How to Get Portugal CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 5 years1 change not yet in force and not applied: see the timeline.
- Language
- Required, no test
- Dual citizenship
- Accepted
- Civic test
- Required, no test specified
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- No income condition in the law
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Accepted in both directionsNew citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship.Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship.
- Available routes
- Region
- Europe
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024
- Last checked
- 5 November 2026
What changed since 2024
- Adopted, not yet in force
New nationality law: residence requirement raised to 10 years (7 for CPLP and EU citizens). Constitutional Court struck down several provisions and the President vetoed the law (Dec 2025); final text and entry into force must be confirmed.
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. The changes in the timeline above are not in force and are not applied.
Naturalisation (residence)
For foreign nationals living in Portugal, this is the ordinary route based on residence. An application is required, and citizenship must be granted once the legal conditions are met.
Adopted, not yet in force, 15 December 2025: New nationality law: residence requirement raised to 10 years (7 for CPLP and EU citizens). Constitutional Court struck down several provisions and the President vetoed the law (Dec 2025); final text and entry into force must be confirmed.
- Residence
- 5 years
Person has been resident in Portugal for 5 years.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Language
- Required, no test or certificate specified
Sufficient knowledge of Portuguese language required.
- Civic knowledge
- Required, no test specified
Existence of an effective link with the national community required.
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
No convictions for committing a crime punished with a prison sentence of 3 or more years according to Portuguese law, no danger or threat to security or national defence, for involvement in activities related to the practice of terrorism.
- Income or economic resources
- No income condition in the law
Marriage or civil partnership
For spouses of citizens of Portugal, the rules below set out what this route requires. An application is required, and citizenship must be granted once the legal conditions are met.
Person has been the spouse or unmarried partner (recognised by a court of law) of a citizen for more than 3 years. No effective connection to community requirement. Other conditions: no effective link with another country, no conviction for committing a crime that carries a prison sentence of 3 years or more, and no public function or non-obligatory service for a foreign state.
Descent (citizen parent)
This route covers children of a citizen of Portugal, subject to the conditions below.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in Portugal to a citizen.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen who resides abroad in the service of Portugal.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen (who is not in the service of Portugal).
Birth in the country
Birth in Portugal is the starting point of this route, together with the conditions below.
Birth in country
Person is a descendant of foreigners that are not in the service of the respective State, does not declare he/she do not want to be a Portuguese citizen and at least one of the parents resides legally in Portugal or resided in Portugal regardless of title for at least one year at the time of his/her birth.
Birth in country (two generations)
Person is born in Portugal to a person who was also born there and who is resident there (legal or illegal residence).
Birth in country (acquisition after birth)
Person is a minor who is born in Portugal and one of whose parents has been resident there for at least five years (regardless of title) immediately preceding the request or is legally resident. Other conditions: no convictions for committing a crime punished with a prison sentence of 3 or more years and absence of practice of terrorism related activities.
Birth in country (acquisition after birth)
Person is born in Portugal, has resided there for 5 years (legal or illegal) and one of his/her parents have residence in Portugal (legal or illegal) at the time of his/her birth.
Child of a new citizen
A parent acquiring citizenship of Portugal is the basis of this route. An application is required, and citizenship must be granted once the legal conditions are met.
Person is a minor, or incapacitated adult, whose parent is acquiring citizenship. Other conditions: no effective link with another country, no conviction for committing a crime that carries a prison sentence of 3 years or more, and no public function or non-obligatory service for a foreign state.
Adoption
This route covers people adopted by a citizen of Portugal, subject to the conditions below.
Person is a minor who is adopted by a citizen after the entry in force of the Law 37/1981. Other conditions: no effective link with another country, no conviction for committing a crime that carries a prison sentence of 3 years or more, and no public function or non-obligatory service for a foreign state.
Person (minor or adult) was adopted by a citizen before the entry in force of the Law 37/1981. Other conditions: no effective link with another country, no conviction for committing a crime that carries a prison sentence of 3 years or more, and no public function or non-obligatory service for a foreign state.
Other family members of citizens
A family tie to a citizen, former citizen or new citizen of Portugal is the basis of this route. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person is an ancestor of a Portuguese citizen of origin. Conditions: residence in Portugal, for at least 5 years immediately before the naturalization's request, and the ancestry must be established at the moment of the Portuguese citizen's birth.
Person was born abroad and is the grandchild of a citizen, who has not lost his or her citizenship. No residence requirement. Other conditions: declaration of will to acquire the Portuguese nationality, proof of an effective connection to the Portuguese community.
Former citizens (reacquisition)
Earlier citizenship of Portugal is the basis of this route.
Person is a citizen of another country and a former citizen.
Person lost citizenship as a minor, or is a woman who lost citizenship due to marriage, or lost citizenship due to voluntary acquisition of citizenship of another country.
Ethnic or cultural affinity
An ethnic or cultural connection to Portugal is the basis of this route. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person has Portuguese ancestry or belongs to a Portuguese community abroad. Absence of criminal convictions as indicated in the rules for ordinary naturalisation.
Person is a Sephardic Jew with a demonstrable link to Portugal. Absence of criminal convictions as indicated in the rules for ordinary naturalisation.
Residence during childhood
For people who spent part of their childhood in Portugal, the rules below set out what applies.
Person is a minor who was born in Portugal and who has completed elementary school or high school there.
Person is a minor covered by a protection measure and is hosted by a public, cooperative, social or private institution with a cooperation agreement with the Portuguese State. Other conditions: sufficient knowledge of Portuguese language, no convictions for committing a crime punished with a prison sentence of 3 or more years, no danger or threat to security or national defence, for involvement in activities related to the practice of terrorism (see the rules for ordinary naturalisation).
Stateless persons
For people without any citizenship, the rules below show what the law of Portugal provides. The law of Portugal confers citizenship automatically, independent of any administrative decision.
Foundlings
Person is a newborn infant found in Portugal of unknown parentage.
Otherwise stateless (born in country)
Person is born in Portugal and is not entitled to citizenship of another country.
Special achievements
This route covers people recognised for special achievements or for contributions to Portugal, subject to the conditions below. Authorities retain discretion and may refuse an application even when the conditions are met.
Person has rendered or is called to render relevant services to Portugal or to the Portuguese community. Absence of criminal convictions as indicated in the rules for ordinary naturalisation.
Not available in Portugal: Citizens of specific countries, Very long residence, Refugees, Public or military service, Investment. Based on the GLOBALCIT coding of the law, updated with in-force changes.
Dual citizenship
Portugal accepts dual citizenship in both directions.
- New citizens
- New citizens do not have to give up their previous citizenship
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship
Compare with neighbours
Compare Portugal with all countries in the residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Albania | 7 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina | 3 years | Required, no test | Citizens abroad only |
 Greece | 7 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Kosovo | 5 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Malta | 7 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 North Macedonia | 7 years | Required, no test | Citizens abroad only |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 6(1).
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (2026, November 5). How to Get Portugal Citizenship. https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/portugal/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/portugal/">How to Get Portugal Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, last checked 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become a Portuguese citizen?
5 years of residence, under the ordinary naturalisation route. The conditions that come with it are listed on this page. A change that is not yet in force may affect this: see the timeline above.
Does Portugal allow dual citizenship?
Yes. The law of Portugal accepts dual citizenship for new citizens and for citizens who naturalise abroad.
Do I need a language test for Portuguese citizenship?
Language ability is required for Portuguese citizenship, though no test or certificate is specified.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Portuguese citizenship?
Civic knowledge is required for Portuguese citizenship, though no specific test is defined.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Portuguese citizenship?
There is no obligation to renounce your current citizenship to get Portuguese citizenship. The law of your current country may have its own rules on this.
Can I get Portugal citizenship by marriage?
Yes, the law of Portugal has a route for spouses. Procedure: entitlement.
Can I get Portugal citizenship by descent?
Yes. A child of a citizen can acquire citizenship of Portugal by descent. Procedure: automatic, entitlement.
Can I get Portugal citizenship by investment?
No investment route is coded in the law of Portugal.
Related pages
Also see: Portugal passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.