Lisbon 14 Jan, 2026 — Citizenship applications in Portugal are taking more than four years to be completed, leaving thousands of immigrants waiting far longer than legally expected for a final decision.
According to reports, the delays affect a wide range of applicants, including long-term residents, families, and individuals who have lived and worked in the country for years. Many citizenship requests submitted in 2019 and 2020 are still pending, with little information provided on when they will be concluded.
The backlog is largely attributed to staff shortages and administrative overload within Portugal’s civil registry services, which are responsible for processing nationality cases. While the number of applications has increased significantly in recent years, the system has struggled to keep pace.
For applicants, the prolonged waiting times have real consequences. Delays can affect access to jobs, travel, family reunification, and long-term stability, as citizenship remains tied to legal certainty and full rights within the European Union.
Portuguese authorities have acknowledged the pressure on the system and say measures are being taken to improve efficiency, including hiring additional staff and restructuring services. However, for many applicants, progress remains slow, and expectations of faster processing have yet to be met.
As immigration continues to shape Portugal’s demographic and economic landscape, the growing delays raise questions about the country’s capacity to manage citizenship procedures in a timely and transparent manner.