Portugal Plans For Longer Residency and Stricter Visa Rules Ahead

Charlie Portugal 9 July 2025 | | 0

Portugal is preparing to tighten its immigration rules, including who can become a citizen and who can bring family members to join them. These changes aim to improve the immigration system and better manage the number of people coming into the country.

According to Minister António Leitão Amaro, the current Nationality Law will be reviewed. While he hasn’t shared full details yet, one key change is expected: immigrants may need to live in Portugal for 10 years instead of 5 before applying for citizenship.

There’s also debate around whether the waiting time for a residence permit should count toward this residency requirement. Officials discussed possibly not counting that waiting period, which would make it even longer before someone can apply for Portuguese citizenship.

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, who was re-elected on June 15, has promised to focus on immigration reform during his term.

Tighter Rules for Family Reunification

The government also plans to limit family reunification options. Officials say Portugal’s public services and society need time to better support those who move to the country, so they're being more selective.

That means:

Job-seeking visas will likely be limited to highly skilled workers
New rules may require language skills
The focus will be on attracting qualified talent and Portuguese descendants living abroad

Portugal is a popular destination for people from CPLP countries—especially Brazilians, who form the largest foreign community in Portugal. These new rules could make it harder for them to bring family members into the country.

What are your thoughts on this issue? Talk to us in the comment section below. Or if you need more advice on the above, contact us for further travel & immigration advice.

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About
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Charlie

Travel and Immigration Writer and Client Relationship Manager at IaM (Immigration and Migration)

Charlie is IaM’s resident Travel & Immigration Writer and Client Relationship Manager. They craft clear, engaging guides that demystify complex visa and migration rules - and then personally supports each client through every step of their journey.

Over the past 6+ years, with IaM, and working in the travel and immigration sector, Charlie has authored 200+ in-depth guides on Schengen, UK visas & other destinations they have relocated 1,000+ families safely through the system. A Clockwork Practitioner, Charlie also works hard to streamline operations and adheres to the mantra "Task Clients Well".

When they’re not translating policy into plain English, you’ll find them scouting new destinations, collecting local stories, and mastering a new language to better serve our global community.