The Portuguese minority government, formed by the right “democratic alliance” (AD), took steps to tighten the legislation on citizenship, making a number of amendments to the laws on citizenship and migration.
The first significant decision of the new cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Louis Montenegra and who came to power after early parliamentary elections on May 18, was the complication of the conditions for obtaining citizenship for foreigners.
According to the bill approved by the Council of Ministers on June 23 and transferred to parliament, the minimum term of residence in the country, necessary to apply for citizenship, is increasing from 5 to 10 years.
For citizens of portugal -speaking countries, this period will be 7 years, and the countdown will begin from the moment of receipt of a residence permit.
The bill also introduces the mandatory passage of the exam in the Portuguese language and culture for all applicants.
One of the provisions of the bill is the tightening of the conditions for obtaining citizenship by children of foreigners born in Portugal. Previously, such citizenship was provided automatically, now it will be required for parents to live in the country for at least three years and submit an official statement.
It is also planned to cancel the special right to citizenship for descendants of the Sephardic Jews expelled from the Pyrenee Peninsula in the past, which was previously provided under a simplified procedure.
It is expected that the bill, which is supported by the extreme right opposition party of Chega, will be easily approved by the parliament.
Similar provisions are already in span over the past ten years.