Portugal News

Lisbon 14 Jan, 2026 — Citizenship applications in Portugal are taking more than four years to be completed, leaving thousands of immigrants waiting far longer than legally expected for a final decision.

According to reports, the delays affect a wide range of applicants, including long-term residents, families, and individuals who have lived and worked in the country for years. Many citizenship requests submitted in 2019 and 2020 are still pending, with little information provided on when they will be concluded.

Lisbon 14 Jan, 2026 —  The Government has decided to pay €8.4 million to the European Commission for its refusal to accept 420 asylum seekers from other member states.

Under the European Union’s new migration framework, member states are expected to share responsibility for people arriving at Europe’s borders. This responsibility can take different forms: welcoming migrants directly, offering operational support, or contributing financially to countries under strain.

Portugal has chosen the latter.

Lisbon, Jan 9, 2026 — Portugal’s Parliament will hold a debate on 27 January to examine whether the time immigrants spend waiting for a residence permit should be counted toward the minimum legal residence period required to apply for Portuguese nationality.

The discussion will take place at the Assembleia da República, following a public petition led by immigration lawyer Priscila Corrêa, which has gathered more than 8,000 signatures.

Lisbon, Jan 7, 2026 – Portugal’s immigration authority, AIMA, has issued a key clarification for international students who wish to transition from a student residence permit to a work-based authorization after completing their studies.

The update applies to students from higher education, professional training, and secondary education who plan to remain in Portugal for employment purposes once their academic programs end.

Lisbon, Jan 06, 2026 – AIMA has issued an official clarification regarding proof of accommodation for the granting and renewal of Residence Permits in Portugal.

The procedure is mandatory after the Constitutional Court's rejection. The government downplayed the judges' refusal, arguing that the "essential points" of the legislation remain.

Lisbon Dec 19, 2025 — President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa returned the draft Nationality Law to Parliament this Friday, December 19th. This procedure is mandatory when legislation is rejected by the Constitutional Court.

On World Migrant Day, an open letter denounces the normalization of racism and indifference to immigrants in Portugal

A group of immigrants and descendants of foreigners in Portugal warned on Thursday of the public and political agenda in Portugal that aims at those who were not born in the country and for the growth of xenophobia and racism associated with anti-migration discourses.

Lisbon, Dec 17, 2025 — System aimed at those who live regularly in the country is being studied by the PSP and the Coordination Unit of Borders and Foreigners. If deployed, it will be similar to that of European passport.

Lisbon Dec 16, 2025 — Portugal’s Constitutional Court has delivered an important clarification on how pending nationality applications should be treated when the law changes, rejecting a proposed rule that would have automatically frozen applications under the legal requirements in force at the time they were submitted.

Lisbon Dec 15,2025 — Portugal’s Constitutional Court (Tribunal Constitucional) has declared several core provisions of the new nationality law unconstitutional, delivering a decisive legal setback to the government’s attempt to tighten access to Portuguese citizenship.