At the request of the government, there will be no further vote on the new nationality law this Friday, in order to build consensus among the different parties. But the debate was marked by intense anger and even tears after André Ventura read out the list of names of foreign students.
The Minister of the Presidency expressed this Friday to the president of Chega his openness to a common path in the process of approving the nationality law
The Minister of the Presidency expressed his openness to a common path in the process of approving the nationality law to the President of Chega this Friday, but stressed that the changes must be in accordance with the constitution.
The president of Chega then made some demands to the member of the Government to be included in the new diploma on the nationality law: Knowledge of the Portuguese language; an increase in the current ten-year limit for the loss of nationality when obtained through naturalization; and automatic loss of nationality in cases of serious crimes.
In response to these demands from Chega, the Minister of the Presidency simply said he was convinced that “there is a way for parliament to approve measures”.
He then left the following warning to the Chega leader, stressing that “the line that cannot be crossed is that of the Constitution”.
“None of us can make an unconstitutional law. This means not being able to have life sentences, including loss of nationality, nor automatic losses that violate the Constitution,” he stressed.
Shortly afterwards, the Minister of the Presidency asked the deputies, in the name of consensus, that the proposed laws to amend the nationality and immigration diplomas be lowered to the specialist stage without being voted on today in general terms.
A perspective that had been rejected by the parliamentary leader of the PSD, Hugo Soares, this Thursday, following a request from the PS to that effect.
What we know so far about the Key Changes to Portugal’s Nationality Law-
- Longer Residence Periods Required – The minimum legal residence required for nationality has increased: From 5 to 7 years for nationals of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP)From 5 to 10 years for nationals of non-CPLP countries ,The residence period now starts counting from the date the residence permit is granted, not from the date of initial application.
- Children Born in Portugal No Longer Automatically Portuguese Children of foreign parents will only be granted Portuguese nationality if: Both parents have had legal residence in Portugal for at least three years .The parents actively apply for the child’s nationality (no longer automatic)
- Cultural Integration Tests – Applicants will now need to demonstrate: Sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language ,Awareness of Portuguese culture ,Understanding of fundamental rights and duties in the Portuguese Republic ,Assessment tests are expected to be introduced as part of this process.
- Declaration of Commitment -All applicants must now sign a “solemn declaration of adherence to the principles of the democratic rule of law”, affirming their alignment with Portugal’s constitutional values.
- Stricter Criminal Record Checks – The criteria for criminal background clearance will be tightened. Applicants with any effective prison sentence on their record will be excluded, unlike the previous rule, which only disqualified those with sentences longer than 3 years.
What This Means for Foreign Residents -These changes represent a substantial shift in immigration and nationality policy, especially affecting: Long-term residents preparing for citizenship ,Families of children born in Portugal , Residents from non-CPLP countries (e.g., Pakistan, India, Ukraine, etc.)
What You Can Do . If you’re planning to apply for Portuguese nationality in the future: Make sure your legal residency is properly documented from the date of your residence permit. Start preparing for language and cultural exams. Keep a clean criminal record. If you have children, ensure both parents meet the three-year legal residence rule before applying for their nationality.