Portuguese Nationality Law and the last numbers
The main text of Portuguese Citizenship law requirements originates from Article 4 of the fundamental principles at the Constitution. There have been various legal changes, with the most significant being the 1981 Law. This legislation notably facilitated the path through descent (jus sanguinis). Presently, the primary avenues on how to obtain it include: descent or birth, naturalization which requires a residency period typically of five years. Marriage or de facto union and finally Portugal Citizenship by Investment. To obtain a the Portugal Citizenship is often compared to get the Permanent Residency. While similarities exist between the two status, the Portuguese Citizenship Law offers additional privileges, including the right to participate in all elections and the entitlement to a passport and citizen card.
In 2022, approximately 46,230 foreigners obtained the Portuguese Nationality. Among them, 20,844 were residents, while 25,385 resided abroad.