Pressure mounts on Parliament: more than 12,000 people are demanding that the new Nationality Law not affect those already living in Portugal.
The debate on the new Nationality Law has once again gained momentum in Parliament. After another postponement in the Constitutional Affairs Committee , signatories of a petition with 12,167 signatures are asking MPs to create a transitional regime to safeguard foreigners already residing in Portugal and awaiting access to citizenship.
Among the promoters is Ilia Bobin , a Russian doctor living in Seixal who fled Vladimir Putin 's regime and has been waiting three years for naturalization. "We received support from the Socialist Party, the PSD recognized our arguments, and even Chega was willing to listen to us. This shows that democracy works," the doctor stated.
The group argues that the changes to the law —which increase the minimum residency period from five to seven years for citizens of the CPLP or the European Union , and to ten years for nationals of other countries— should not be applied retroactively . They request that the current period remain valid for those already living in the country and holding a residency permit.
"Today, no one can obtain nationality in just five years; the process takes twice as long due to bureaucracy. With the new rules, it could take up to fifteen years," warned Bobin, emphasizing that Portuguese nationality represents "security and dignity" for thousands of families who fled authoritarian regimes.
In the petition submitted to the Assembly of the Republic , the authors invoke constitutional principles such as the protection of legal trust , legal certainty , and the prohibition of retroactivity . They further argue that "naturalization promotes better integration of migrants," citing international studies that point to "higher employment rates, more qualified positions, and higher incomes" among naturalized citizens.
The signatories point out that the decision "is not merely administrative," but "a measure that could jeopardize lives and family plans." "These people planned their future based on a five-year timeframe. Changing the rules now would be a blow to the trust placed in the Portuguese State," the document reads.