Portugal Is Making It Harder to Get Citizenship

Portugal Decided to Make the Path to a Passport Harder

Every week some country goes and ruins its own citizenship program for itself. Portugal's turn.

The government decided to raise the required residency period before you can apply for a passport from 5 to 10 years. There's a discount for citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries: 'only' 7 years. Technically it's still just a bill, but with backing from the far-right Chega party, it's 100% going to pass. Sadly.

The Global Trend: Longer and Harder Everywhere

It's basically the trend of the year: extend the timelines, complicate the rules, and honestly — why do you even need citizenship?

The US cracked down on undocumented immigrants, Argentina stopped handing out citizenship as a gift to newborns' parents, and now Portugal. Who's next?

Why Waiting Is a Bad Strategy

I've always thought that sitting on a residence permit waiting for better times is a really bad plan. The world changes fast. Today you're thinking 'five years, that's fine, I've got time.' Tomorrow your country changes the rules. And that's it. Or rather, that's you — out.

Which EU Countries Still Give You a Shot?

Luckily, even within the EU there are still countries with faster paths. Need advice on where to go to get a passport quicker?
Hit me up.