Portugal: naturalisation for relevant services to the State

Portuguese nationality is normally acquired by naturalisation after a period of legal residence. Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026, published on 18 May 2026 and in force from 19 May 2026, lengthened that period to ten years for most foreigners and seven years for EU and CPLP nationals, added a civic-knowledge requirement and closed the Sephardic descent route to new applications.

Alongside the ordinary route, the law has long allowed the Government to grant naturalisation to foreigners who have rendered, or are called upon to render, relevant services to the Portuguese State or to the national community, waiving the residence period and the language requirement. This provision was Article 6(6) before the reform and is now Article 6(9). Public examples over the years have included internationally recognised athletes and figures whose work the State wished to recognise.

The route is discretionary and exceptional. The services must be relevant to Portugal as a State or community, for example in science, culture, sport, economic development, diplomacy or humanitarian work, and they must be certified by the competent public body through the official information form. The general conditions on age, criminal record and national security still apply, and the Government is under no obligation to grant naturalisation even where the services are substantial.

Because Portuguese nationality carries EU citizenship, a merit-based grant must rest on a genuine contribution rather than a payment. Families whose objective is mainly EU residence are usually better served by Portugal's residence permits, which can lead to permanent residence and, later, ordinary naturalisation.