How to Secure Your Portuguese Citizenship Before It’s Too Late!
How to Secure Your Portuguese Citizenship Before It’s Too Late!
Recently, there’s been a lot of discussion in Portugal’s Parliament about potential changes to citizenship requirements for foreigners. The big one that’s got everyone panicked is the proposition to change the residency requirement from five to 10 years, meaning you’d have to be a resident of the country for 10 years before applying for citizenship. Although the legal pushback to this proposal has, for now, delayed any official decisions to the law, it’s possible there may be further changes in the future. So, how can you secure your Portuguese citizenship before it’s too late?
Let’s get into it.
Portuguese Citizenship - Is it Worth it?
Portugal is often praised as a quick and relatively easy gateway to receiving an EU passport. With only a five-year residency requirement (again, for now), it’s one of the most attainable ways to move to Europe and become a citizen. And once you’ve got citizenship in an EU country, you have access to a lot of new perks - namely the ability to travel to, live, and work in any member country without needing a visa.
In addition, you’ll also gain the right to vote in Portugal and have your voice heard.
As of 2025, a Portuguese passport ranks 24th in the Global Passport Index, making it highly sought after.
Your Pathway to an EU Passport
There are multiple options to earning your Portuguese passport as a non-EU citizen.
Some may be able to attain citizenship through marriage or descent. But, for the rest of us you have to go through the naturalization process.
Many foreigners opt for the D7 or D8 visa with a path to residency, which after five years allows you to apply for permanent residency and/or citizenship. There’s also the Golden Visa, which offers a pathway to citizenship through a large investment.
If you’ve been a resident of Portugal for at least five years and are also applying for permanent residency, now is your chance to nab the highly valuable EU passport.
Requirements for Portuguese Citizenship
Apart from the residency requirement, you’ll need to complete a decent amount of paperwork for citizenship. Portugal is the land of bureaucracy, so you know what this means - consult a lawyer and make sure you have every document you need.
Josh and Kalie recently experienced this when they applied for citizenship and shared their insights. Many of the documents you needed for your visa approval are once again required for your citizenship application. One of those documents is an official background check from any country where you’ve held residency. Kalie had to rush to book fingerprinting appointments at the American Embassy in Lisbon so they could be shipped to the FBI, notarized, and shipped back to Portugal.
Other requirements For the Article 6.1 application include:
Power of Attorney;
Legalised copy of your current Residence Permit;
Legalised copies of previous residence permits and/or evidence of legal residence (e.g., Manifestation of Interest, CRUE, etc.) to demonstrate five years of legal residence in Portugal;
Apostilled Birth Certificate;
CIPLE A2 Certificate or Portuguese Language Course Certificate (PLA);
Criminal records from all countries of nationality, birth, and residence (after the age of 16 and for periods exceeding six months).
Please note: the Portuguese criminal record will be obtained directly by the Civil Registry Office.
How Much Will it Cost
Your total investment in acquiring your Portuguese passport can vary depending on the amount of documents you need from your home country and if you enlist the help of a lawyer.
But, the citizenship application cost is €250 per person. You have to factor in the costs of your criminal background check, document notarization, and any needed translations into Portuguese. Plus, any Portuguese language classes and the CIPLE exam, which is approximately €72.
Save 15% with on a great class, Portuguese with Leo, here.
Should I Hire a Lawyer?
Seeing as Portugal's requirements are ever evolving, it may be necessary to consult an immigration lawyer who can help you navigate the bureaucracy.
Can you do it without legal help? It seems unclear; a lawyer may be needed to complete the process.
And hiring a trusted expert can certainly help things go smoother. Email Kalie at info@expatseverywhere.com if you need an introduction.
How Long Will it Take to Get Approved for Portuguese Citizenship?
Now this question is harder to answer. Portugal is famous for immigration delays, right now.
Although some sources say citizenship requests may be processed between 6-12 months, it’s a safer bet to expect 18-24 months before you receive approval.
In the meantime, you’ll have to concurrently apply for permanent residency if you haven’t already.
Final Words on Portuguese Citizenship
We all know the immigration system and bureaucracy in Portugal can be an obstacle. But, having a Portuguese/EU passport comes with immense perks for many people.
If you want to be a global citizen, travel and live freely within the EU, and have civic rights in Portugal, then now may be the perfect time to apply for citizenship.
Thinking of moving to Portugal?
Kalie is available for one-on-one consultations, or you can bundle a course and a consult.
