Which system is this page from?
What’s the difference between a Residence permit and a card?
Do the protections of legitimate expectations apply to more recent ARI applications that are years from citizenship but applied with the expectation that it would be a 5 year (approximately) path to citizenship?
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@dyltavio just my biased opinion, but…YES. And why wouldn’t “legitimate expectations” apply to people who applied at any time before changes go into effect? Ever since the Portuguese government stipulated (I believe it was in 2024) that the waiting time for citizenship starts at the time of a person’s application for residency, the expectation of citizenship eligibility has been tied to applying for residency. Prior to that, I would say the government could’ve said, residency and citizenship are two totally different things…but they chose to intermingle those two, arguably so that they could incentivise many people to apply for the Golden Visa, based on the expectation that citizenship would only be 5 years away (despite the delays in processing residency applications).
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For those of you who have not met the five-year residency requirements but will still apply for nationality, here’s some advice/clarification from immigration lawyers on the Expats Portugal podcast (basically, don’t trust false promises and save your money). The online application portal for lawyers does a pre-assessment on an applicant’s eligibility for naturalization. Some of the lawyers are bypassing this system and hand-delivering the application as if they were the applicant to avoid the pre-assessment.
Watch from time period 47:00 to 49:00 on the video link below.
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I think they can apostille other documents too
Check out their web site
Thank you for sharing this.
The question then becomes: why are some reputable law firms advising their clients to submit citizenship applications before they have fulfilled all the criteria (specifically the 5 year residency requirement)?
Is this simply a result of differing interpretations of the law among various firms?
Can we have that discussion in the designated thread for such, please?
https://community.nomadgate.com/t/early-applications-for-citizenship/75366/78?u=ptbound
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The answer is easy $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
There is no way a government this antagonistic against immigration and foreigners, will allow citizenship by early applications.
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Most firms aren’t charging that much, plus they are actually doing the work. For example - Prime legal is charging 50% and remainder only if you get approved, i don’t think they are doing it purely because of the $$$$ but because they think its a good risk/reward math. The risks are pretty low compared to reward.
Is there any new update on this matter? Back in December the TC struck down the law, everyone was talking about how new law will come right after elections and here we are almost in march and there is no conversation. What can we expect in next couple of months?
other issues have taken priority - they’ve been busy with presidential elections and dealing with a natural disaster, no one knows when discussions around the nationality law will resume. it’s entirely possible it won’t be until after the new president is sworn in on March 9.
it is not possible, it is certain.
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9 March is only 11 days away now so that’s not saying much.
Let’s hope they delay even longer 
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i pray every morning to all gods from all religions that current version of the law stay in effect till December 21st 2026 so i can file after 5 years of application. If your date is after Dec 21st, let me know and i can change my prayers accordingly but currently i am only willing to push it a few days not weeks or months.
Obrigado
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You only have to pray for me until October 26… 
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Stay relax!
Actually it is the oppsosite way. With the current willingless, readiness, competences, abilities, and working ethic of the portuguese politicians, the the Portuguese political party who proposed new law is the one who needs to pray all Gods if they want their law come into effect in next 5 years. 
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Just keep on delayin’ - no rush 
Remainder is behind a paywall…
Nationality Law awaits the new composition of the Constitutional Court
PSD (and the Government), Chega and PS will only return to the negotiating table after António José Seguro is installed in Belém and there is an agreement on the external bodies that Parliament has to elect.
Maria Lopes, February 28, 2026, 7:01 AMReturned to the Assembly of the Republic by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa a month before the presidential elections, due to the decision of unconstitutionality of some rules, the Nationality Law will await the normalization of the political landscape before being put back on the table by the government parties. That is, in addition to waiting for the new President of the Republic, who takes office in just nine days, the negotiation process must also await a new composition of the Constitutional Court, where three new judges will soon be appointed. And the allocation of these appointments is one of the stumbling blocks in the elections for the external bodies of the Assembly of the Republic, which have already been postponed four times.
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Seems this could be a bad thing if the anti-immigrant government can appoint several anti-immigrant judges.
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Not sure how much it matters given the supposedly friendly current court didn’t lift a finger to protect immigrants.
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It could always be worse. A provision that barred citizenship for acts demonstrating a lack of attachment to the national community was struck down as too vague and subjective.
That’s a provision could have been used to deny citizenship to any GV who doesn’t live full time in Portugal.
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