As of June 30, 2026, 690,480 applications for Portuguese citizenship were awaiting a decision at the IRN (Institute of Registries and Notaries). That is 38% more than a year earlier, ECO reports, citing Público.
Foreign nationals who applied based on their period of legal residence account for just 26% of the backlog. Another 23% are applications from descendants of Sephardic Jews, while 13% come from spouses and partners of Portuguese citizens. The breakdown of the remaining applications has not been published.
The Ministry of Justice says the IRN prioritizes applications submitted through consulates and online by minor children of Portuguese citizens. In these cases, citizenship is recognized from birth, while the naturalization of residents takes a back seat. The figures from INE (the national statistics office) reflect this trend: in 2025, 12,829 foreign nationals living in Portugal acquired citizenship, 38% fewer than in 2024, when the figure stood at 20,624.
A new version of the Citizenship Law has been in force since May 19, 2026. Naturalization now requires seven years of legal residence for citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries and EU member states, and 10 years for everyone else. Previously, five years was sufficient. Applications submitted before the new law came into force are still processed under the old rules, but remain in the same queue.
Those who have already submitted their applications should not withdraw them and apply again. A new application would be processed under the new law, with its longer residence requirement. Applicants can check the status of their case online at justica.gov.pt using the access code issued when they submitted their application.
