Portugal Citizenship Law Extends Residency to 10 Years Amid AIMA Delays

Portugal's new Nationality Law extends the citizenship residency requirement to up to 10 years for many applicants. Meanwhile, Golden Visa holders plan lawsuits as AIMA complaints surge by 37%.

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Key takeaways

The legal residency requirement for Portuguese citizenship has increased to 10 years for many applicants.

Specific groups, such as Brazilian nationals, face a revised seven-year residency requirement.

Over 500 Golden Visa residents are planning to sue the Portuguese state over ongoing program complications.

Complaints against the immigration agency AIMA have surged by 37%, highlighting separate administrative delays.

New Nationality Law Extends Residency Requirements

Following the Nationality Law signed on May 3, 2026, the legal residency period required to apply for Portuguese citizenship has officially increased. For many applicants, including Ukrainian nationals, the standard legal waiting period is now 10 years. Other demographics face different revised timelines; for instance, the residency requirement for Brazilian nationals has been raised to seven years.

It is important for applicants to understand that this extended timeline is a statutory change to the law itself. The shift to a 10-year requirement is a legislative update, distinct from any administrative processing delays.

Golden Visa Investors Prepare Legal Action

Frustrations within the investment immigration community have reached a boiling point. More than 500 Golden Visa residents are currently planning to sue the Portuguese state.

The planned lawsuits underscore the growing dissatisfaction among investors who have navigated shifting regulations and prolonged uncertainties regarding their residency and citizenship pathways.

AIMA Complaints Surge by 37%

Separately from the new legal residency timelines, administrative bottlenecks continue to impact immigrants. Recent reports indicate that complaints against the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) have surged by 37%.

These processing delays at AIMA represent an administrative hurdle that adds practical wait time for residency card issuance and renewals, compounding the challenges applicants face alongside the new statutory citizenship requirements.

The Next Nationality Law Fight and Preparation

The recent legislative changes have sparked ongoing debates, with observers noting that the next nationality law fight is already taking shape in Portuguese political circles. As the legal landscape continues to evolve, prospective citizens are encouraged to focus on the requirements they can control.

For those on the path to naturalisation, securing the required A2 Portuguese language certificate remains a mandatory step. Using resources like Prep2Go to prepare for the CIPLE exam early can help applicants ensure their files are complete the moment they finally meet the new, extended residency thresholds.