Lisbon 17 April, 2026 — Portugal’s controversial nationality law has entered a new phase of legal uncertainty, as the Socialist Party (PS) has moved to request constitutional review of the recently approved legislation.
Following the April 1 parliamentary approval of the revised nationality law, the diploma has already reached the President. According to recent reporting, the documents were formally sent by Parliament on April 13, triggering the countdown for constitutional oversight and presidential decision-making. (Diário de Notícias)
Under Portugal’s legal framework, political parties have a limited window to challenge legislation before it is promulgated. The PS has now exercised that option, sending the diploma to the Constitutional Court for preventive review. This move effectively places the law back under judicial scrutiny, delaying any immediate entry into force.
The decision reflects ongoing political and legal tensions surrounding the reform. While the revised law was designed to address earlier constitutional objections, concerns persist—particularly regarding the broader impact of the changes and the safeguards, or lack thereof, for those already within the residency system.
The request also reinforces the Constitutional Court’s central role in the process. The same reform had previously faced judicial rejection, and the current referral signals that constitutional doubts have not been fully resolved despite parliamentary revisions.
With the law now under review, two parallel timelines are in motion. The Court will assess the constitutionality of the contested provisions, while the President must ultimately decide whether to promulgate or act based on the Court’s findings. (Diário de Notícias)
For now, the reform remains in suspension—approved by Parliament but not yet legally effective. The outcome of the Constitutional Court’s analysis will be decisive in determining whether the law proceeds toward implementation or faces further revision.
What began as a legislative reform has now become a constitutional test, with the final shape of Portugal’s nationality framework once again resting in the hands of its highest court.