It reduces the time that gives the right to apply for Portuguese nationality, but, in practice, immigrants still cannot benefit from this flexibility. The Government did not define the regulation of changes in legislation, which officially came into force this Monday, April 1.
In order for it to be applied, the regulations must be published in the Official Gazette (DR). Until this happens, the advance request for Portuguese citizenship to those who have this right will be ineffective.
As a rule, the government has 60 days to publish the details. In the case of changes to the Foreigners Law, they came into force at the end of September, but the regulations were only published later and came into force on October 30th. In other words, the changes that benefited immigrants were put into practice more than a month after they came into force.
The period also coincides with the departure of the PS from the Government and the entry of the PSD, a party with a different view on immigration. DN tried to find out, from the Ministry of Justice and also from the Agency for Migration, Integration and Asylum (AIMA) if there had already been any dialogue on the topic, but has not yet received a response.
The most important detail that the regulations will reveal is when the time spent living in Portugal will be counted for the right to nationality. The changes aim to start accounting for the waiting time for a residence permit via Expression of Interest (IM), which could benefit thousands of immigrants. However, it is in the regulations that it will be defined whether the count starts when the IM is approved or when requested.
The document to be published in the next 60 days will also have to make clear how these changes will be applicable in the case of titles from the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP). The title, which recently completed one year, has a series of limitations, such as the impediment to travel, family reunions and renewal.
Tags: Nationality law applicable
