The Government grants Portuguese nationality through naturalization to foreigners who:
1. Whether they are adults or emancipated;
2. Have resided legally in Portugal for at least 5 years, that is, for a minimum period of 5 years; (although there is talk of chaging this period to 10 years),
3. Among others (not having been sentenced to more than three years in prison for a crime punishable in Portugal, sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language)
For the purposes of counting periods of a minimum period of 5 years, the sum of all periods of legal residence in Portuguese territory, whether consecutive or interpolated, is considered, provided that they have occurred within a maximum interval of 15 years and provided that the residence is valid on the date of the application for Portuguese nationality.
The latest amendment to the nationality law brought about a change regarding the start of the counting of legal time, and now establishes that the legal time for the purpose of requesting nationality based on the time of legal residence is counted from the date of the application for a residence permit, provided that it is granted (article 15, no. 4 of the Portuguese nationality law amended by organic law no. 1/2024 of 5 March).
Although this issue is controversial (many say that this article still needs to be regulated), the truth is that since November/2024 AIMA has started to include the date of the request for expression of interest in the Time Counting Declarations that it issues to applicants.
For more information and a complete analysis of your case, please contact the office.