How does Portuguese Citizenship by Naturalisation work in Portugal, and who qualifies?

Portuguese citizenship by naturalisation is open to non-EU nationals after a qualifying period of legal residence, together with language and integration requirements. You generally need the residence period in force at the time of application, Portuguese language proficiency at A2 level or above, knowledge of Portuguese civic and cultural matters, a clean serious-criminal record, and a declaration of adherence to democratic principles.

An important recent change is that a 2026 reform of the Nationality Law increased the required residence period beyond the previous five years for applications filed after it took effect. The exact period now varies by nationality, and transitional rules protect applications filed earlier.

Because these rules have changed and depend on your nationality and timing, it is especially important to confirm where you stand before applying. ACME can help you assess your residence history against the current and transitional rules and prepare for the language and integration requirements, and we recommend verifying your situation on the official gov.pt pages.