Under current Portuguese law, nationality by naturalization is governed by Law no. 37/81 of 3 October, as amended. At present, a foreign national may apply for Portuguese citizenship after five years of legal residence in Portugal. The five-year period must correspond to lawful residence under a valid residence permit issued pursuant to the Immigration Law (Law no. 23/2007, as amended). In addition to the residence requirement, the applicant must demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language, must not have been convicted of a crime punishable under Portuguese law with a prison sentence of three years or more, and must not constitute a threat to national security or public order. In late 2025, however, the Portuguese Parliament approved significant amendments to the Nationality Law, which, if fully enacted, will substantially tighten the requirements for naturalisation. Although the reform has been approved at the parliamentary level, its definitive entry into force depends on promulgation, publication, and, where applicable, constitutional review. The final stage is expected to occur during 2026, following presidential promulgation and possible review by the Constitutional Court. Nevertheless, from a forward-looking planning perspective, it is prudent to consider that a more demanding regime is likely to apply in the near future. The most significant proposed change concerns the length of residence required for naturalisation. For non-EU nationals — including UK citizens after Brexit — the minimum legal residence period would increase from five years to ten years. For EU and CPLP nationals, the proposed minimum would be seven years. Importantly, the residence period would be counted from the date of issuance of the first residence permit, rather than from the date of submission of the application. The reform also introduces stricter integration requirements. While the Portuguese language requirement at A2 level remains, applicants would additionally be required to demonstrate knowledge of Portuguese history, constitutional principles, democratic institutions, and civic duties, likely through a formal civic or cultural assessment. Furthermore, the criteria relating to criminal records appear to be tightened, potentially reducing tolerance for certain convictions when assessing eligibility for nationality. For someone planning to retire in Portugal in approximately ten years, relocate a UK business, and subsequently apply for citizenship, these developments are material. Under the current five-year framework, it is possible to obtain citizenship in approximately six to seven years from the date of relocation (taking into account residence issuance and application processing time). Under the proposed ten-year requirement, that timeline could realistically extend to twelve or more years from the date the first residence permit is granted. In light of the potential reform, an alternative and strategically sound solution is to aim for permanent residence rather than citizenship, should the new law enter into force. Under the current Immigration Law, permanent residence may be obtained after five years of lawful residence in Portugal, provided that the applicant maintains a clean criminal record and demonstrates basic knowledge of the Portuguese language. Permanent residence grants an unlimited right to live and work in Portugal, without the need for periodic renewals (subject only to card renewal formalities), and provides substantial stability for long-term settlement and retirement planning. While it does not confer political rights or an EU passport, it secures residence status independently of future nationality reforms. In conclusion, it is accurate to state that the path to Portuguese citizenship is expected to become more stringent, primarily due to the extension of the residence requirement and the introduction of additional integration criteria. A final political and legal decision on the reform is expected in 2026. For long-term planning purposes, you should prioritise securing and maintaining lawful residence in Portugal. Whether citizenship remains achievable within five years or will require ten years will ultimately depend on the final version and effective date of the legislative reform in force at the time you become eligible to apply.
