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CSC Advogada · Nationality law · Lisbon

Portugal Citizenship Lawyer

Our Portugal citizenship lawyer team in Lisbon handles every route to Portuguese nationality: descent, marriage, minors, residence and pending cases. After the 2026 law change, a wrong date or a missing document can cost years, so we check your route first and follow the case until the decision.

  • A Portugal citizenship lawyer checks your route, dates and documents, files with the Portuguese registry and follows the case until the decision.
  • Since 19 May 2026, citizenship by residence needs 7 years (EU and CPLP nationals) or 10 years (others), counted from the issue of the first residence permit.
  • Pending applications filed before that date are reported to stay under the previous rules.
Book a consultationFind my route in 1 minute
14+years of legal practice
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8citizenship routes covered
<1working day: usual reply time

Interactive tools

Find your route, check your clock, follow the law change

Three quick tools from our Portugal citizenship lawyers. They give a first orientation only, and we confirm everything for your case.

Services

Portugal citizenship lawyer for every route

Choose your route to see the requirements, documents and timeline. Not sure which one fits? Use the route finder above or book an online consultation.

Citizenship by descentGrandchildren and great-grandchildren of Portuguese citizens.View route →Citizenship by marriageSpouses and partners of Portuguese citizens.View route →Citizenship for minorsChildren of Portuguese parents, born before or after.View route →After 7 or 10 years of residenceNaturalisation for legal residents.View route →Sephardic casesFollow-up of pending cases. The route is closed to new applications.View route →Citizenship for GoansBorn in Goa, Daman or Diu before 1961, and descendants.View route →Former coloniesAngola, Mozambique, Cape Verde and others.View route →Citizenship for MacaneseBorn in Macau, and descendants.View route →

See also our Portuguese citizenship overview and the Portugal citizenship timeline 2026.

Law updates

Portugal citizenship law updates: what changed in 2026

The Portuguese nationality law changed in 2026 after a long process with the Constitutional Court, the Parliament vote and the President’s promulgation. Organic Law 1/2026 took effect on 19 May 2026. Here is what changed, in plain words.

TopicNow
Residence for naturalisation7 or 10 years
Clock startsResidence permit issued
Language and civic knowledgeA2 plus civic test
Sephardic routeClosed to new cases
Child born in PortugalParent 5 years legal
Permanent residency5 years, unchanged

Seven years applies to EU and CPLP nationals and ten years to others. The residence clock now starts when the first residence permit is issued, not when you applied for it. Applicants must show Portuguese at A2 level and knowledge of Portuguese culture, history and the political system. The government had to update the nationality regulation for the details of the tests, so we check the current status before we file.

Applications filed before 19 May 2026 are reported to stay under the previous rules. If you are close to the line, the filing date matters. Ask us before you decide.

Details are still being implemented. Check anything after 5 November 2026 with us or the official sources. See timeline 2026.

Timing

How many years to get Portugal citizenship?

Click your route.

Immigration

Portugal immigration lawyer: new immigration law changes

As a Portugal immigration lawyer, we also handle the residence that leads to citizenship. The Portugal new immigration law of 2025 amended the Foreigners Law, and the Constitutional Court struck down parts of it in August 2025. Parliament then revised the text, so each Portugal immigration law change depends on the date and the permit. Permanent residency after five years is unchanged.

Residence and visas

Golden Visa and citizenship

Why a lawyer

Benefits of hiring a Portuguese citizenship lawyer

Process

How a Portuguese citizenship lawyer handles your case

Worldwide

Portuguese citizenship lawyer for clients in London, the US and India

We are based in Lisbon and work online. Our Portuguese citizenship lawyer team advises clients in the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, India, Israel and the Middle East by video or phone, in English or Portuguese. Whether you need a Portugal immigration lawyer in India or a Portuguese immigration lawyer in London, we collect documents, apostilles and certified copies for you.

LondonNew YorkMumbaiTorontoSydneyTel AvivDubaiLisbon

Searching for a Portuguese citizenship lawyer near me? Start with an online consultation, or visit our Lisbon office. Portugal immigration lawyer contact number: +351 215 896 071.

Choosing

How to choose a lawyer in Portugal

Looking for a list of lawyers in Portugal? There is no official list of citizenship specialists, so check these points before you hire any Portuguese immigration lawyer in Portugal.

Registered

Check the bar number with the Portuguese Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados). Ours is 45229 L.

In writing

Get the scope, the fees and the steps in a written quote before any work starts.

Your lawyer

Ask who handles your file and whether you can speak to the lawyer directly.

Your lawyer

Meet Clara Silva da Costa, your citizenship lawyer in Portugal

Clara Silva da Costa is a Portuguese lawyer (Bar no. 45229 L) with more than 14 years of practice. She holds a law degree with graduate qualifications in registries and notarial practice and in labour law, is a former adviser at UNICRI (United Nations) and a member of the European Association of Lawyers. Read her profile.

“I felt personally guided and supported.” Vered H., client. Over 100 five-star Google reviews.

FAQ

Portugal citizenship lawyer: frequently asked questions

Do I need a Portugal citizenship lawyer?

It is not legally required for every route, but most applicants use one. The 2026 law changed the residence period, the clock and the tests, and an error can cost years. A lawyer checks your route, documents and dates before you file.

How many years to get Portugal citizenship?

It depends on the route. By residence, the 2026 law requires 7 years for EU and CPLP nationals and 10 years for others, counted from the issue of the first residence permit. Descent, marriage and minors follow different rules. Use the clock above for a first estimate.

What is the new Portugal citizenship law 2026?

Organic Law 1/2026 was published on 18 May 2026 and took effect on 19 May 2026. It raised the residence period for naturalisation, changed when the clock starts, added civic-knowledge requirements, closed the Sephardic route to new applications and tightened conditions for children born in Portugal.

Does the new Portugal citizenship law apply to my pending application?

Applications already filed before 19 May 2026 are reported to continue under the previous rules, while new filings fall under the new law. We check your filing date and your documents.

What happened with the Portugal citizenship law and the Constitutional Court?

The Constitutional Court reviewed an earlier version and struck down four provisions, which Parliament then revised. The second version passed on 1 April 2026, the President promulgated it on 3 May 2026, and it was published on 18 May 2026.

Is there a new Portugal passport law?

We are not aware of a separate passport law. Recent changes affect who can become Portuguese. Once registered, apply for the citizen card and passport.

Can Sephardic descendants still apply?

The Sephardic route is closed to new applications as of 19 May 2026. We follow up pending Sephardic cases. See Sephardic follow-up.

How does Portuguese citizenship by descent work after the law change?

There is no residence requirement for descent, but the rules on who qualifies and what must be proved have been under review. Reports indicate that access extends to great-grandchildren with an effective connection to Portugal. We confirm the current text for your family tree. See citizenship by descent.

Is there Portuguese citizenship for common-law partners?

Unmarried partners in a stable union (união de facto) have been recognised as a route alongside marriage, with conditions on duration and proof. We confirm the current conditions on our citizenship by marriage page.

Can the Golden Visa count towards Portuguese citizenship?

Golden Visa residence counts as legal residence, but the 2026 change to when the clock starts matters, and sources differ on how it applies to existing holders. We check your fee payment and residence card dates before we give a timeline.

Do you work with clients in London, the US and India?

Yes. We are based in Lisbon and work online with clients in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, India, Israel and the Middle East. Consultations are by video or phone, in English or Portuguese.

How do I choose a lawyer in Portugal?

Check that the lawyer is registered with the Portuguese Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados), ask for the bar number, get the scope and the fees in writing, and ask who will handle your file. Our lead lawyer is Bar no. 45229 L.

Can I trust Reddit advice about Portugal immigration law?

Threads share experiences but are often out of date, because the rules changed in 2025 and 2026. Check the date and compare with the official text or a registered lawyer.

Related pages

General information, not legal advice. Nationality and immigration rules change, so we confirm them for your case. Updated 5 November 2026.

Contact

Speak with a Portugal citizenship lawyer

Tell us your route, dates and documents. We usually reply in less than a working day.

+351 215 896 071 · info@cscadvogada.com

Avenida António Augusto de Aguiar, 183, 1º Esq, 1050-014 Lisboa