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Portugal has approved new measures that tighten citizenship requirements, including increasing the required length of residency and amending the naturalization system, in addition to abolishing the privilege of Sephardic Jews, in a move aimed at strengthening actual ties to the national community.
According to the website of the European news network in Brussels, "Euronews," the Portuguese Council of Ministers approved four new pieces of legislation related to the Citizenship and Residence Law yesterday, which include stricter criteria for granting Portuguese citizenship.
According to the new legislation, the time period required to grant citizenship has been extended to seven years of legal residency for Portuguese-speaking citizens and ten years for citizens of other countries.
Presidency Minister António Leitão Amaro indicated that "the period begins to be counted from the date of obtaining the residence permit," which differs from the previous system, which was based on the date of submitting the initial application.
The official justification for the new measures stated that they aim to "strengthen actual attachment and belonging to the national community."
For the descendants of foreigners residing in Portugal, the legislation stipulates a new condition for granting citizenship: "The parents must have resided legally for at least three years" and expressly express a desire to grant the child Portuguese citizenship. These procedures are not automatic or automatic.
Conditions for Obtaining Portuguese Citizenship
Leitão Amaro explained that the four pieces of legislation approved by the Council of Ministers aim to "strengthen the requirement of an effective link to the national community, enabling the granting of political rights to those who are actually Portuguese."
According to the new legislation, those applying for naturalization will be required to demonstrate their knowledge of the Portuguese language, as well as "sufficient knowledge of the duties and rights of Portuguese citizens and the country's political organization," through formal tests. A "formal declaration of commitment to the fundamental principles of the democratic rule of law" will also be required as part of the citizenship procedure. Regarding exceptions, the legislation stipulates the exclusion of citizens "sentenced to actual prison sentences" from obtaining citizenship, and the abolition of the "exceptional naturalization system for Portuguese Sephardic Jews," limiting naturalization based on Portuguese origins to great-great-grandchildren only.
The government also approved the possibility of depriving naturalized citizens of citizenship in the event of serious crimes. The decision stipulates that "loss of citizenship may be imposed on citizens who were naturalized within a shorter period, as a secondary penalty issued by a judge in cases of extremely serious crimes for which the person is sentenced to an actual prison sentence of five years or more."

Changes to the Foreigners' Law
Amendments were made to Portugal's Foreigners' Law, including the entry of citizens of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries, the conditions for family reunification, and job seeker visas.
Regarding job seeker visas, entry without a contract or prior promise of employment is now permitted for "highly qualified persons only," as part of the government's efforts to attract skilled workers. Leitão Amaro indicated that the executive branch is negotiating with higher education institutions to establish a "talent attraction system," along with the creation of a special channel for this purpose within the National Agency for Higher Education.
Regarding family reunification, a new condition has been introduced requiring immigrants to have legally resided in Portugal for two consecutive years before they are permitted to bring family members, provided that these members are minors.
As for citizens of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP), they retain visa-free entry under existing agreements, but a new condition has been added, requiring "an opinion from the Border Unit of the Internal Security System when granting visas." Applications for this category are now "restricted to holders of a residence visa," prohibiting applications submitted within the country using tourist visas or visa exemptions.
The Cabinet also approved a draft law establishing a National Unit for Foreigners and Borders within the Public Security Service, with the aim of strengthening border control. Leitao Amaro emphasized that "Portugal must once again have a border police force that supervises entry, conducts inspections, and returns to their countries those who do not comply with the rules." Meanwhile, a recent referendum in Italy on reducing the required length of residency for citizenship from ten years to five failed to achieve the necessary 50% turnout. However, approximately 64% of voters expressed support for reducing the length of residency required for Italian citizenship.