Portugal has 690,000 pending citizenship applications as backlog rises 38% in a year

Portugal’s nationality system is facing a substantial backlog. Figures from the Institute of Registries and Notaries (IRN) show 690,480 pending citizenship files as of 30 June 2026, an increase of 38% over the previous year. The total covers several routes to nationality and should not be interpreted as the number of residence-based applications alone.

Who is in the queue?

Applications based on legal residence in Portugal account for 26% of pending cases. Claims through Sephardic Jewish ancestry represent 23%, while marriage or a recognised partnership with a Portuguese citizen accounts for 13%. Other legal pathways make up the remainder.

The Justice Ministry says some nationality-at-birth recognition cases, particularly those involving children of Portuguese descent submitted through consulates or online, receive priority. As a result, different application categories do not necessarily move through the system at the same pace.

What applicants should know

The size of the backlog cannot be converted into a reliable waiting-time estimate for an individual applicant. The route used, document checks, outstanding evidence and administrative allocation all affect processing. Nevertheless, the rise from roughly half a million pending cases in June 2025 signals growing pressure.

According to national statistics, the number of foreign residents obtaining Portuguese nationality fell from 20,624 to 12,829 in 2025. Applicants should monitor their files through official channels and distinguish proposed nationality-law changes from provisions already in force.