TL;DR: Portugal’s 2024-2026 immigration and nationality law changes are the most significant in decades. The headline change: a new Nationality Law approved by Parliament in April 2026 increases the residency requirement for citizenship from 5 years to 10 years for most non-EU nationals, and to 7 years for EU and CPLP nationals. The law is not yet in force — it must be published in the Diário da República first — but families planning long-term residency need to factor this in immediately. Separately, AIMA replaced SEF, the Golden Visa closed to most real estate applications, and D7/D8 visa routes remain unchanged. Always verify current rules with a licensed immigration specialist.
⚠️ Breaking: New Nationality Law Approved April 2026 — Residency Doubles to 10 Years
In April 2026, Portugal’s Parliament approved a major reform to the Nationality Law — the most significant change to citizenship rules in decades. Families planning long-term residency need to factor this in now.
- Non-EU nationals (UK, US, Australia, Canada): citizenship residency requirement increases from 5 years to 10 years
- EU and CPLP nationals: increases from 5 years to 7 years
- Children born in Portugal to foreign parents: one parent must now have resided legally for at least 5 years (was 1 year)
- New civic knowledge test added alongside the language test
- Stricter criminal record rules — convictions carrying 2+ years imprisonment disqualify applications
Is it in force yet? As of May 2026, no — the law must be published in the Diário da República (dre.pt) before taking effect. Expected within 30 days of presidential approval in April 2026.
Pending applications: The Constitutional Court ruled that applications submitted under the old 5-year rule cannot be automatically moved to the new 10-year requirement. If you have a pending application, seek legal advice on how transitional rules apply to you.
→ Full guide: Portuguese Citizenship: The Complete Guide — being updated to reflect the new law.
Portugal’s Foreigners’ Law was revised and came into force in October 2025, introducing a series of changes that directly affect expat families — particularly those applying for family reunification, navigating AIMA appointments, and planning long-term residency. This guide covers what changed and what it means in practice.
⚠️ Immigration law in Portugal is changing rapidly in 2025–2026. Always verify current requirements with AIMA or a licensed immigration lawyer before making decisions based on this article.
What Is the Foreigners’ Law?
Portugal’s Foreigners’ Law (Lei dos Estrangeiros) is the primary legal framework governing immigration — visas, residency permits, family reunification, deportation, and border control. The revised law entered into force on 23 October 2025 and introduced several significant changes.
Family Reunification: The Biggest Change for Families
The revised law introduced a 2-year residency requirement before non-EU residents can apply for family reunification. In other words, you now need to have held a valid residence permit for at least 2 years before bringing family members to Portugal under family reunification rules.
Important exception: Families with minor children are exempt from the 2-year waiting period. If you have dependent children, you can apply for family reunification without waiting. This is a critical carve-out for most families reading this site.
Other exceptions: Golden Visa holders, EU Blue Card holders, and highly skilled worker permit holders are also exempt from the 2-year requirement.
Constitutional Court challenge: The 2-year general waiting period was challenged as unconstitutional, and the Constitutional Court ruled in late 2025 that it violated constitutional protections for family unity. The government was required to revise these provisions. As of May 2026, the revised provisions are being processed — verify the current status of family reunification rules directly with AIMA or an immigration lawyer.
AIMA: The New Immigration Authority
SEF (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras) was abolished and replaced by AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo) in late 2023. The Foreigners’ Law reforms formalised AIMA’s role and responsibilities. A new National Foreigners and Borders Unit within the Public Security Police was also established to handle border control and enforcement.
For families in practice: AIMA is your point of contact for all residency applications, renewals, and family reunification. The transition from SEF to AIMA has been bumpy — appointment availability has been limited and processing times long. The Mission Structure (Estrutura de Missão) was established to clear the backlog and has issued over 311,000 residence cards since September 2023.
Job-Seeker Visa Restrictions
The job-seeker visa has been restricted to qualified professionals in eligible occupations (to be defined by ministerial decree). This is less directly relevant for most families using D7 or D8 visas, but worth noting if one partner is exploring Portuguese employment routes.
CPLP Nationals: New Visa Requirement
Citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries (Brazil, Cape Verde, Angola, Mozambique, and others) must now obtain the appropriate visa before entering Portugal. Previously, CPLP nationals could enter and regularise their status from within Portugal. This is a significant change for Brazilian families in particular.
Permit Validity Extension
One practical positive: permits that expired by 30 June 2025 and were renewed through AIMA’s Mission Structure remain valid until 15 April 2026. This protected many families caught in the AIMA backlog from losing legal status during processing delays.
What This Means for Families Moving to Portugal in 2026
For families arriving in Portugal with all members together — moving as a unit — family reunification rules don’t apply. You all arrive together, register residency together, and proceed through AIMA together. The family reunification rules apply when one person has been in Portugal for a period and then wants to bring family members from abroad.
For families arriving in stages — one partner arrives first, establishes residency, then brings the rest of the family — the revised rules are relevant. The exception for families with minor children means most families with children are protected.
The overall message for 2026: Portuguese immigration law is in a period of active change. More so than at any point in recent years, the rules you read about today may differ from what applies in 6 months. This makes working with a current, experienced immigration lawyer more valuable than ever. See our guide to immigration lawyers in Portugal.
Portugal’s immigration law changed significantly in 2025–2026 and continues to evolve. Always verify current requirements with AIMA directly or through a licensed immigration lawyer.
Planning your move to Portugal? Download our free family relocation checklist — visas, schools, healthcare, and everything you need for the first 30 days.