𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

Parliament Reopens Debate After Presidential Veto – No Final Approval Yet.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝟏 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔?

In yesterday's parliamentary session, lawmakers carried out the formal procedure known as the Reappraisal of the Presidential Veto

This means the previously approved nationality law, which included the proposed increase in citizenship eligibility from 5 to 10 years, has returned to Parliament for further review.

𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞:

• No final approval of the law

• No new voting result adopted

• Debate and legal reconsideration started

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐖𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐑𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝?

The law was sent back to Parliament due to two major legal events:

𝟏. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

The Court found several provisions unconstitutional, including: Retroactive application to pending applications, Vague legal concepts (e.g., "lack of integration"), and Disproportionate criminal record restrictions

𝟐. 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐕𝐞𝐭𝐨

Following the Court's ruling, the President refused to promulgate the law and returned it to Parliament for correction.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐨 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧?

𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟏 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 2026 𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧:

Deputies reviewed the objections raised by the Court and the President. Political parties began discussing amendments. The proposal was effectively sent for further technical and legal revision

This marks the start of the correction phase, not the final decision.

𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬

Final Parliamentary Approval has not been completed. Presidential Signature not issued. 5-Year Rule Still Valid.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭?

The legislative process will now move forward in the following steps:

𝟏. 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞

• Parliamentary committees will amend the law

• Unconstitutional provisions will be corrected

𝟐. 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐕𝐨𝐭𝐞

• Parliament will vote again on the revised version

• A simple or 2/3 majority may be required

𝟑. 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

• The law will be sent again to the President

• The President may:

o Approve and sign

o Request another review

o Refer again to the Constitutional Court

𝟒. 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

• If approved, the law will be published in the Diário da República and enter into force

𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥:

• Individuals approaching 5 years of legal residence

Should consider applying under the current law

Future changes remain under discussion and may alter eligibility conditions.

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

The 1 April 2026 session marks a procedural and legal turning point, not a final decision. The nationality law reform remains under active review, and further developments are expected in the coming weeks.