be introduced.
He attributed this move to the insufficiency of public services, which he said currently cannot meet the needs of the large influx of immigrants and their families.
In February 2024, Portugal, through the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), launched a digital portal designed to convert work permits into citizenship more efficiently.
The updated fee structure sets the cost at €6,045.20 for certified documents and €8,060.20 for uncertified submissions.