The Nationality Law: Portugal is not just a place.

Nationality is neither an automatic right nor an administrative favor. It is the recognition of a profound bond—legal, cultural, and moral—between the individual and the political community to which they belong. It is what separates mere residence from a true commitment to a country. Therefore, the recently approved reform of the Portuguese Nationality Law is an essential step towards restoring the balance between openness and responsibility, between integration and belonging.

For years, Portugal maintained one of the most permissive immigration regimes in Europe. Five years of legal residency were sufficient to apply for citizenship—a period that, in a European context, was an exception rather than the rule. France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, or Sweden generally require five years, but always with rigorous criteria for linguistic, economic, and civic integration. Italy, Spain, Austria, Denmark, or Slovenia require ten. The European average is between seven and nine years of effective residency. Portugal was below that line, with less demanding criteria and more open practices than practically all its partners.

The new law corrects this distortion, not to exclude those who chose Portugal, but to value the significance of becoming Portuguese. Naturalization will no longer be possible after five years and will now require ten years of legal residence for citizens of third countries, and seven years for citizens of the European Union and the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP). This distinction is fair and intelligent: it recognizes the linguistic, cultural, and institutional affinity of these areas, without abandoning a time criterion that guarantees genuine integration.

The reform goes further. It introduces requirements for knowledge of the Portuguese language and culture, history, symbols, and constitutional values, similar to practically all Member States of the European Union. It also requires proven means of subsistence, a clean criminal record, and, above all, residency time counted only from the date the residency permit is obtained—and not from the simple application. This clarification ends a legal fiction that opened the door to abuses and inequalities: no one should count residency time before the State formally recognizes their right to reside.

In this new model, there is a fundamental idea that is important to emphasize: Portuguese citizenship should translate into real integration and adherence to the community, not merely a temporary stay. To be Portuguese is to participate, contribute, respect, and understand the country one wishes to be a part of. It is to master the language, know its history, share its symbols, and accept the rules of a country with almost 900 years of existence. It is to understand that citizenship is a pact of reciprocity—the State recognizes it, but also demands it.

In the public debate about nationality law, residency is often confused with citizenship. They are distinct and complementary realities, but not equivalent. Residency guarantees protection, access to health, education, and social security—rights that Portugal generously recognizes for those who live legally in the country. Nationality, on the other hand, represents a higher level: it confers full political participation, the right to vote, eligibility, and representation of the nation. It is the bond that allows one to intervene in collective decisions and shape the future of the country. And this level of belonging cannot be trivialized, because it implies more than inhabiting a territory—it implies sharing the destiny of the community and assuming responsibilities with it.

Critics of the reform argue that the new timeframes are excessive and could deter foreigners or fully integrated immigrants. But this interpretation ignores the essential point: the new law does not close doors, it opens a more solid and credible path. The seven and ten years of residency are not barriers, they are stages of integration into our community. In an increasingly mobile and complex world, where nationality is also a gateway to the European space, it is fair that Portugal strengthens its system with criteria equivalent to those of its partners.

Furthermore, the differentiation between citizens of the EU, the CPLP (Community of Portuguese Language Countries), and third countries has strategic and diplomatic significance. Portugal asserts itself as a bridge between cultural spaces, recognizing historical and institutional proximity, without losing control over access to citizenship. A European citizen who has lived and worked in Portugal for seven years knows how the institutions function and shares the same political and legal space; the same applies to a Portuguese-speaking citizen who, due to cultural affinity, integrates more easily. The country welcomes—but demands. It integrates—but also holds people accountable. And that is the virtuous synthesis of a modern nationality policy.

From a European perspective, Portugal ceases to be an atypical case of excessive generosity and joins the group of countries with balanced and comparable criteria. In doing so, it reinforces the trust of its partners and the credibility of its own legal system. An overly open nationality law creates vulnerabilities, facilitates abuses, and distorts the value of the status. A balanced and demanding law, such as the one now being approved, protects the meaning of being Portuguese—and also protects those who are Portuguese.

At a time when populism is exploiting the issue of immigration and societies are facing dilemmas of cohesion and belonging, Portugal is showing maturity. It is not succumbing to isolationism or laxity. It is choosing the path of responsibility. It is reinforcing the value of time, integration, and demonstrating commitment. The new Nationality Law is not a barrier: it is a guarantee of seriousness. It shows that those who want to be Portuguese do so out of conviction and a sense of belonging, not out of convenience.

In the end, there is a message that is important to leave: nationality is the mirror of our collective identity. Granting it is an act of trust and recognition, and therefore it must be demanding. Portugal remains an open country—it continues to be so, and proudly so—but now it is also a country that knows that its generosity needs criteria, that its identity needs time, and that its future needs real ties. Being Portuguese is, and should continue to be, a privilege. A privilege to be honored, not trivialized. Portugal is not just a place. Portugal is a community, a destiny.

In several Western countries, this sense of commitment is even celebrated publicly and symbolically. In the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, citizenship is granted in solemn ceremonies where new citizens take an oath and receive national symbols. In France and Germany, there are municipal ceremonies welcoming new citizens, with the presentation of a "livret du citoyen" (citizen's booklet) or a certificate of adherence to the Constitution. In Norway and the Netherlands, the moment is also celebrated in civic events of strong community value. Portugal doesn't yet have this tradition—but perhaps it should. Creating a Portuguese Nationality Ceremony, where the new citizen publicly commits to the Constitution, the language, democratic values, and the history of the country, would be the natural next step in a reform that aims to give substance to belonging. Because nationality is not just a legal status: it is an affirmation of faith in the community we choose to build together.

As Ernest Renan wrote, " the nation is a daily plebiscite ." To be Portuguese is to choose, every day, to be part of this community.

Alexandre Poço Vice-President of the PSD

Member of Parliament

November 5, 2025