The most radical changes relate to length of stay: the period required for naturalization increases from five to ten years for most foreigners from outside the EU. In addition, the period of stay starts from the date of issue of the residence permit, and not from the moment of application.
It is important that transitional measures are not provided for current legal residents. Thousands of people who arrived under the old five-year program will now have to wait much longer for their passports.
The law also changes the rules of "soil rights": a child born in Portugal to foreigners will receive citizenship only if at least one of the parents has legally lived in the country for five years (previously, one year was enough). Supporters of the reform talk about protecting national identity, but critics call the new approach a crude tool that punishes law-abiding residents who have been paying taxes for years. An alternative would be a model based on real integration rather than a simple extension of time. For example, obtaining a permanent residence permit in two years is subject to passing the Portuguese language exam (A2 level) and a test of knowledge of the basics of the state and the history of the country. Naturalization would then be possible after five years of permanent residence, rather than ten years of formal residence, which would provide a powerful incentive to integrate into society as soon as possible.The situation in families is of particular concern: due to new requirements, children of the same parents may receive different civil status depending on the date of birth. A reasonable reservation about preserving the unity of the family could solve this problem. In addition, any reform should include transitional provisions for existing residents so as not to undermine confidence in Portugal's legal system.
While the decree is under consideration by the president, the country has time for reflection. The future of an economy thriving on international mobility and talent from around the world depends on which path is chosen.
Source: IMI
