After taking the plunge to move to Portugal, you may soon find that you no longer wish to leave.

The cool Atlantic sea breeze and balmy warm winter days will tempt to you to stay here long-term or permanently. If you have succumbed to the Portuguese charms, you will need to apply for Portuguese citizenship or Portuguese permanent residency.

Portuguese permanent residence is available after five years of residence, while Portuguese citizenship is available after six years, or three years if claiming Portuguese citizenship by marriage.

Both Portuguese citizenship and Portuguese permanent residence allow you to remain in Portugal indefinitely and access similar benefits, although there are some differences between the two. While residents can stay in Portugal indefinitely by continually renewing their permanent resident, there are certain added Portuguese citizenship benefits to entice foreigners to take on the Portuguese citizenship application process.

Brexit and UK residents

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Until 31 December 2020, not much will change for UK citizens living in Portugal. The transition period which started on 1 February 2020, will continue to allow free right of movement and residence as if the UK were a Member of the European Union. For more information consult the SEF website.

Portuguese citizenship benefits

Many of the rights given to Portuguese permanent residents are the same as Portuguese citizenship benefits. Both are able to:

• participate in full employment or self-employment (without a Portuguese work permit)

• participate in education and study

• access Portuguese social security benefits and pensions

• buy property in Portugal

However, there are additional Portuguese citizenship benefits, such as allowing you to:

• vote in Portuguese elections and referendums

• obtain a Portuguese passport, ranked 16thin the world on the Passport Index

• acquire EU citizenship, meaning you can travel freely across EU countries

• live, work or retire in other EU member states.

However, the Portuguese citizenship application is more demanding than obtaining permanent residence, and Portuguese passport costs are typically higher. In some cases you may also need to give up citizenship of your home country, although many nationals qualify for dual citizenship.

Portuguese citizenship costs

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The application fee for Portuguese citizenship ranges from EUR 175–250 depending on which category you are applying under. Children who are entitled to Portuguese citizenship through descent can apply for free.

Portuguese dual citizenship

Portugal allows dual citizenship, allowing foreigners to gain Portuguese nationality without having to give up the citizenship of their home country. However, you will first need to check with your home country if it also permits dual citizenship. In some cases, your home country may require you to renounce your citizenship before allowing you to take Portuguese nationality.

Applying for Portuguese citizenship

Foreign residents can apply for Portuguese citizenship in most cases after six years of residence in Portugal. The application needs to made to the Portuguese Ministry of Justice (Instituto dos Registos e do Notoriado – IRN).

Portuguese nationality law permits foreigners to acquire Portuguese citizenship by:

• Marriage to a Portuguese citizen

• Descent or birth (Portuguese by origin)

• Naturalisation after six years of residence

• Adoption

• Being a citizen of a former Portuguese overseas territory

• Jewish law of return for Sephardic Jews (Portuguese Sephardic citizenship scheme)

• If you were formerly a Portuguese citizen who lost Portuguese citizenship in certain circumstances.

Portuguese citizenship by marriage

You can acquire Portuguese citizenship through marriage after three years of being married to a Portuguese citizen, or three years of legally recognised cohabitation. There is no requirement to have had any prior period of residence in Portugal although the applicant is required to provide documents proving effective connection to the Portuguese community.

If you divorce or separate at a later date, your Portuguese citizenship will not be revoked.

Naturalisation as a Portuguese citizen

If you have lived in Portugal for six years, you can apply for Portuguese citizenship if you meet the following Portuguese citizenship requirements:

• Have sufficient knowledge of Portuguese language (proven with a certificate or test);

• Have not been convicted of a crime punishable by a jail sentence of three years or more.

You can submit the Portuguese citizenship application yourself or it can be submitted by a suitable proxy. The following documentation also needs to be submitted:

• birth certificate (if possible)

• proof of sufficient knowledge of Portuguese language

• passport/travel ID

• details of current residence permit

• details of date and place of birth, occupation, current residence and list of countries previously resided in

• criminal record certificate

• document issued by the SEF proving that you have been legally resident in Portugal for at least six years.

You can get information about how to apply for Portuguese citizenship from any of the outlets listed here (contact details). You will need to submit a form and send it to the Central Registry Office at the IRN, along with the necessary documents and payment.

Portuguese citizenship applications take varying times to process. If an application is dismissed at the outset, however, you will be informed within 20 days.

Portuguese citizenship by investment

This is a special Portuguese visa programme designed to attract foreign investment into Portugal. The Portuguese Golden Visa programme speeds up the process for foreign investors from non-EU/EFTA countries to obtain a Portuguese residence permit and claim Portuguese citizenship by investment.

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Portugal’s citizenship authorities

• Portuguese Ministry of Justice (IRN) who deal with Portuguese citizenship

• Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service (SEF) who deal with Portuguese residence permits

• Portuguese citizenship application form