The newly formed Qualified Immigrants Union (União dos Imigrantes Qualificados or Uniq) has criticized the recently promulgated Nationality Law for extending access timelines and ignoring the positive contributions of foreign residents. The law, which takes effect upon publication in the Diário da República, ends the special naturalization route for descendants of Sephardic Jews and introduces stricter criteria for citizenship. Only pending applications will be processed under the previous rules.