Portuguese citizenship by marriage in 2026: terms, conditions, language

Citizenship by marriage is not naturalization by residence

Let’s immediately separate two concepts that are constantly confused. Portuguese citizenship can be obtained on several grounds, and marriage is a separate, independent route that works differently than naturalization based on years of living in the country.

Naturalization by residence - this is the path for those who actually moved to Portugal and lived here legally for a set period of time. After the 2026 reform, this requirement has increased: for most foreigners, 10 years of legal residence are now required, for citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries (CPLP) - 7 years. We discuss this route in detail in the guide to naturalization in Portugal.

Citizenship by marriage It's structured fundamentally differently. The key role here is not your residence in the country, but your marriage to a Portuguese citizen. You can apply after three years of marriage, and the law does not require you to live in Portugal for at least one day. You can be married, live in Moscow, Dubai or Lisbon - this does not affect the right to file.

That is why marriage remains one of the fastest and most accessible ways to obtain an EU passport - provided that the marriage is real and not fictitious, and you are ready to prove your connection with Portuguese society, if the length of marriage is still short.

What did the 2026 citizenship law reform change?

Extreme honesty is needed here because there is a lot of outdated information surrounding Portuguese citizenship. In 2025, the Portuguese government initiated the largest reform of citizenship law in decades. The document passed through the Constitutional Court, which rejected a number of provisions as unconstitutional, was finalized, and eventually the new law was published in the Diario da Republica and came into force on May 19, 2026.

What is important to understand about the marriage route:

• The base term has not changed. The minimum length of marriage for filing remains the same - three years. The reform did not raise this bar, in contrast to the sharp increase in the qualification for naturalization by residence (from 5 to 10 years).
• The requirements have become stricter. The marriage route was brought closer to naturalization in content: the check of reputation and criminal record was strengthened, and the proof of connection with the community was formalized.
• The actual union is only through the court. Previously, a declaration from the parish or local authorities was enough to confirm a joint life. Now the actual union (uniao de facto) must be confirmed by a court decision.

Separately about the transitional provisions: the Constitutional Court indicated that the new law does not apply retroactively to applications already submitted. Cases filed and completed before May 19, 2026 will be processed under the same rules. But the law does not provide general broad protection for those who were just planning to file - therefore, delaying registration is risky. Current texts should always be checked on the official portal Portuguese Public Services (gov.pt).

Who can apply for citizenship by marriage

The right to apply for Portuguese citizenship on this basis is available to a foreigner who has been in a marriage recognized by Portugal or in a de facto union with a Portuguese citizen for at least three years and fulfills the other conditions.

Who is covered by the route:

• Spouses of Portuguese citizens - official marriage registered or recognized (transcribed) in Portugal. If the marriage took place abroad, it must be entered into the Portuguese Civil Registry before applying for citizenship.
• Partners in a de facto union - those who live together with a Portuguese citizen, but are not officially registered. From 2026, such a union must be confirmed by a court decision recognizing the uniao de facto.

The route works regardless of where the spouses physically live. In this case, a citizen of Portugal can be either born or have previously received citizenship - for example, by origin or naturalization.

An important disclaimer for citizens of Russia and the CIS: everything is strictly within the law, with enhanced verification of the source of origin of documents and compliance. The marriage must be real - fictitious unions are identified, the application for them is disputed by the prosecutor's office, and the consequences go far beyond a simple refusal.

Conditions for citizenship by marriage 2026: table “experience - condition - what to prove”

Let's collect the route logic into one table. Its peculiarity is that the set of requirements directly depends on how long the marriage lasts and whether the couple has common children who are Portuguese citizens. The longer and stronger the union, the less you need to prove.

Cross-cutting conditions that apply to any length of marriage: language at A2 level, no criminal record and good reputation, valid and recognized marriage in Portugal or a judicially confirmed de facto union. We will analyze these requirements in detail further.

The main practical conclusion from the table: if your marriage is already close to six years, sometimes it is more profitable to wait a little and go on a route without the burden of proving a connection with the community.

Connection with the Portuguese community: when to prove it and when not to

This is the central nerve of the post-reform marriage route. The law proceeds from the fact that for short marriages the very fact of marriage is not enough - it is necessary to show the applicant’s real connection with Portuguese society (ligacao efetiva a comunidade nacional). But for long and strong unions, this connection is assumed by itself.

The logic is this:

• Marriage from 3 to 6 years - connection with the community must be actively proven. This is a barrier against formal and fictitious marriages.
• Marriage 6 years or more - the connection is presumed. There is no need to prove it separately: it is believed that in six years the union has integrated the person into the Portuguese environment.
• Common children who are Portuguese citizens - the relationship cannot be proven regardless of the length of marriage (subject to a minimum of three years). Having joint children with Portuguese citizenship in itself removes this requirement.

What confirms the connection, if it is needed: knowledge of the Portuguese language, regular trips to Portugal, ownership of real estate, bank accounts, membership in Portuguese organizations and communities, participation in cultural and social life, testimonies of Portuguese citizens about the reality of the relationship. The more convincing and diverse the set, the more resistant the application is to the objections of the prosecutor's office. It is not necessary to physically live in Portugal, but a “paper” marriage without a single link to the country will not be able to pass the test.

Language A2: CIPLE exam and who is exempt from it

Knowledge of Portuguese is a prerequisite for citizenship by marriage. The required level is A2 on the European scale. This is a basic but real level: the ability to understand and use everyday expressions, explain yourself in simple everyday and work situations, read and write at an elementary level.

How the language is confirmed:

• CIPLE Exam - standard entry-level certificate of Portuguese as a foreign language. This is the most common way to close an A2 claim.
• Recognized Certificates accredited centers and language schools equivalent to level A2 and above.
• Diploma of Education in Portuguese - graduation from a Portuguese school or university, program with Portuguese as the language of instruction.

Citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries whose native language is Portuguese, as well as graduates of Portuguese-speaking educational institutions, are generally exempt from the language requirement. For the majority of applicants from Russia and the CIS, the language will have to be learned specifically - and it’s better to start early, because to level A2 from scratch it usually takes several months of systematic study. Exams are held as scheduled, and missing the next window means delaying the submission.

No criminal record and good reputation: verification after reform

The 2026 reform significantly increased the requirements for the applicant’s reputation. The state brings the marriage route closer to naturalization, which means it carefully checks that the new citizen does not pose risks to society.

What's included in this block:

• No serious criminal record. Conviction for serious crimes is a basis for objecting to citizenship. An important nuance: the Constitutional Court recognized the automatic exclusion for sentences over a certain term as disproportionate, so now each case is assessed individually, taking into account the severity and circumstances.
• Certificates of good conduct are requested both from Portugal and from the country of citizenship and countries of long-term residence of the applicant. Documents must be apostilled and translated.
• No security threat. It is checked whether the applicant is connected with terrorism, organized crime, or appears on sanctions or other lists.

For citizens of Russia and the CIS, this means enhanced compliance: the origin of funds, business history, and sources of documents are studied more carefully than before. It is better to discuss any “gray” episodes in the past with a lawyer before filing, rather than finding out their impact after the start of the case. A clean, transparent story is as much a part of success as marriage experience and language.

Actual union (uniao de facto): now only through court

A separate and important block after the reform is for those who live with a Portuguese citizen without an official marriage. Portugal recognizes de facto union (uniao de facto) as a basis for citizenship, but the rules for its confirmation have become stricter in 2026.

How it works now:

• Living together from two years gives the right to recognition of the union as such under general law. But for the purposes of citizenship, it is not the fact itself that is important, but its legal form.
• Judicial recognition is required. Previously, a declaration from the parish or local authorities plus a certificate was enough to confirm a joint life. What is now required is a court decision that formally recognizes the existence of a de facto union. A declaration of parish is no longer sufficient.
• Experience required to apply for citizenship - three years recognized de facto union, similar to marriage.

What this changes in practice: the path through the de facto union has become longer and more formal, because a separate judicial recognition procedure is added. This needs to be planned in advance. For those couples for whom there is no fundamental difference, it is sometimes easier to register an official marriage - then confirmation of the relationship goes through the civil registry, and not through the court. The decision depends on your specific situation and should be discussed with a lawyer.

Procedure: where to submit, documents and role of IRN

When the conditions are met - the marriage period has been accumulated, the language has been passed, certificates have been collected - the formal procedure begins. Applications for citizenship by marriage are processed by the Institute of Registers and Notaries (IRN), and specifically by the Central Registry (Conservatoria dos Registos Centrais) in Lisbon.

How the process works:

• Collection and legalization of documents. Marriage certificate (transcribed in Portugal), police clearance certificates with apostille and translation, A2 language certificate, documents of the applicant and citizen spouse, evidence of connection with the community (if the marriage is less than 6 years).
• Submission of dossier. The application is submitted to the Central Registry - in person, through an authorized representative or by mail to the address of the Conservatoria dos Registos Centrais in Lisbon.
• Verification and possible objection. The case is checked for completeness, reality of marriage and reputation. The prosecutor's office (Ministerio Publico) has the right to file an objection if it sees a fictitious marriage, lack of connection with the community for a short union, or grounds for a criminal record.
• Citizenship registration. If the decision is positive, citizenship is registered, after which you can issue a Portuguese passport and citizenship certificate.

Let's be about the timing: consideration often lasts for many months, and if the registry is heavily loaded, even longer. A complete set of documents the first time and a well-structured evidence base is the best way to avoid receiving a request for revision, which throws the case back into a new circle. We will look at what documents to prepare for your case in the material about documents for Portuguese citizenship.

No accommodation required: what are the strengths and weaknesses of this route

The main advantage of marriage over naturalization is that there is no requirement to reside in Portugal. This needs to be emphasized separately, because this is where the route through marriage radically differs from the route through years of legal residence.

What does this give in practice:

• No need to move. You can live in any country, work anywhere and still obtain Portuguese citizenship by marriage. Neither 7 nor 10 years of life in Portugal are required.
• There is no physical presence requirement. Unlike naturalization, where authorities count the days spent in the country, here physical presence as such is not tracked.
• Faster according to the calendar. Three years of marriage versus seven to ten years of living together is a fundamental difference.

But there is another side to the coin. The less you are actually connected to Portugal, the harder it is to prove a connection to the community for a short marriage. If the union is less than six years old, there are no common child citizens, and you have never been to the country, do not speak the language and do not have any interests there, the application is vulnerable to objection. Therefore, “no need to live” does not equal “no need to do anything”: a real link to the country is still needed until the marriage has crossed the six-year mark.

Children, dual citizenship and what a Portuguese passport gives

Let's look at the practical consequences of obtaining citizenship by marriage - that's what the whole journey is for.

On key questions:

• Dual citizenship is allowed. Portugal does not require you to give up your previous passport. You can become a citizen of Portugal while retaining citizenship of Russia, Kazakhstan or another country - provided that your country also allows second citizenship.
• Children. Children born after your citizenship has been registered usually receive Portuguese citizenship automatically. Children born earlier can apply for citizenship by descent - this is a separate procedure.
• Full EU citizenship. A Portuguese passport is an EU passport with the right to live, work and study in any EU country, as well as freedom of movement within the Schengen area (Portugal is part of both the EU and Schengen - this is a plus for travel).

It is important to understand: citizenship by marriage is not “tied” to the spouse forever after registration. This is full citizenship, which remains with you in the event of a subsequent divorce. But at the application stage, a valid marriage is required - therefore, the moment of application itself must be planned so that the union is relevant and confirmed.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them: an expert's view

In practice, we see that marriage applicants are let down not by rare incidents, but by the same predictable mistakes. We'll sort them out so you don't waste months.

• The marriage is not transcribed in Portugal. If you are registered abroad, you cannot apply for citizenship without entering your marriage into the Portuguese registry. This is the first step, not a formality at the end.
• Underestimation of connection to the community. For a marriage of less than six years without common children, the connection with society must be seriously proven. “We are married, that’s enough” is a common and expensive illusion after the reform.
• Actual union without trial. The old scheme with income declaration no longer works. No judicial recognition of uniao de facto - no basis for filing.
• Tongue laying down. An A2 certificate from scratch means months of preparation and is tied to the exam schedule. You need to start early.
• Gaps in police clearance certificates. An incomplete set of countries, lack of an apostille or translation are a typical reason for requests for revision and loss of time.

The marriage route forgives the lack of relocation, but does not forgive carelessness in documents and underestimation of the new, stricter rules of 2026. The earlier the strategy is built, the shorter the real path to the passport.

We will help you obtain Portuguese citizenship by marriage

Marriage is a shortcut to an EU passport, but after the 2026 reform it is easy to stumble in it: incorrect transcription of marriage, undervalued community connection for a short union, de facto union without judicial recognition, gap in police clearance certificates. Any of these little things results in a refusal or objection from the prosecutor's office - after months of waiting.

We solve the issues of obtaining citizenship and a residence permit in Portugal on a turn-key basis: we evaluate your case, prepare and submit a dossier to IRN, build an evidence base for communication with the community, and work the case until a decision is made. Discuss your situation with a BRIDGES GLOBAL lawyer - we’ll tell you what to prove in your marriage history and how not to waste time.

How many years of marriage do you need: three years and why it hasn't changed

The minimum length of marriage to apply for Portuguese citizenship is three years. This requirement survived the 2026 reform without changes, which in itself is important: against the backdrop of a sharp tightening of naturalization by residence, the marriage route remained relatively lenient in terms of terms.

A few key nuances of the countdown:

• Three years are counted from the date of marriage (or recognition). If you are registered abroad, the countdown starts from the date of marriage, but you can apply for citizenship only after the marriage has been transcribed into the Portuguese registry.
• The marriage must be valid at the time of filing. If by the time of the application the spouses have divorced or the Portuguese citizen has died, the situation becomes more complicated and requires a separate analysis - the simple formula “3 years have passed” is no longer sufficient.
• The actual union is counted from the period confirmed by the court. Here it all starts not with a declaration, but with a court decision to recognize the uniao de facto - this is discussed in a separate section below.

Three years in themselves are just the right to apply. They do not mean automatic citizenship: after filing, the case is checked, including the reality of the marriage and connection with the community, and only then citizenship is registered. Therefore, it is more correct to perceive the three-year mark as the start of the procedure, and not its finish.

Bottom line: who is eligible for Portuguese citizenship by marriage?

Citizenship by marriage is the best route for those who are actually married to a Portuguese citizen and want to obtain an EU passport without moving to the country for years. Three years of marriage versus seven to ten years of residence, no presence requirement, dual citizenship allowed - a combination that no other path has.

But the 2026 reform set the accents: the route became stricter. For short marriages, you will have to prove a real connection with Portuguese society; the actual union is now formalized through the court, and verification of reputation and knowledge of the language is mandatory. This is not an obstacle to real families, but a serious barrier to formal unions.

The optimal strategy depends on your length of service: if the marriage is close to six years old or you have common children who are Portuguese citizens, the path is as smooth as possible; if the union is short, build a proof of connection with the community in advance and learn the language. You can compare marriage with other routes in general Portuguese citizenship guide, By naturalization and by origin. For those who are just planning a move, the material about Residence permit in Portugal for Russians. You should always check the current conditions and forms on the official portal gov.pt.