How to obtain Portuguese citizenship

The path to Portuguese citizenship through residency, naturalisation and legal support at every stage

Many people find the idea of obtaining an EU passport appealing. Along with European citizenship, they gain greater freedom, security and new opportunities for study, work and business.

In 2026, the Portuguese Republic remains one of the most promising jurisdictions for moving to Europe. The country attracts both those who are eligible for Portuguese citizenship by descent and those who will need to live as residents for several years before naturalisation.

Obtaining Portuguese citizenship requires not only compliance with the formally established residence period under the relevant immigration programme, but also proper verification of legal status, income and integration. Errors in documents or deadlines can lead to delays or rejection, so professional legal support is crucial at every stage of the procedure.

Vasily Kluev

Client Service Director, Immigration Adviser (IAA)

Benefits of Portuguese citizenship

1. EU passport

Along with citizenship of the Portuguese Republic, an expat gains the right to live, work, do business or study freely in any of the 27 European countries that make up the EU.

2. Freedom to travel worldwide

The main document of a Portuguese citizen ranks an impressive 5th in , as it allows you to cross the borders of 184 jurisdictions without lengthy bureaucratic red tape.

3. Unique business opportunities

New Portuguese citizens have the opportunity to register a business in a country with a stable economy, where all the necessary conditions for growth are in place:

• one of the best ecosystems for start-ups in Europe;
• a tax environment favourable to entrepreneurs;
• a reliable banking system and no currency controls;
• access to investment in growing sectors of the economy;
• a strategically advantageous location at the crossroads of trade routes between Europe, Africa and the Americas;
• a stable property market with high growth potential;
• the opportunity to participate in European Union development programmes.

4. Access to a high-quality healthcare system

Portugal operates a universal health insurance system. Citizens of this wonderful country receive all necessary medical care in a timely manner at numerous public and private clinics, with minimal out-of-pocket costs for treatment. Where necessary, integration with the healthcare networks of other EU member states is possible.

5. High-quality education

Children of Portuguese citizens have the opportunity to receive free or relatively inexpensive school education. A degree from one of Portugal’s highly-ranked international universities can be a ticket to a bright future. As a rule, teaching at such institutions can be conducted in Portuguese or English, and student participation in research projects and international exchange programmes is actively encouraged.

6. Social protection

The crisis-resilient economy, combined with political stability and the rule of law in the Portuguese Republic, fosters the financial and personal growth of the population. Portuguese citizens enjoy the reliable protection of a socially oriented state, with a sound pension system and financial support programmes for those in need.

7. High quality of life

An undeniable advantage of Portugal is its mild climate, stunning natural beauty, and clean air and water. To understand why this country is growing in popularity year after year among affluent retirees and wealthy foreigners, add the following to the jurisdiction’s existing advantages:

• high levels of safety;
• excellent local cuisine;
• Portuguese wine;
• a unique cultural and historical heritage;
• low cost of living compared to other Western European countries.

How to become a Portuguese citizen

There are at least four ways to obtain a Portuguese passport.

1. Citizenship by descent

This is perhaps one of the simplest ways to obtain Portuguese citizenship. Children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren of Portuguese citizens do not need to have lived in the country for several years to apply for citizenship.

However, it should be noted that the authorities of the Portuguese Republic do not issue passports to all descendants of Portuguese nationals on first request. If a child is born into a family where one or both parents are Portuguese nationals, citizenship may be granted automatically. In all other cases, a prospective citizen of Portuguese origin must:

• provide a police certificate confirming no criminal convictions;
• have a sufficient command of the Portuguese language;
• provide documentary evidence of a strong connection to the country – not only familial, but also cultural, social or economic.

2. Citizenship by birth

The mere fact of being born on the territory of the Portuguese Republic is not in itself sufficient grounds for obtaining citizenship

Children of foreign parents born in the Portuguese Republic may also claim citizenship:

• if, after their birth, either parent became a Portuguese national;
• if they meet the naturalisation conditions relating to birth in Portugal and the applicable legislation at the time of birth. The fact of residence, education, registration with the tax authorities or social welfare agencies may be taken into account when considering an application, but does not in itself constitute an independent basis for obtaining citizenship; if the parents have no citizenship at all;
• by descent – if the applicant’s grandfather or grandmother holds Portuguese citizenship and other requirements established by Portuguese law are met.

Contact our company’s consultants if you need expert legal advice to substantiate your right to Portuguese citizenship by birth!

3. Citizenship for spouses

Husbands and wives of Portuguese nationals may also apply for citizenship. To do so, they must provide documentary evidence of a partnership or marital relationship with a Portuguese citizen for a period of at least 3 years. Foreign spouses are also required to:

• demonstrate, through a test, knowledge of the Portuguese language at a level no lower than A2 according to the European classification;
• demonstrate a high degree of integration into Portuguese society.

Investments in the economy or involvement in community organisations are considered sufficient social and cultural ties for the applicant to obtain Portuguese citizenship.

4. Citizenship through naturalisation

Naturalisation is the best option for obtaining citizenship for those immigrants who do not have any significant ties to Portugal. The key requirement for this route is the length of time the applicant has spent in the country legally.

Features of the naturalisation process in the Portuguese Republic

If an immigrant is not a citizen of an EU country, they will first need to obtain one of the resident visas, travel to Portugal and apply for a residence permit (RP).

The vast majority of expats who have arrived in the Portuguese Republic on a long-term visa will need to have lived in the country for at least 7 years before they can apply for naturalisation.

Minimum residence period for naturalisation in Portugal

As previously mentioned, most holders of a Portuguese residence permit will need to meet certain requirements to qualify for citizenship. In most cases, to qualify for Portuguese citizenship, the holder of a residence permit must have lived in the country for at least seven years. The minimum period of residence is calculated from the date the first residence card was issued, not from the date the application for it was submitted.

Citizens of EU countries do not require a visa to move to the Portuguese Republic. However, when subsequently applying for citizenship, the period of legal residence in the country must be at least 7 years.

Other requirements for applicants

In addition to the mandatory period of residence, successful naturalisation in Portugal is subject to the following requirements:

1. The applicant must be at least 18 years of age.
2. Proficiency in the Portuguese language at a level of at least A2. This is confirmed by means of a test. Applicants from Portuguese-speaking countries are exempt from the test.
3. Active participation in the social life of their adopted country. For holders of a ‘Golden Visa’, such participation will be through their investments.
4. No criminal convictions for offences punishable in Portugal by imprisonment for a term of three years or more.
5. The applicant must have no links to terrorist organisations and no history of involvement in terrorist activities.

Naturalisation in Portugal – a step-by-step guide

Although most applicants for citizenship through naturalisation have lived in the Portuguese Republic for many years, they will still require the expert assistance of immigration agents to obtain second citizenship within a reasonable timeframe.

With the help of Imperial & Legal’s experienced specialists, you can complete the entire naturalisation process in Portugal in just 5 steps:

What documents must be submitted with the application during the naturalisation process?

The minimum set of supporting documents must include:

1. Passport.
2. Birth certificate.
3. Proof of legal residence in the country – a certificate from the Immigration and Borders Agency (AIMA), copies of all residence cards ever issued to you, etc.
4. Certificate of good conduct.
5. Certificate of successful completion of a language test.
6. Details of your current registered address, employment in Portugal and previous countries of residence.
7. Receipt for payment of the application fee, if the application is submitted by post.

All of the applicant’s documents not written in Portuguese or English must be accompanied by a certified translation.

Taxation in Portugal

Income tax

Residents of the Portuguese Republic pay tax on all their income, both within the country and abroad.

A progressive scale is applied to calculate the tax, depending on the amount of declared income in the tax year. Portuguese legislation provides for tax allowances, the amount of which also varies depending on the tax payable by the resident.

Income tax rates and tax allowances in Portugal applicable in 2026

If a taxpayer is legally married or in a civil partnership, the combined income of both partners may be taken into account when filing a joint tax return. The applicable tax rates are calculated based on the total family income in accordance with the rules of Portuguese tax law.
Income earned by non-residents of Portugal is still taxed at a flat rate of 25% if it is generated within the country.

In the Portuguese Republic, separate rates apply to investment income and capital gains.

Capital gains tax

The standard rate of capital gains tax in Portugal is 28%. Tax deductions apply when calculating the taxable amount of profits or losses arising from the sale of company shares.

If the income arises from the sale of shares in small and micro-enterprises, provided that they are not listed on the stock market, the deduction will be 50%.

If the profit was derived from the sale of shares in a Portuguese company that are freely traded on the stock market:

• a 10% deduction if the assets were held for between 2 and 5 years;
• 20% deduction if the shares were owned by the seller for 5 to 8 years;
• 30% deduction if the assets sold were held for 8 years or more.

There are also tax deductions that apply when income arises from the sale of real estate. To find out about all the tax reliefs applicable when calculating capital gains tax in Portugal, please contact our company’s tax advisers.

Income tax on rental income

Income received from letting property in the Portuguese Republic may be taxed at a flat rate of 28%.

If the income is derived from the letting of residential property, a flat rate of 25% applies. In some cases, a resident may be able to optimise their tax liability:

• by including the rent received in the amount subject to the standard progressive income tax rate;
• by treating the rent received as income from professional or business activities.

Tax on dividends and interest

Taxpayers in Portugal have a choice: they can either pay tax on dividends and interest on bank deposits at a flat rate of 28%, or include this income in the total taxable amount, which is subject to the standard progressive tax rate of 12.5–48%, plus the solidarity tax rate.

Solidarity tax

In 2026, the income of high-net-worth Portuguese taxpayers will be subject to an additional solidarity tax. The rate is:

• 5% if the declared income ranges from €80,000 to €250,000;
• 5% if the tax resident’s income exceeds €250,000.

A little-known advantage of the Portuguese tax system

In addition to the ability to optimise the tax burden through deductions, fixed rates and the option to choose a tax regime, taxpayers in Portugal have one advantage that is not immediately obvious, stemming from a rule in the country’s tax legislation.

Regardless of the sources of income declared and the income tax rates applied, a resident’s net income after all taxes have been paid must not be less than the established minimum subsistence level.

Why should you contact Imperial & Legal before applying for Portuguese citizenship?

It is not uncommon for our collaboration with Imperial & Legal to begin at the stage of obtaining a residence permit to move to the Portuguese Republic. After carefully reviewing your circumstances and preferences, we devise the optimal immigration route.

A key advantage of working with us is that we do not offer our clients impersonal, standardised solutions. Every expat receives a ready-made, ‘turnkey’ solution that best suits their requirements and circumstances.

We do not limit ourselves to providing legal support for the process of obtaining Portuguese citizenship. You can contact Imperial & Legal if you need to organise a move to Europe, open a bank account, register a company or optimise your tax situation.