Portugal nationality law regulation approved: what to know

On 29 October 2026, Portugal’s Council of Ministers took a key step on citizenship. It approved the decree-law that regulates the new Nationality Law and sets out the new requirements for getting Portuguese nationality. The text was not yet public when we wrote this. Here is what is confirmed and what is still unclear.

Information as of October 2026. Rules can change, so always check the official sources at the end.

What happened

The nationality law itself is not new. Parliament approved it on 1 April 2026, in a second version, after the Constitutional Court found problems in the first one. The President promulgated it in early May.

The law set the big rules. The new decree-law explains how they work in practice. The Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, said the main pillars were already in the law. He said the Government now had to approve the regulation for "full application", while also trying to make procedures less bureaucratic.

What the decree-law covers

According to the reports we found, the decree-law sets:

• The conditions for the tests on Portuguese language, culture, history and institutions.
• The framework for the requirement to show you can support yourself.
• How applicants must declare their adherence to the principles of the democratic rule of law.
• The procedure for collecting biometric data.

The Government also says the decree-law has a speed-up side. It aims to simplify and digitalise the process, improve how public services share information and make it easier to get documents. The goal is to cut red tape and speed up decisions.

Residence periods: what the Government says

The official Government news page gives these figures:

• Seven years of legal residence for people from the PALOP countries and citizens of the European Union.
• Ten years for nationals of all other countries.
• For children born in Portugal to foreign parents, original nationality depends on one parent having at least five years of legal residence at the time of birth.

A detail to watch: CPLP or PALOP?

The sources do not describe the seven-year group in the same way. The Government page says PALOP (Portuguese-speaking African countries). ECO reports the minister’s words as meaning CPLP citizens. The Portugal News also says Portuguese-speaking African countries and EU states. The law text itself refers to "países de língua oficial portuguesa" (Portuguese-speaking countries) and EU member states, or 10 years.

This matters a lot for Brazilian readers. We do not want to guess. Please wait for the final published text and read how it defines the seven-year group.

Is it in force yet?

Not as far as we could confirm. A guide that tracks the official steps says the decree-law applies only after the President promulgates it and it is published in the Diário da República. The same guide says the language test level, the format of the culture test, the amount needed to show you can support yourself and the start date were not officially published yet.

So the headline is clear, but the details that decide your case are not available yet. Be careful with anyone who already claims to know the exact test level or income amount.

What about applications already submitted?

The law that changed nationality rules has a general transition rule. Administrative procedures still pending when the law came into force are handled under the older version of the Nationality Law. We have not seen how the new decree-law treats pending files. That is a question for the final text and for the competent authority.

Background: other news this week

The same Council of Ministers meeting also dealt with AIMA. The Government named César Teixeira as the new president of AIMA. The minister said AIMA had 60% more appointments in 2026 than in 2025. He also said it received 185,000 people and handled 500,000 call-centre contacts. These numbers come from the Government, and unions and lawyers have a different view. Nationality requests are a separate process from AIMA residence files, so check which body handles your case.

What this means for you

Here are practical steps. They are general information, not legal advice.

1. Do not panic and do not rush. Wait for the decree-law to be promulgated and published. Then read the real text.
2. Check your own timeline. Work out how many years of legal residence you have. Check whether the Government counts your country in the seven-year or the ten-year group.
3. Keep your documents in order. Keep your residence permits, tax and social security records, and proof of income. The decree-law deals with proof of means, so these records will likely matter.
4. Start improving your Portuguese. The law requires language knowledge. We do not know the level yet. Free courses and local resources can help you prepare.
5. Use official sources. Check the Diário da República, portugal.gov.pt and the website of the nationality authority. Avoid social media rumours and paid "guaranteed" offers.
6. Plan your travel carefully. If you must travel while waiting for a decision, keep your documents valid. Check the entry rules of your destination before you book anything.
7. Ask a qualified professional about your case. For your exact situation, speak to a lawyer or the competent authority.

Frequently asked questions

Does the new decree-law change my nationality application today?

Not automatically. As of October 2026, the reports we found say the decree-law must still be promulgated and published. Until then, follow the official guidance for your file and ask the competent authority if you are unsure which rules apply.

How many years of residence do I need now?

The Government says seven years of legal residence for people from the PALOP countries and EU citizens, and ten years for everyone else. Some media describe the seven-year group as CPLP citizens. Check the final published text for your country.

Will there be a language and culture test?

Yes, the decree-law covers tests on Portuguese language, culture, history and institutions. The level and format were not yet officially published when we wrote this.