Portugal D7 planners face 7 or 10 year nationality clocks

Portugal did not rewrite the D7 income formula. It rewrote how long many people wait for nationality after they live there legally.

On 19 May 2026, Organic Law 1/2026 took effect. New naturalisation filings generally need 7 years of legal residence for EU or Portuguese-speaking (CPLP) nationals, and 10 years for other nationals. This is a news summary, not legal advice.

The new nationality clock

• Old five-year talk is outdated for most new nationality files filed after 19 May 2026.
• EU and CPLP nationals: plan around 7 years of legal residence before a new naturalisation filing.
• Other nationals: plan around 10 years.
• Pending files filed before the law took effect may still follow the older rules. The Justice Ministry says that clearly.
• Language and civic tests still sit on top of the residence years. D7 alone is not citizenship.

Papers that still matter for D7

• Income still tracks the minimum wage. Portugal’s visa portal lists €920 a month for 2026 as the first-adult means-of-subsistence reference (100% of RMMG).
• Family add-ons stay percentage-based: about 50% for another adult and 30% per dependant child on that same reference.
• You still need housing, health cover, and a clean police record.
• You still start at the consulate, then finish the residence card with AIMA after you enter.

If you already planned five years

• People who budgeted a five-year passport path need a longer calendar if they file nationality after 19 May 2026.
• US, UK, and other non-CPLP passports sit on the 10-year track under the new default.
• D7 renewals still turn on income and stay rules. The nationality clock is a separate filing.

Before you file

1. Read the Justice Ministry note on Organic Law 1/2026 and confirm your passport group.
2. Check the live means of subsistence page for the €920 household table.
3. Rebuild your plan on our Portugal D7 residence page, then compare Portugal vs Spain if another EU route is still open.

News summary only, not legal advice. Confirm current nationality and D7 rules with Portuguese authorities before you apply.