Is Portugal Closing Its Doors to Immigrants? A Comparison with Spain, France and Germany

A significant portion of the reactions to the amendments to the Nationality Law resulted from the perception that Portugal was adopting a more restrictive approach toward immigration.

However, when we analyze the nationality systems applied by other European countries, we find that Portugal remains far from having one of the most demanding systems.

Spain

Spain is also frequently regarded as one of the most attractive destinations for immigrants, especially for Latin American citizens.

However, Spanish nationality by residence is, as a general rule, more demanding than the Portuguese system.

For most foreign nationals, the following are required:

• As a general rule, 10 years of legal and continuous residence in Spain;
• No criminal record;
• Demonstration of integration into Spanish society;
• Passing the CCSE examination (Constitutional and Sociocultural Knowledge of Spain);
• Passing the DELE A2 Spanish language examination for applicants who are not native Spanish speakers.

In addition to the residence requirement, Spain requires applicants to demonstrate knowledge of the country’s culture, history, institutions, and political system through a specific examination—something that Portugal has never formally required until the recent legislative amendments.

Another important aspect is that residence must be continuous, and prolonged absences may compromise the nationality application.

Citizens of Ibero-American countries (including Brazil), Andorra, the Philippines, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, and Sephardic descendants benefit from a historical exception established under Spanish legislation and may apply for Spanish nationality after a shorter period of residence than the general rule, provided they meet the remaining integration requirements and successfully complete the examinations required under Spanish law.

Germany

In Germany, applying for nationality requires not only legal residence but also an effective demonstration of integration.

Applicants are generally required to:

• Demonstrate German language proficiency at the B1 level;
• Prove social integration;
• Pass an examination on the German legal and political system;
• Demonstrate the ability to financially support themselves.

France

France also has strict requirements.

In addition to the required period of residence, the French authorities assess:

• The applicant’s degree of integration into French society;
• Knowledge of the French language;
• Professional integration;
• Participation in the country’s social and economic life.

In certain cases, financial and professional stability play a particularly important role in the assessment of the application.

And Portugal?

Even after the legislative amendments, Portugal still does not formally require, as grounds for exclusion or to prevent the submission of an application:

• Specific minimum income;
• Minimum assets;
• A contribution history for a specific number of years;
• Proof of professional or economic integration.

The main tightening of Portuguese legislation concerns the period of residence required for naturalization and the demonstration of a connection to the national community, the specific content of which is still awaiting regulation (with the likely introduction of an examination on Portuguese culture).

What Does This Comparison Show?

The amendment to the Nationality Law should not be interpreted as Portugal closing its doors to immigration. The changes to the Nationality Law do not affect your right to reside, work, study, invest, or acquire property in the country.

In reality, Portugal continues to offer one of the most accessible residence systems in Europe and maintains naturalization requirements that, even after the recent amendments, remain comparatively less demanding than many well-established European systems.

The current discussion is not about preventing immigration, but rather about redefining the criteria for acquiring Portuguese citizenship within a European context, in which access to nationality should be aligned with the rules applied throughout the European Union.