Exploring Residency Options of Highly Qualified Employees in Portugal: A Guide for Employers

The Portuguese Parliament has decided to postpone the vote on the proposed amendments to the Nationality Law until September 2025. The decision was taken in a meeting of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees, following pressure from several political parties who requested more time to assess the implications of the proposed reform. The delay allows for additional hearings with legal experts, immigrant associations and civil society representatives before a final vote is held in plenary session. The proposed reform introduces significant changes to the current legal framework for acquiring Portuguese nationality. Among the most impactful measures is the extension of the minimum legal residence period required before applying for naturalisation. Under the new proposal, this period would increase from the current five years to seven years for nationals of CPLP countries (Community of Portuguese Language Countries), and to ten years for applicants from all other countries. Another major change concerns the introduction of mechanisms to revoke Portuguese nationality . According to the proposal, naturalised citizens who are convicted of serious crimes — defined as those resulting in prison sentences of five years or more , within ten years of acquiring nationality — could see their Portuguese citizenship revoked by a court decision, based on a proposal from the Public Prosecutor’s Office. In addition, the reform would tighten the requirements for acquiring original Portuguese nationality through birth in Portugal. For children born in Portuguese territory to foreign parents, it would become mandatory that at least one parent has been residing legally in Portugal for a minimum of three years , instead of the current two years. Although the government initially intended to approve these changes before the summer recess, political consensus has not yet been reached. Left-wing parties have raised concerns regarding the constitutionality of retroactive revocation of nationality and the potential impact on the rights of long-term residents and immigrant communities in Portugal. In response, the parliamentary committee agreed to postpone the process and schedule a new round of expert hearings in early September. A final vote on the reform is now expected to take place later that month. Until then, the current version of the Nationality Law remains in force , including the five-year legal residence requirement for naturalisation. Applicants who meet this requirement and wish to apply under the current rules may still do so in the coming weeks.

Law No. 53/2023 transposes the EU Blue Card Directive into Portuguese law, improving conditions for highly skilled non-EU nationals to live and work in the EU.

Hiring a contractor in Portugal should be simple, but unmet terms can lead to financial loss and legal issues, especially for clients unfamiliar with local rules.

Portuguese nationality law requires more than just having a Portuguese spouse or grandparent—it also demands proof of a meaningful connection to Portuguese society.

Decree-Law No. 85-B/2025 entered into force on 1 July 2025, extending the validity of residence permits for foreign nationals residing in Portuguese territory.

When applying for a temporary stay or residence visa in Portugal, one of the key requirements is the submission of a recent criminal record certificate.

Under Portuguese Nationality Law (Law no. 37/81, as amended), grandchildren of Portuguese citizens may be eligible to apply for Portuguese citizenship.

Parents of under-18s with Portuguese nationality or residence can apply for residency under Art. 122 if they prove parental responsibility.

On 23 June 2025, at the Council of Ministers meeting, the Portuguese Government announced sweeping reforms to nationality law, immigration policy.