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FlashPortugalOctober 21, 2026

Portugal's IRN Reports 690,000 Pending Citizenship Applications, 38% Increase in One Year

PublishedEditorial policy

Portugal's Institute of Registries and Notaries (IRN) reports 690,480 pending citizenship applications as of June 30, 2026, marking a 38% increase year-over-year. Only 26% of these applications are from individuals residing in Portugal, indicating a broader global demand.

PortugalCitizenshipResidencyIRNBacklog

Key takeaways

  • Portugal's IRN has 690,480 pending citizenship applications as of June 30, 2026, a 38% increase year-over-year.
  • Only 26% of these applications are from individuals residing in Portugal; the majority are from the diaspora and those seeking citizenship restoration.
  • The growing backlog is impacting processing times for all categories of applicants.

Significant Increase in Portuguese Citizenship Application Backlog

The Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado (IRN), Portugal's Institute of Registries and Notaries, is currently facing a substantial backlog of citizenship applications. As of June 30, 2026, the IRN reported 690,480 pending applications for Portuguese nationality.

This figure represents a 38% increase in the number of unreviewed applications compared to the previous year, highlighting a growing strain on the system.

Impact on Processing Times for All Applicants

Interestingly, only 26% of these pending applications are from individuals already residing in Portugal, such as those who have completed the required five years of legal residency. The majority of applications originate from Portuguese descendants living abroad, individuals seeking to restore their citizenship, and other categories.

This broad demand from various applicant groups means that the IRN's processing capacity is stretched across a global pool of requests, not solely by new residents. Consequently, all applicants, regardless of their category or whether they have fulfilled residency requirements, should anticipate longer processing times for their citizenship applications.

Sources

Based on Emigro corridor reporting. Primary links below.

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