Portugal tightens citizenship requirements and increases residency duration

The Portuguese government has finalized new regulations to tighten the citizenship application process, following legislative reforms initiated earlier in 2026. A key change involves the mandatory legal residency period, which has been extended to seven years for EU and Portuguese-speaking nation citizens, and ten years for applicants from other countries, including Algeria. Candidates must now demonstrate a solid command of the Portuguese language, history, and civic duties, while also proving financial stability. Beyond these requirements, the government is prioritizing the digitization of administrative procedures to improve efficiency. Additionally, César Teixeira has been appointed as the new head of the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) as the country seeks to better manage migration flows and service demands.