Portuguese Republic
Portuguese Republic settlement & citizenship
A nationality-law reform approved on 28 October 2025 (amending Law 37/81) raised the naturalisation residence requirement from 5 to 10 years — 7 years for nationals of EU and CPLP (Portuguese-speaking) countries. Permanent residence remains available after 5 years. Transitional rules are still settling, so verify your own timeline against the current law.
Last reviewed 1 June 2026.
Stages — from visa to passport
- 1
Temporary residence permit
Initial 2 years, renewable for 3 years
- Who qualifies
- D7 passive-income residents, D8 Digital Nomad, Golden Visa, D3 Highly Qualified Activity, work-contract holders.
- Key gate
- Continue to meet the underlying visa conditions; AIMA renewal on schedule.
- 2
Permanent residence permit
Indefinite
- Who qualifies
- 5 years of continuous legal residence.
- Key gate
- A2 Portuguese language, absence limits (no more than 8 months consecutive or 10 months non-consecutive during 5-year window), tax and social-security compliance.
- 3
Portuguese citizenship by naturalisation
Apply after 10 years of legal residence (7 years for EU and CPLP nationals), under the 28 October 2025 reform to Law 37/81
- Who qualifies
- Residents after 10 years (7 for EU/CPLP nationals); the residence clock runs from first residence-card issuance. Sephardic Jewish descent route closed in December 2024.
- Key gate
- A2 Portuguese (CIPLE test), clean criminal record in Portugal and origin country, continuous residence verified by AIMA.
Physical presence
10 years of legal residence for naturalisation (7 for EU/CPLP nationals) under the October 2025 reform to Law 37/81; the clock runs from first residence-permit issuance. Permanent residence is still reached at 5 years.
Language level
A2 Portuguese (CIPLE test from CAPLE-Universidade de Lisboa).
Test / oath
No citizenship test beyond the language exam. Naturalisation decree published in the Diário da República.
Dual citizenship
Portugal permits dual and multiple citizenship without restriction.
Typical full timeline
Arrival → permanent residence (5 years) → citizenship eligibility (10 years of residence, or 7 for EU/CPLP nationals).
Primary source
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get Portuguese citizenship after first arriving in Portugal?
Arrival → permanent residence (5 years) → citizenship eligibility (10 years of residence, or 7 for EU/CPLP nationals).
How many days a year must I physically be in Portugal to qualify?
10 years of legal residence for naturalisation (7 for EU/CPLP nationals) under the October 2025 reform to Law 37/81; the clock runs from first residence-permit issuance. Permanent residence is still reached at 5 years.
What language level do I need for Portuguese citizenship?
A2 Portuguese (CIPLE test from CAPLE-Universidade de Lisboa).
Does Portugal allow dual citizenship?
Portugal permits dual and multiple citizenship without restriction.