Portugal Citizenship: A Comprehensive Guide 2026 | Astons

Q: What are the main benefits of Portuguese citizenship?

Among the main ones are: Business opportunities in the county with a stable economy. Living in a safe and comfortable country. Visa-free travel to 185+ countries. Access to European education. High-quality healthcare.

Q: How long does it take to become a Portuguese citizen?

By naturalisation: 7 years from residency application for EU and CPLP citizens and 10 years for the rest of nationalities. By marriage or de facto union with a Portuguese citizen: after 3 years of marriage or union, subject to the applicable legal requirements. By descent: there is no minimum residence period if the applicant qualifies through Portuguese ancestry and can provide the required evidence of family connection. By birth: eligibility depends on the circumstances of birth and the parents’ legal status in Portugal.

Portuguese citizenship can be obtained through several routes, including naturalisation after legal residence, marriage to a Portuguese citizen, Portuguese ancestry, birth under qualifying conditions, and certain special provisions of Portuguese nationality law. Following the 2026 amendments to the Nationality Law, the requirements for naturalisation have changed significantly: most foreign nationals must now complete 10 years of legal residence before applying for citizenship, while citizens of EU and CPLP countries may qualify after 7 years.

In this guide, we explain the available pathways to Portuguese citizenship, application procedures, costs, and how the new nationality rules may affect citizens of CPLP countries, including Sao Tome and Principe.

Key Takeaways

Portuguese citizenship can be obtained through naturalisation, marriage to a Portuguese citizen, birth, and certain other provisions of Portuguese nationality law.
Following the 2026 nationality reform, most foreign nationals generally need 10 years of legal residence before applying for Portuguese citizenship.
Citizens of EU member states and CPLP (Community of Portuguese Language Countries) countries may qualify after 7 years of legal residence.
A Portuguese passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to approximately 185+ destinations worldwide and full European Union citizenship rights.
Portuguese citizens can live, work, study, retire, and establish a business anywhere in the European Union.
Portugal permits dual and multiple citizenship in most cases, allowing applicants to retain their original nationality where permitted by their home country.
The most common path to citizenship is naturalisation through legal residence, with popular residency routes including the D7 Visa, Digital Nomad Visa, work visas, entrepreneur visas, family reunification, and the Golden Visa.
Golden Visa holders benefit from one of Europe’s most flexible residency frameworks, requiring only 14 days of physical presence in Portugal every two years.
Most naturalisation applicants must demonstrate Portuguese language proficiency at A2 level and satisfy integration and character requirements.
Portuguese citizenship is permanent, does not require renewal, and can generally be passed on to future generations.
Portugal’s 2026 reform has increased interest in CPLP citizenship pathways. Among CPLP countries, São Tomé and Príncipe is currently the only nation offering a dedicated citizenship by investment program, making it relevant to some long-term Portuguese citizenship planning strategies.

What are Benefits of Portuguese Citizenship?

Portuguese citizenship grants full European Union rights, visa-free travel to approximately 185+ destinations, access to one of Europe’s safest and most developed countries, and the ability to live, work, study, and do business across all 27 EU member states. It can also be passed to future generations and allows dual citizenship in most cases.

A Portuguese passport offers numerous advantages, including:

One of the world’s strongest passports — Portugal consistently ranks among the top passports globally, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to approximately 185+ destinations, including the Schengen Area, the UK, Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
Full European Union citizenship — Portuguese citizens can live, work, study, start a business, and retire in any of the 27 EU member states without additional visas or work permits.
Access to a market of 450+ million people — Citizenship provides unrestricted access to the European Single Market, one of the largest economic areas in the world.
High quality of life — Portugal is consistently ranked among Europe’s most desirable countries for expatriates, retirees, and remote professionals thanks to its climate, infrastructure, healthcare system, and safety.
A safe and stable environment — Portugal is 7th out of 163 countries on the World Peace Index 2025.
Access to public healthcare and education — Citizens benefit from Portugal’s public healthcare system and can access public schools and universities under the same conditions as Portuguese nationals.
Citizenship for future generations — Portuguese citizenship can generally be passed to children, creating long-term benefits for future generations.
Dual citizenship permitted — Portugal allows dual and multiple citizenship, meaning applicants generally do not need to renounce their original nationality (subject to the rules of their home country).

How to Get a Portuguese Passport?

There are multiple ways to acquire Portuguese citizenship, including: marriage, birth, repatriation, and naturalisation.

By Marriage to a Portuguese Citizen

A spouse of a Portuguese national can apply for citizenship after three years of marriage, even without living in Portugal. For instance, a Swedish woman can marry a Portuguese man, live with him abroad for three years, and then apply for citizenship. In that case, they have to provide proof that the marriage is legitimate and show a connection to the Portuguese community — such as working for a local company, studying at a university, or owning property in Portugal.

By Birth

Portugal does not grant nationality by birthright. A child born in Portugal to foreign parents does not automatically become a citizen. However, if one parent has been a legal resident for at least 5 years, the child is eligible for citizenship. Additionally, children under 18 adopted by Portuguese citizens can obtain nationality.

By Descent

If at least one parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent is a Portuguese citizen, an applicant may claim nationality by providing documents verifying the relationship, such as a birth certificate translated into Portuguese.

By Naturalisation

Naturalisation remains the primary route to Portuguese citizenship for most foreign nationals.

To qualify, applicants generally need to:

Hold legal residence in Portugal for the required period
Demonstrate knowledge of the Portuguese language
Meet integration requirements
Maintain a clean criminal record
Comply with all applicable immigration and nationality laws

Following the 2026 reform (Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026, de 18 de maio), most applicants must now complete 10 years of legal residence before applying for citizenship.

However, Portugal introduced a shorter 7-year residence requirement for citizens of European Union (EU) member states and Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) countries.

Residency Routes Leading to Portuguese Citizenship

The first step toward naturalisation is obtaining Portuguese residency. There are several pathways available, each designed for different applicant profiles — from employees and entrepreneurs to retirees, remote workers, students, and investors.

Once residency is granted, applicants can begin building their qualifying residence period toward eventual citizenship.

The most popular Portuguese residency options include:

Residency Type	Eligible Applicants	Income & Investment
Work Visa (D1 & D3)	D3 is only for highly qualified professionals, while D1 applies to all contracted employees	D3 requires a job offer from a Portuguese employer with a minimum salary of €1,441
Entrepreneur Visa (D2)	For those wanting to start a business or work as self-employed in Portugal	–
Student Visa (D4 & D5)	D4 applies to undergraduate and graduate students; D5 is for short-term academic exchanges	–
Family Reunification Visa (D6)	For family members of Portuguese citizens or residents	–
Financial Independent Visa (D7)	For financially independent individuals with stable external income	Minimum confirmed income of €920 per month from dividends, rent, pensions, etc.
Digital Nomad Visa	For remote professionals employed outside Portugal but living in the country	Minimum confirmed income of €3,480 per month
Golden Visa	For investors in Portugal’s economy.	Minimum non-refundable €250,000+ investment in culture and art Fund investment of €500,000+

As opposed to residency routes such as the D7 Visa, Digital Nomad Visa, work visas, or family reunification, which typically involve residing in Portugal for at least 183 days per year, the Portugal Golden Visa has minimal physical presence requirements. Investors need to spend only 14 days in Portugal every 2 years.

Step-by-Step Guide to Obtaining Portuguese Citizenship

Step 1. Identify the Appropriate Citizenship Route

Portugal offers several pathways to citizenship, including:

Naturalisation through legal residence
Marriage or a de facto union with a Portuguese citizen
Birth in Portugal under qualifying conditions
Other routes established by Portuguese nationality law

The eligibility requirements, supporting documents, and timelines vary depending on the route.

Step 2. Gather Supporting Documentation

Applicants should collect the documents relevant to their chosen pathway.

Depending on the route, this may include:

Passport and identity documents
Birth certificates
Marriage certificates
Proof of legal residence
Criminal record certificates
Portuguese language certificates
Other supporting evidence required by the authorities

Foreign documents generally require translation and legalisation or apostille.

Step 3. Meet the Relevant Eligibility Requirements

Before applying, applicants must ensure they satisfy the conditions applicable to their route.

For example:

Naturalisation applicants must complete the required residence period and language requirement
Spouses of Portuguese citizens must demonstrate a genuine connection to Portugal
Citizenship by birth requires compliance with the applicable legal conditions

Step 4. Submit the Citizenship Application

Applications may generally be submitted:

Online through a Portuguese lawyer or solicitor
In person at an authorised nationality office
By post

The application is then registered and enters the official review process.

Step 5. Undergo Government Review

Portuguese authorities assess the application, verify documents, conduct background checks where applicable, and confirm compliance with nationality legislation.

Additional information or supporting documents may be requested during this stage.

Step 6. Receive Portuguese Citizenship

Once the application is approved and nationality is registered, the applicant officially becomes a Portuguese citizen.

Step 7. Obtain Portuguese Identity Documents

After citizenship is granted, the new citizen may apply for a Portuguese Citizen Card (Cartão de Cidadão), which serves as the primary identification document in Portugal and throughout the European Union.

The citizen may then apply for a Portuguese Electronic Passport (PEP), which is the official travel document for journeys outside the European Union and the Schengen Area.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Portuguese Citizenship?

Applicants should budget for several additional costs that may arise during the process:

Expense	Typical Cost
Citizenship application fee	€250
CIPLE Portuguese language exam (A2)	€85
Portuguese Citizen Card (standard issuance)	from €18
Portuguese Electronic Passport (PEP)	€65

The final cost depends on the applicant’s citizenship route, country of origin, number of documents requiring legalisation, and whether professional assistance is used during the process. In addition to the official government fees, applicants should budget for translations, apostilles, criminal record certificates, etc.

Can Sao Tome and Principe Citizenship Help Qualify for Portuguese Citizenship Faster?

Potentially, yes — but only as part of a long-term strategy.

Following Portugal’s 2026 nationality reform, citizens of CPLP countries may generally become eligible for Portuguese citizenship after 7 years of legal residence, compared with 10 years for most other foreign nationals.

What Is the CPLP?

The CPLP (Community of Portuguese Language Countries) currently includes:

Portugal
Brazil
Angola
Mozambique
Cape Verde
Guinea-Bissau
São Tomé and Príncipe
Timor-Leste
Equatorial Guinea

Among these countries, São Tomé and Príncipe is particularly noteworthy because it is currently the only CPLP member state offering a dedicated citizenship by investment program, with a minimum contribution threshold of $90,000.

Astons is among the first licensed agents of the São Tomé and Príncipe Citizenship by Investment Program, with successful cases that include both approvals and issued passports.To learn more about the scheme, investment requirements, costs, and timelines, contact our experts for a personalised consultation.

How Could This Strategy Work?

In theory, such a pathway may involve:

Obtaining citizenship of São Tomé and Príncipe.
Securing legal residence in Portugal through an eligible immigration route.
Maintaining Portuguese residence and complying with language and integration requirements.
Applying for Portuguese citizenship after the residence period applicable to CPLP nationals (7 years).

What Do Portuguese Lawyers Say?

The Astons team sought the opinion of Portuguese legal professionals regarding a scenario in which an individual is already legally residing in Portugal and subsequently acquires citizenship of Sao Tome and Principe.

While there is currently no established administrative practice, official guidance, or court precedent on this situation, the lawyers consulted believe that such an applicant may potentially qualify for the shorter 7-year residence period applicable to CPLP nationals.

According to their interpretation:

The qualifying residence period should continue to be counted from the date the applicant obtained their first Portuguese residence permit.
The residence clock would not restart from the date São Tomé and Príncipe citizenship is acquired.
It may not be necessary to replace existing Portuguese residence documents with documents linked to the new passport.

Important Considerations

Portuguese citizenship is not automatically granted to CPLP citizens. Obtaining a São Tomé and Príncipe passport does not provide residence rights in Portugal and does not remove the requirement to obtain and maintain a Portuguese residence permit.

It is also important to note that Portugal’s 2026 nationality reform is still relatively recent. The first real-world cases are expected to reach the citizenship application stage only in the coming years, and the practical application of the rules may evolve as authorities develop administrative practice and issue further guidance.

Conclusion

A Portuguese passport remains one of the most valuable citizenships in the world, providing full European Union rights, extensive visa-free travel, and the ability to live, work, study, and do business across Europe.

While Portugal’s 2026 nationality reform has changed the timelines for naturalisation, multiple routes to citizenship remain available. The most suitable pathway will depend on your personal circumstances, family connections, nationality, and long-term goals.

Understanding the available options from the outset can help you choose the most efficient route and avoid unnecessary delays on the path to Portuguese citizenship.

Explore Your Path to Portuguese Citizenship with Astons

For many investors, the most practical route to Portuguese citizenship begins with obtaining a Portuguese Golden Visa and maintaining residence until becoming eligible for naturalisation. Astons can assist throughout the entire process, from selecting the most suitable investment option and preparing the documents to application submission.

For applicants exploring the potential advantages available to CPLP citizens under Portugal’s updated nationality rules, Astons can also assist with obtaining citizenship of São Tomé and Príncipe through its Citizenship by Investment Program. As one of the first licensed agents of the program, we have experience with both approved applications and issued passports.

Whether your goal is obtaining a Portuguese Golden Visa, evaluating a São Tomé and Príncipe citizenship strategy, or building a long-term roadmap toward Portuguese citizenship, our team can help you assess the available options and choose the solution that best fits your objectives.

FAQ

What are the main benefits of Portuguese citizenship?

Among the main ones are:

Business opportunities in the county with a stable economy.
Living in a safe and comfortable country.
Visa-free travel to 185+ countries.
Access to European education.
High-quality healthcare.