Portugal's updated nationality law has officially increased residency requirements for citizenship, extending the threshold from five to seven years for nationals of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa or CPLP). Immigrant associations have met with the Presidency to voice concerns regarding bureaucracy at the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo or AIMA) and the impact of these legislative changes.
New nationality law impacts residency requirements for immigrants
Thursday, 21 May 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
The Community of Portuguese Language Countries (Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa or CPLP) is an intergovernmental organization of nine nations where Portuguese is an official language. It facilitates political, diplomatic, and cultural cooperation between member states, including Portugal, Brazil, Angola, and Mozambique.
Temporary residence is a limited residence permit that allows non‑EU nationals to live in Portugal for a set period (commonly one year, renewable) for study, work or other reasons. The Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (AIMA) launching an online form means eligible students who also work can apply or regularise their status more easily through AIMA’s process rather than only via consular services.
