On 29 October 2026, the Council of Ministers approved the decree-law regulating the new Portuguese Nationality Law. It is a meaningful step for anyone planning a citizenship application, but the text has not yet been published and is therefore not yet in force.
Until it is published, the detailed requirements remain unknown: which certificates will be accepted, what exemptions apply, how the transitional rules will work, and when it all takes effect.
What the regulation covers
According to the Government’s announcement, the decree-law addresses:
- Tests of Portuguese language, culture, history and institutions;
- Evidence of the ability to support oneself;
- A formal declaration of commitment to the principles of the democratic rule of law;
- The collection of biometric data;
- Measures to simplify and digitalise nationality applications.
Why it matters
The new Nationality Law has been in force since 19 May 2026. Among other changes, it extended the period of legal residence required for naturalisation to seven years for citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries (CPLP) and EU Member States, and to ten years for everyone else.
The law laid down the general framework. It is now for the regulation to set out how it applies in practice: how language knowledge is demonstrated, what proof of self-support is needed, and which new steps the application process will include.
What happens next
Approval by the Council of Ministers does not, by itself, bring the regulation into force. The next steps are consideration and promulgation by the President, countersignature by the Government and publication in the Official Gazette *(Diário da República)*. The published text will set its own entry-into-force date.
What to consider in the meantime
If you have a pending application, or are preparing one, the approval does not change anything already under way for now. The points that matter most in each case, such as how residence periods are counted or how administrative delays are treated, can only be properly assessed once the final text is published. Until then, we recommend caution with summaries and interpretations circulating in the meanwhile.
How VCA can help
These rules affect anyone looking to apply for Portuguese nationality, including Golden Visa investors and their families. We are following the process closely and, once the decree-law is published, will assess its impact on each application, pending or future.
