The period of naturalization for most foreigners increases from 5 to 10 years. For citizens of the EU and the member states of the Commonwealth of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP), the term will be 7 years. Important change: the required time period starts only from the moment of obtaining a residence permit (and not from the date of application), which cancels the 2024 amendment.
The President signed the law with reservations.In his statement, he stressed that such important changes should be based on a broader consensus, not just a parliamentary majority. He also pointed out that the revision of the law should not harm legal certainty and trust in institutions.
Two key remarks of the president concern law enforcement. Firstly, applications already under consideration should not be affected by the changes. Secondly, the established time frame for obtaining citizenship should not be extended due to bureaucratic delays by the state (given that AIMA often spends 2-3 years issuing a residence permit, the real time for many may reach 9-13 years). These comments may influence court decisions.
What hasn't changed and what is still valid?The Golden Visa program and obtaining permanent residence after 5 years remain unchanged. The new deadlines apply only to naturalization. A separate decree on the deprivation of citizenship for criminal offenses has been suspended for the time being due to a request to the Constitutional Court (it had previously rejected a similar provision). The law will come into force after publication, the date of which has not yet been announced.Source: IMI
