How to Get Portuguese Citizenship After the 2026 Reform: Step-by-Step Plan and Timeline

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From which date the ten-year requirement for Portuguese citizenship is counted

The ten-year requirement is counted from the date the first residence title is issued, not from the date the residence permit application is submitted or the date of entry. This rule is the only point where the calculation is most often incorrect: between submitting documents to the migration agency AIMA and receiving the residence card, some applicants had not months but years pass, and none of that time counts toward the requirement.

Find the issuance date on your residence card—this is the zero point from which the tenure for Portuguese citizenship is counted.

What you might have mistaken for the start	Does it count toward the requirement
Date of entry on D visa	No
Date of application submission to AIMA	No
Date of appointment appointment	No
Date of issuance of the first residence card	Yes—this is when the count begins

Verify what was counted for you. Some 2026 publications still cite a five-year term: as of our check on September 3, 2026, two out of ten sites in Google's top results for Portuguese passport acquisition mentioned this. The five-year requirement was in effect until May 18, 2026, inclusive.

Ten years or seven: what the naturalization timeline depends on

Portuguese citizenship by naturalization requires ten years of residence for third-country nationals and seven years for EU and CPLP citizens. Third countries include Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and all other states outside these two groups. This distinction was introduced by Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026, effective May 19, 2026.

What exactly changed in the law and how transitional rules work for those who applied before May 18 are discussed separately—in an article about the new Portuguese citizenship law. Here we cover only what you need for planning your application.

Applicant category	Residence requirement
EU citizen	7 years
CPLP country citizen (Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, and others)	7 years
Russian citizen and other third-country nationals	10 years

The type of residence permit does not affect the timeline: for Portuguese citizenship, years on a D7 visa, D8 visa, work-based residence, student residence, and years under the ARI investment program all count equally—what matters is the legality of residence, not the basis.

How the path through residence titles is structured

The ten-year requirement for Portuguese citizenship is closed by three residence titles. These are a temporary one for two years, a renewal for three years, and permanent residence for five years—the arithmetic follows from articles 75 and 80 of the Foreigners Law.

Year	Status	What happens
0	First residence card	Start of the count
0–2	Temporary residence permit	First title
2–5	Temporary residence permit renewal	Three-year title
5	Right to permanent residence	Basic Portuguese required
5–10	Permanent residence permit	Card is issued for five years
10	Right to apply for naturalization	Application to IRN

Permanent residence has no time limit—only the card itself is renewed every five years. It is at this status that an applicant reaches the right to request Portuguese citizenship. The procedure for renewing the temporary title, including submission timelines and the sixty-day rule with proof of receipt, is detailed in the article on renewing Portuguese residence permits.

What else must be proven besides residence duration

Beyond ten years, Portuguese citizenship requires proof of language, absence of convictions for three years or more, and no links to terrorism. The new version of the law also added knowledge of Portuguese history, culture, and state symbols, as well as a solemn declaration of commitment to the principles of a democratic rule of law.

The full set of conditions for 2026:

• being of legal age or emancipated under Portuguese law;
• legal residence—7 or 10 years depending on citizenship;
• sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language;
• knowledge of history, culture, and state symbols, as well as basic rights and duties;
• a solemn declaration of commitment to democratic principles;
• absence of a conviction with a sentence of three years or more of imprisonment for a crime under Portuguese law;
• no threat to the country's security and defense related to terrorist activity.

The format for checking knowledge of the country has not yet been described in a separate regulation. The requirement is in the law, but the procedure for verifying it is subject to a secondary regulation. Until such a regulation appears, assume that the language part is confirmed by an A2 certificate, and the requirements for country knowledge may be clarified.

Portuguese language certificate: which documents are accepted

Language knowledge is confirmed at level A2—by a CIPLE certificate, certification from an accredited center, or a course completion certificate at level A2. The list of acceptable evidence is set out in article 25 of the Citizenship Regulation.

What is accepted:

• a certificate of successful completion of a Portuguese as a Foreign Language exam issued by a testing center recognized by the relevant ministry—this is the CIPLE pathway;
• a certificate of successful passage of a test in a public educational institution or at a place accredited by the Camoes Institute;
• a certificate of completion of level A2 or higher issued by a public educational institution, employment and vocational training center, or other authorized body.

The same A2 level is also required for permanent residence at the five-year mark, so the certificate for Portuguese citizenship is usually obtained once—by the fifth year—and is already in place by the tenth year.

Documents without which an application is rejected immediately

An application for naturalization must be accompanied by a birth certificate, proof of language knowledge, certificates of absence of convictions, and a certified copy of an identity document. This list is provided in the official application form of the Institute of Registration and Notaries.

Document	Clarification
Birth certificate	Legalized if birth is not registered in the Portuguese registry
Proof of Portuguese language knowledge	Per article 25 of the Citizenship Regulation
Certificates of absence of convictions	From the country of birth, country of citizenship, and all countries of residence after age 16
Certified copy of identity document	Passport or residence card
Power of attorney	If a representative submits the application

You do not need to collect a Portuguese certificate of absence of convictions yourself: the application form for citizenship has a separate box where you can request it through official channels.

Documents in foreign languages are submitted with a translation. An exception is made for English, French, and Spanish—their translation is not required unless separately requested. Russian documents are not included in the exceptions: an apostille and translation are needed.

The absence of any mandatory document results in immediate rejection. The wording in the form is direct: lack of information that must be in the application by law, or failure to submit a document proving the basis, results in "indeferimento liminar"—rejection without substantive review. This is not a request for revision but a rejection.

Where to submit an application for Portuguese citizenship

The application is submitted to the Central Civil Registry in Lisbon—in person, by mail, or through specialized counters in other cities. Registration of nationality is the exclusive responsibility of this body.

Submission points according to the official list:

• Conservatória dos Registos Centrais, Rua Rodrigo da Fonseca 200, Lisbon—in person or by mail;
• Balcões da Nacionalidade—a counter at the Central Archive of Porto and some civil registry offices;
• branches of the Central Office at migrant integration support centers CNAIM in Lisbon and Porto;
• registration offices in Lisbon (Benfica and Expo) and at the Citizen Lodge in Odivellas.

The signature on the application is certified—either notarized in advance or in the presence of an official of the receiving service. If an attorney submits the application by power of attorney, it is sufficient to provide their professional license number.

The status of a submitted citizenship case can be checked online using a reference code—there is no need to visit the office.

How much naturalization costs in state fees

An application for Portuguese citizenship costs €250—a fixed amount regardless of how it is submitted. Payment can be made by card on the online platform of the Institute of Registration and Notaries, by bank transfer or certified check in its name, or in person by cash or Multibanco.

Personal checks and bearer checks are not accepted, and an application sent by mail without a means of payment will be returned to the applicant.

If you calculate the entire path from visa to passport using official rates, here is the picture:

Stage	Base rate	With 25% discount
D visa at consulate	€110.00	€110.00
Residence permit: intake and review + title issuance	€247.30	€185.60
Residence permit renewal in year three	€247.30	€185.60
Permanent residence in year five	€484.10	€363.20
Permanent residence card renewal in year ten	€194.90	€146.10
Naturalization	€250.00	€250.00
Total over ten years	€1,533.60	€1,240.50

The 25% discount is provided in AIMA's rate table for submissions through the digital channel; it also states that while the service has not yet been moved to the digital channel, the reduced rate applies to in-person submission. The total does not include the language exam cost, apostilles, translations, health insurance, or representative fees—their cost depends on the service providers and is not set by regulation.

How long to wait for a decision on an application

The law does not set a maximum timeframe for reviewing a naturalization application. This distinguishes it from migration procedures, where timelines are explicitly stated. For comparison: a decision on a residence visa is allowed 60 days, and a decision on a family reunification application is allowed nine months with the possibility of one extension.

The practical conclusion: the ten-year requirement is the date from which you can apply, not the date you receive your passport. You should plan from the date of submission, and keep the review timeline as an open variable, monitoring your case by reference code.

While the application is being reviewed, your residence status must be maintained: the residence permit is renewed under normal rules, and its lapse during the waiting period creates a break in legal residence.

Does buying real estate accelerate the path to a passport

Purchasing real estate in Portugal does not shorten the timeline to citizenship and does not create a separate basis for naturalization. Ownership is not mentioned at all among the conditions of article 6 of the citizenship law—only residence duration, language, absence of convictions, and security requirements are listed.

Three claims that appear in advertising and do not match the law:

Claim	How it actually works
"Buy real estate—get a passport in 5 years"	No. Real estate has been excluded from investment-based programs since October 2023, and the requirement for Russian nationals is 10 years
"An investment pathway gives a passport faster"	No. Years under ARI count the same as years under D7 or work-based residence
"Real estate replaces the language requirement"	No. An A2 certificate is mandatory regardless of assets

What real estate does accomplish is close the housing requirement in residence permit applications and at each renewal, thus maintaining the continuity of residence that makes up the ten-year tenure. If you are considering the country as a place to live, the entry point is [real estate in Portugal](/portugal/): the catalog has 480 properties from €90,000, of which [Lisbon](/portugal/lisbon/) has 78, [Porto](/portugal/porto/) has 98, and [Algarve](/portugal/algarve/) has 227. Information on which residence permit bases are available now is in the guide to ways to obtain Portuguese residence permits.

Dual citizenship: what Portugal requires and what Russia requires

Portugal does not require renunciation of prior citizenship, and Russia requires that you notify the Interior Ministry of acquiring a foreign passport within 60 days. These are two independent obligations under two legal systems, and the second directly concerns the applicant.

If the deadline is missed and a person is abroad, notification must be submitted within 60 days of the date of entry into Russia. Notification is informational, not a request for permission: it does not revoke your Russian passport and does not require anyone's consent, but its absence is itself a violation.

Citizenship, permanent residence, and residence permit: what each status gives

The three statuses differ not only in duration but also in the scope of rights, and the transition between them is not automatic—each requires a separate application.

Status	What it gives	Condition
Temporary residence permit	Right to live and work; absence limit—6 months in a row	D visa, funds, housing
Permanent residence	Indefinite right to reside; absence limit—24 months in a row	5 years of residence permit, language A2
Naturalization	EU passport, right to vote, freedom of movement and work in the EU	10 years of residence, language, absence of convictions

A summary of countries where real estate is still a basis for residence is maintained on the page [residence by investment in real estate](/residence/), and programs offering a passport directly are on the page [citizenship by investment](/citizenship/). Portugal is not among the latter: such a program does not exist in the country; ARI provides only a residence permit.

Step-by-step plan: what to do and when

The plan for applying for Portuguese citizenship fits into six steps, and the first two are completed long before the ten-year mark.

1. Fix the start date. Find the issuance date of your first residence card—tenure is counted from that date.
2. Avoid gaps. Renew your residence title 30 days before it expires and monitor your absence limit: six months in a row or eight total over the permit's validity period.
3. Obtain an A2 certificate—you will also need it for permanent residence at the five-year mark.
4. Collect certificates of absence of convictions from your country of birth, country of citizenship, and all countries where you have resided since age 16; request the Portuguese one through the official form.
5. Legalize and translate documents: Russian documents require an apostille and translation.
6. Submit an application to the Central Civil Registry in person, by mail, or through nationality counters, paying €250, and track your case by reference code.

What became stricter, and what did not change

The reform lengthened the path and tightened integration checks, but did not affect the right to a second passport or the counting of years under investment-based residence.

What became stricter:

• the naturalization requirement for third-country nationals—10 years instead of 5;
• counting tenure from the issuance of the first title, not from the date the residence permit application is submitted;
• added to language are knowledge of history, culture, and symbols, and a declaration of commitment to democratic principles;
• the Sephardic pathway is closed to new applications.

What did not change:

• Portugal does not require renunciation of the prior passport;
• years under any legal basis, including ARI, count equally;
• the language level for naturalization remains A2;
• the fee for a naturalization application is €250;
• applications submitted by May 18, 2026, are reviewed under prior rules.

How we verify data

Conditions, documents, submission addresses, and fee amounts are verified against the official application form of the Institute of Registration and Notaries. Timelines and statuses are verified against Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026, the Foreigners Law, and AIMA's rate table. Numbers that could not be confirmed by a primary source are not included in the text: we do not provide the cost of a language exam, apostilles, and translations because these are set by service providers, not by regulation.

Homzer is a marketplace of foreign real estate with transaction support. We do not issue passports or provide immigration law advice. This material is for reference: a secondary regulation implementing the new version of the citizenship law may clarify the procedure for verifying knowledge of the country, and AIMA rates are indexed annually on March 1. Before submitting documents, verify the current version of the standards and consult with a Portuguese attorney.

Sources:

• Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026—naturalization timelines, effective 19.05.2026
• Lei n.º 37/81, article 6—naturalization conditions
• Citizenship Regulation, article 25—evidence of language knowledge
• Application form Modelo 6.1 LN, IRN—documents, €250 fee, submission points
• Lei n.º 23/2007, articles 75, 80, 85—residence title timelines, permanent residence, absence limits
• Portaria n.º 307/2023—AIMA rate table
• Federal Law No. 138-FZ, article 11—notification of dual citizenship

Frequently asked questions

How many years do you need to live in the country to apply for naturalization?

Ten years for third-country nationals, including Russian nationals, and seven years for EU and CPLP citizens. Before May 19, 2026, the requirement was uniform—five years.

From which date is the residence requirement counted?

From the date the first residence card is issued. Time spent waiting for a decision on the residence permit application does not count toward the requirement, nor does the period before receiving the title.

Where do you submit an application for naturalization?

To the Central Civil Registry in Lisbon—in person, by mail, or through nationality counters in Porto, CNAIM centers, and registration offices in Lisbon and Odivellas.

How much does it cost to submit an application?

€250. Payment is by card online, by bank transfer or certified check to the Institute of Registration and Notaries, or in person by cash or Multibanco.

What documents are needed for naturalization?

A birth certificate, proof of Portuguese language knowledge, certificates of absence of convictions from your country of birth, country of citizenship, and all countries where you have resided since age 16, and a certified copy of an identity document. The Portuguese certificate can be requested through official channels.

What level of Portuguese is required for naturalization?

A2. It is confirmed by a certificate from a Portuguese as a Foreign Language exam, certification from an accredited center, or a course completion certificate at level A2.

Do Russian documents need to be translated?

Yes, along with an apostille. Documents in English, French, and Spanish are accepted without translation unless a translation is separately requested.

How long does it take to review a naturalization application?

The law on citizenship does not set a maximum deadline. Case status can be checked online by reference code. The ten-year requirement is the date from which you can apply, not the date you receive your passport.

Does buying real estate give you a Portuguese passport?

No. Ownership is not a condition of naturalization, and real estate has been excluded from investment-based residence programs since October 2023. Years under investment-based residence count the same as years under any other basis.

Do you need to renounce your Russian passport?

Portugal does not require renunciation. Russia requires that you notify the Interior Ministry of acquiring other nationality within 60 days under article 11 of Federal Law No. 138-FZ.

What happens if one document is missing?

The application is rejected without substantive review. The official form directly calls this a rejection at the threshold, not a request for revision.