“Four-year” Government Programme delivered a couple hours ago. Reporters are still digesting it, but here’s Jornal de NotĂcias’ early view on the immigration section.
At first take, today’s proposals seem more about “studying” and “considering” changes - no hard edicts just yet. I’m sure richer news stories will follow soon.
- In the document, the Government advocates the “revision of the nationality law, extending the minimum period of residence and effective presence in national territory, eliminating the possibility of illegal stay being considered for the purposes of counting this time, and ensuring that those who acquire Portuguese nationality have an effective relationship and successful integration in the country”. [This was already in the AD election programme, so not new. Maybe some hope that new limits on “counting this time” would only apply to illegal stays? - i.e. not killing off the counting of time spent “waiting for application?”]
- The deadline for obtaining citizenship is currently five years, counting from the moment the immigrant has a residence permit [not sure if that’s JN’s interpretation, or in today’s Programme], below the EU average. The Democratic Alliance (AD) government has been discussing the possibility of extending this time, which could be doubled. [unclear what today’s Programme actually says - wait for a better news article!]
- consider introducing criteria for progress in the Portuguese language when renewing certain types of residence permits [NB. residence renewals - not nationality where language is required today!]