Portugal's president has signed legislation that doubles the residency requirement for foreigners seeking citizenship, responding to what the government calls an unprecedented surge in immigration. The new law marks a significant shift in the country's approach to naturalization, which had previously attracted considerable foreign interest through investment programs and work permits.

The timing reflects growing political pressure as Portugal's foreign-born population has reached historic levels. The previous pathway to citizenship—already one of the more accessible in Western Europe—will now take substantially longer under the new framework. The government has framed the change as necessary to ensure proper integration and manage immigration flows more effectively.

This policy reversal could reshape Portugal's appeal to skilled workers and investors who had increasingly viewed the country's relatively fast naturalization process as a gateway to European Union membership. The stricter requirements may drive prospective immigrants toward alternative EU nations with more favorable citizenship pathways.