A View on the situation by ERG Family Office & Legal which provides a wide range of consulting services for companies and clients of all sizes — from small local businesses to large multinational corporations:

Portugal’s Parliament has approved a landmark reform of the Nationality Law, significantly reshaping the country’s path to citizenship. The decree passed with a two-thirds majority following a last-minute political agreement between Social Democratic Party (Portugal) and Chega, highlighting a deep ideological divide within the Assembly.

The reform doubles residency requirements for naturalisation: to seven years for EU and CPLP nationals and ten years for all others. It also introduces stricter criminal thresholds, including barring applicants sentenced to three or more years and allowing courts to revoke nationality for serious crimes. Notably, the law lacks transitional provisions, leaving many current residents—who planned under the previous five-year rule—without protection.

The decree now awaits a decision from President António José Seguro, who may promulgate, veto, or refer it to the Constitutional Court. Given prior rulings and unresolved concerns around the principle of legitimate expectations, constitutional scrutiny appears likely.

ERG Family Office & Legal views this reform as a pivotal shift in Portugal’s nationality framework. The absence of transitional safeguards raises material legal risks and may conflict with constitutional protections. While the current five-year regime remains in force until formal enactment, investors and residents face increasing uncertainty. In this evolving landscape, ERG advises acting with both urgency and strategic caution.