How many years of legal residence does naturalisation require?
For adults, art. 6 n.1 b) of Lei 37/81 requires 10 years of legal residence, or 7 years for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries and citizens of EU member states; other paragraphs of that article set other periods. Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 set these periods: it was published on 18 May 2026 and took effect on 19 May 2026.
Official source
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Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026,
read on
há pelo menos sete anos, no caso de nacionais de países de língua oficial portuguesa e de cidadãos de Estados-Membros da União Europeia, ou 10 anos
How the period is counted
The law sums periods of legal residence (art. 15 n.3 of Lei 37/81) and names no separate start date.
The periods can be continuous or interrupted, within a maximum window of 9 years for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries and citizens of EU member states, and 12 years for citizens of other countries.
Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 repealed art. 15 n.4 of Lei 37/81.
Applications already pending
Procedures pending when the act took effect follow the earlier wording of the nationality law.
How it changed
Until 19 May 2026, art. 6 n.1 b) of Lei 37/81 required 5 years.