UK expats hoping for a new life in the European Union nation are being warned they could face a longer wait.Portugal is looking to tighten its citizenship rules, doubling the residency requirement for most foreigners in the process. UK expats hoping for a new life in the European Union nation are being warned they could face a longer wait.
Citizens from Portuguese-speaking countries such as Brazil must wait seven years for citizenship while those from other nations face a 10-year wait. Portugal is doubling the minimum period of legal residency required for most foreigners to apply for citizenship to 10 years.
Cabinet Minister António Leitão Amaro justified the measure on Monday by citing the “requirement of an effective connection, of belonging to the national community”.
READ MORE Future of major UK high street chain with 281 shops in doubt
“We are significantly strengthening the requirements for access to citizenship, naturalisation, in line with the guidelines we were already included in the government’s programme,” he said.
Immigrants will have to be legal resident in Portugal for two years to bring relatives into the country, and the family members must be minors.
Portugal’s population of about 10.5 million includes at least 1.5 million legal foreign residents, according to its migration and asylum agency (AIMA).
Data aggregator Pordata statistics show that 141,300 people were naturalised in 2023 — a 20 per cent decrease from 2022.
The government said in January more than 400,000 applications were pending. Brazilians are the largest group, with more than 450,000 residents, data shows.
Temporary stay visas allow entry and stay in Portugal for less than a year. Temporary stay visas are valid during the entire stay and allow for multiple entries.
Residency visas allow two entries and is valid for a period of 4 months. During that time, the holder of a residency visa is required to apply for a residency permit with AIMA.
The job seeker visa entitles its holder to enter and remain only in Portugal for the purpose of looking for job; authorizes its holder to carry out a subordinated work activity, until the visa expires or until the residence permit is granted.