The Portuguese Nationality Law changes 2026 have been enacted by the President of the Republic, in a legislative development that is particularly relevant for anyone following the evolution of nationality law in Portugal. The decision was announced on 3 May 2026 and concerns the bill passed by Parliament amending Law No. 37/81 of 3 October, which approved the Portuguese Nationality Law.
This enactment follows a revision of the previous bill after Constitutional Court Judgment No. 1133/2025. As a result, the debate around the new Portuguese Nationality Law is once again focused on issues such as constitutionality, legal certainty, pending applications, and the calculation of legal deadlines.
Portuguese Nationality Law Changes 2026: What Was Enacted
The President of the Republic enacted the parliamentary bill amending the Portuguese Nationality Law changes 2026, after the previous text had been declared unconstitutional in several respects.
On the same date, two parliamentary bills were submitted to the Presidency of the Republic:
- Parliamentary Decree No. 48/XVII, amending the Nationality Law;
- Parliamentary Decree No. 49/XVII, amending the Criminal Code by creating the additional penalty of loss of nationality.
However, only the bill relating to the Portuguese Nationality Law changes 2026 was enacted at this stage. The bill concerning loss of nationality remains pending a decision of the Constitutional Court, following a request for preventive constitutional review submitted by a parliamentary group.
Why This New Review of the Nationality Law Was Needed
The new version of the Portuguese Nationality Law 2026 was revised after the Constitutional Court, through Judgment No. 1133/2025, found several provisions of the previous Parliamentary Decree No. 17/XVII to be unconstitutional.
According to the note issued by the Presidency of the Republic, the new bill was comprehensively revised precisely in order to overcome the constitutional objections identified in that ruling. This means that the enactment now announced is not simply a continuation of the previous text, but rather a legislative reformulation intended to address the constitutional concerns raised.
President Enacts Nationality Law Changes but Expresses Reservations
Although he enacted the bill, the President of the Republic made it clear that he still has reservations about the way this issue has been handled.
In the official note, he stressed that the revision of a law with reinforced legal status and with the importance of the Nationality Law should be based on broader consensus around its essential principles, distancing itself from what he described as “ideological marks of the moment”.
The political message is clear: although the new Portuguese Nationality Law has been enacted, the President believes that successive amendments in this area may undermine legal certainty, affect public trust, and weaken the credibility of institutions.
Children, Minors and Integration Remain Central
One of the most important aspects of the Portuguese Nationality Law changes 2026 is the express concern with humanitarian protection and the integration of children and minors born in Portugal to immigrant parents.
The Presidency of the Republic highlighted that stricter criteria and longer deadlines for acquiring nationality should not compromise that protection, nor access to healthcare and education under the national legal framework.
This point matters because it shows that, even with the enactment of the Portuguese Nationality Law 2026, the President considers that future legislative changes and public policies should continue to give special attention to the protection and integration of children and minors born in Portugal.
Pending Applications and the Counting of Deadlines
Another key issue in the Portuguese Nationality Law changes 2026 concerns pending applications.
The President of the Republic emphasised the importance of ensuring that these pending cases are not effectively harmed by the legislative amendment, in order to avoid a breach of trust in the State, both internally and externally.
He also stressed that the calculation of the legal deadlines for obtaining nationality should not be affected by delays on the part of the State. This is particularly relevant for anyone following Portuguese nationality procedures and for those seeking to understand the practical impact of the new Portuguese Nationality Law.
What These Portuguese Nationality Law Changes 2026 Mean
In practice, the Portuguese Nationality Law changes 2026 confirm the progress of a new legislative version after the previous text had been found partially unconstitutional.
At the same time, the enactment does not remove the message of caution expressed by the Presidency of the Republic. On the contrary, it reinforces the idea that nationality law in Portugal is a particularly sensitive area that requires stability, predictability, and care in the protection of ongoing situations.
For those with pending applications, or for anyone following the evolution of the Portuguese Nationality Law 2026, the most important points of this decision appear to be:
- the correction of the unconstitutional provisions identified by the Constitutional Court;
- the focus on children and minors born in Portugal;
- the protection of pending applications;
- the view that legal deadlines should not be affected by delays caused by the State.
News Source: Presidência da República.