Portugal's Citizenship Surge Collides with Tougher Rules and Growing Delays

Portugal’s citizenship desks are facing what officials call a perfect storm: a record half-million pending files, looming legislative changes that could double the residency requirement, and an unprecedented wave of newly regularised migrants who will soon reach the five-year mark. For foreigners eyeing a crimson passport—or simply trying to understand the new bottlenecks—here is what you need to know.

Why requests have exploded

The backlog did not appear overnight. Over the past six years the Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado, or IRN, received more than 1.4 M citizenship applications, a leap of 350 % compared with the previous period. Several forces converged: the once-generous lei sefardita that attracted applicants of Jewish-Portuguese descent, a sharp rise in Brazilians seeking EU mobility, and the regularisation of roughly 1 M immigrants since 2023. Simultaneously, global events—from Brexit to economic turbulence in South America—have amplified Portugal’s allure as an EU gateway.

Will the new law raise the bar?

A government proposal currently in Parliament could lengthen the legal-stay requirement from five to ten years for most foreigners, or seven years for citizens of CPLP countries. It would also scrap the fast-track route for sefardita descendants, demand proof of civic and cultural knowledge, and allow courts to strip nationality from naturalised citizens convicted of serious crimes within a decade. Officials argue tougher rules will prevent Portugal from turning into a “passport factory,” while migrant advocates warn that raising the hurdle now will only fuel a last-minute rush of filings.

Who is in the queue?

Although 2023 statistics still showed Israelis topping successful acquisitions—thanks to the Sephardic provision—Brazilians remain the largest single community of new residents poised to qualify by the time the five-year clock strikes. Ukrainians, Cape Verdeans, Angolans and Guineans also figure prominently. In the first half of 2025 alone, applicants submitted 121 460 new files; nevertheless, only 92 257 reached a decision, widening the gap.

How long are people waiting?

Processing times have stretched to 36-48 months for a straightforward residence-based petition. Some applicants describe a three-stage purgatory: months before the file even receives a reference number, another year for preliminary checks, and a final stretch awaiting the ministerial signature that triggers passport eligibility. The wait is particularly frustrating for families needing Portuguese travel documents to reunite across borders, or for professionals whose EU job offers hinge on swift approval.

What is the IRN doing about it?

The registry service has hired dozens of additional clerks, shut its Porto walk-in counter to redeploy staff toward mail-in cases, and rolled out an AI-powered digital platform to scan documents automatically. A freshly-passed measure also lets migrants count the months spent waiting for their first residence card towards the citizenship clock—a move praised by lawyers as simple but decisive. Yet insiders admit technology alone cannot clear a mountain of 515 334 pending files without sustained investment in human reviewers.

Practical advice for would-be applicants

Lawyers are urging eligible residents to gather birth certificates, police clearances and language-test results now, rather than draft them under duress if Parliament approves stricter rules. Submitting through the online portal with the help of an advogado often shaves weeks off the initial intake. Keep digital copies ready, track your file number on the IRN website, and expect that e-mails may land in spam folders. Above all, budget both time and money: application fees run about €250 per adult, but legal assistance, translations and apostilles can easily double that figure.

For the hundreds of thousands already in line—and the many more considering it—the next few months will be decisive. Whether the assembly passes the new bill intact or waters it down, Portugal’s naturalisation landscape is about to change. Staying informed, organised and realistic about timelines will be the safest route to eventually holding that coveted Passaporte Português.