After years of contributing to and living within Portuguese society, the law recognizes your right to full integration. Convert your five years of legal residence into Portuguese Citizenship by Length of Residence and secure permanent stability—no more renewals with AIMA.
Portuguese Nationality Law allows foreign nationals who have legally resided in Portugal for at least five years to apply for Portuguese citizenship by naturalization, commonly referred to as Citizenship by Length of Residence (Article 6(1)).
This is the natural path for those who immigrated through work, study, entrepreneurship, or passive income visas. It marks the moment when you cease to be legally classified as an “immigrant” and become a “national,” with full civil and political rights. It is also the route most legal residents take to convert a Residence Permit (AR) into permanent Portuguese citizenship.
Time is the primary requirement, but the details of how residency time is calculated for Portuguese citizenship can make all the difference to a successful application.
You must have completed five years of legal residence.
Importante: Important: The count begins from the issuance date of your first Residence Permit (the card), not from your date of entry into Portugal or the date of your expression of interest.
Legal Update: Waiting time between submitting the residence application and final approval may now be counted in certain cases—a significant advancement. We analyze your specific timeline to confirm eligibility. Legal Update: Waiting time between submitting the residence application and final approval may now be counted in certain cases—a significant advancement. We analyze your specific timeline to confirm eligibility.
For Brazilian citizens (and nationals of other Portuguese-speaking countries), language proficiency is presumed. No language exam is required.
You must not have been convicted, by a final court judgment, of a crime punishable under Portuguese law by a prison sentence of three years or more.
No more queues at AIMA to renew residence permits. The Citizen Card is permanent (renewed every ten years, without immigration bureaucracy).
As a resident, you may circulate, but relocating to another EU country is complex. As a citizen, you may live and work freely in France, Germany, Spain, and beyond.
You gain the right to vote in Portuguese and European Union elections.
Travel to the United States, Canada, Japan, and many other countries visa-free or with simplified procedures.
We review your entire residency history (temporary and permanent permits) to confirm that the five-year requirement has been met under current rules.
We gather your criminal records (Brazilian and Portuguese), birth certificate, and proof of residence.
We submit your Portuguese naturalization application to the competent Civil Registry Office.
We track all stages through to the issuance of your Portuguese birth registration, which officially confirms acquisition of nationality.
You’ve already built your life here. Let’s ensure your official documents reflect that reality. Speak with us to begin your naturalization process.
No. Only time with a valid Residence Permit (or time awaiting approval, under the new rules) counts toward the five-year requirement.
Yes. The basis of the application is legal residence. However, the concept allows for temporary absences, provided they do not affect the validity of your permit.
Se eles nasceram em Portugal depois If they were born in Portugal after you already held legal residence (even for less than five years), they may qualify as Portuguese citizens by origin. If they were born abroad, they may apply after you become Portuguese (if they are minors) or independently by length of residence if they have lived in Portugal for five years. depois que você se tornar português (se forem menores) ou também por tempo de residência (se morarem lá há 5 anos).
