Immigration: Residency requirements news in Portugal

AD proposes two years of legal residency for immigrants to access the Single Social Benefit

The PSD and CDS submitted amendments this Tuesday to the Government's proposal creating the Single Social Benefit (PSU), establishing a minimum period of two years of legal residency as a condition for access by non-EU citizens.

Chega wants to limit the Single Social Benefit to two years; PS proposes maintaining current access rules for existing subsidies

Just before the deadline, Chega and PS submitted their proposals for amendments to the creation of the Single Social Benefit. Chega wants to require five years of residency and social security contributions. The PS maintains the social work requirement, but integrated into inclusion measures with state obligations.

Macau: Minister admits difficulty in hiring teachers

Fernando Alexandre acknowledged that there are difficulties in hiring teachers for Portuguese educational institutions in Macau. The main reason is changes to residency application requirements.

Portugal tightens citizenship rules, raises residency requirement to 10 years

The Economic Times6 May

Nationality Law: Government says text is "robust" and does not condition presidential decision

The two bills regarding the Nationality Law will reach President António José Seguro in the coming days. Minister António Leitão Amaro stated that the government will not influence the President's position, but maintains that the legislation is constitutionally sound. The new rules include stricter residency requirements for children born in Portugal and the end of the special regime for descendants of Sephardic Jews.

German men up to age 45 may need military authorisation to live abroad

A little-known clause in Germany's new military service law is causing controversy. Since January, men between the ages of 17 and 45 may be required to seek authorisation from the armed forces to remain abroad for more than three months. The government guarantees that the measure will be primarily administrative as long as military service remains voluntary.

Amid uncertainties, Nationality Law and related petitions to be debated in Parliament this Wednesday

The Nationality Law is set for parliamentary discussion this week, with votes scheduled for Wednesday, April 1st, at 3:00 PM. Alongside the legislation, three petitions from immigrants will be considered. The law's passage remains uncertain, as André Ventura of the Chega party has criticised the government's text as too lenient. Meanwhile, the Socialist Party (PS) has proposed amendments to create a more balanced approach, including a transitional regime. The debate follows a Constitutional Court ruling that found previous amendments unconstitutional. The petitions, authored by Ilia Bobin, Juliet Cristino, and lawyer Priscila S. Nazareth Ferreira, advocate for maintaining the five-year residency requirement and counting residency time from the date of the initial application, proposals that currently face government resistance.

Diário de Notícias31 Mar

PS proposes a 'more balanced' nationality law with a transitional regime

The Socialist Party (PS) has submitted proposals to address unconstitutional aspects of the nationality law while introducing a transitional regime. The party maintains its opposition to the penalty of loss of nationality, despite amendments proposed by the PSD and CDS. The debate is scheduled for Wednesday at 3:00 PM in Parliament. To correct issues identified by the Constitutional Court, the PS proposes that prior criminal convictions should not automatically prevent the acquisition of nationality, requiring a case-by-case assessment. The party also seeks to shorten residency requirements for naturalization and eliminate the requirement to prove means of subsistence at the time of application. Furthermore, the PS proposes a phased entry into force and a transitional regime to protect the expectations of those currently in the process, ensuring that changes to residency periods are implemented progressively until 2028.

Nationality Law returns to parliament on April 1st

The Government's bill amending the Nationality Law will return to the Portuguese parliament on April 1st. The approved changes affect children of foreigners born in Portugal, who will no longer be entitled to automatic nationality, and increase the residency requirement for Brazilians to apply for citizenship from 5 to 7 years. On April 1st, parliamentarians will perform a bureaucratic step to formalize the discussion of the veto by former president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who sent the proposal to the Constitutional Court for review. The court deemed some measures unconstitutional. With the discussion on the 1st, the Government may present the revised text for a vote. If approved by the deputies, the new president, António José Seguro, will review the bill.

Diário de Notícias28 Mar

Portugal 2026 Citizenship & Immigration Reforms - Jobbatical

The article outlines significant changes to Portugal's nationality and immigration laws set to take effect in 2026, impacting expats and investors. Key reforms include: 1. Extended Residency Requirements: Naturalization now requires 7 years of legal residence for applicants from Portuguese-speaking countries and 10 years for others. Stricter integration criteria will be enforced, including language and civic knowledge tests. 2. Narrowed Citizenship Eligibility: The pathway for citizenship through Sephardic Jewish descent has been eliminated. Ancestry-based nationality is now limited to third-generation descendants who can prove a genuine connection. Additionally, children born to foreign parents must have at least one parent legally residing in Portugal for 3 years to apply. 3. Tighter Immigration Controls: Job-seeker visas will be restricted to highly qualified professionals, and family reunification will require a minimum of 2 years of residence. These reforms aim to streamline immigration processes and enhance integration standards for new residents in Portugal.

jobbatical.com10 Feb

Brazilians gain more time to apply for Portuguese citizenship with court decision

With the Constitutional Court's vetoes on changes to the Nationality Law, the five-year residency requirement in Portugal for Brazilians to apply for Portuguese citizenship remains in effect, rather than the proposed seven years.

Major developments in immigration law and nationality law ... - IBA

The article outlines significant changes in Portugal's immigration and nationality laws from December 2024 to September 2025. Key developments include: 1. Technical Amendments: In February 2025, Law No 9/2025 updated the Law on Foreigners (Law 23/2007) to comply with EU Entry/Exit regulations, clarifying the issuance and validity of residence authorizations for nationals from Portuguese-speaking countries. 2. Tightened Nationality Rules: A government proposal in June 2025 suggested stricter nationality acquisition criteria, including longer residence requirements (seven years for Portuguese speakers, ten years for others), mandatory language and civic tests, and revised family reunification criteria. 3. Parliamentary Approval: In July 2025, Parliament approved a reform package that codified these changes, including longer residence thresholds and enhanced integration requirements. 4. Constitutional Court Intervention: In August 2025, the Constitutional Court struck down several provisions of the new immigration law, particularly those limiting family reunification, citing violations of constitutional rights. This led to political debates and a return of the decree to Parliament for reconsideration. 5. Ongoing Revisions: Following the court's decision, the government initiated efforts in September 2025 to amend the immigration law in accordance with constitutional standards. Overall, this period marks a significant legislative shift in Portugal's approach to immigration and nationality, characterized by both reforms and judicial challenges.

ibanet.org20 Oct