21 de April, 2026
Obtaining Portuguese citizenship through marriage or civil union is one of the most secure ways to acquire a European passport. Recently, changes in the law have made the process much simpler, especially regarding the proof of ties to the Portuguese community.
This ease is reflected in the numbers: today, approximately 14% of all Portuguese nationality applications are made by spouses and partners of Portuguese citizens. And a fundamental detail: Portuguese nationality, once granted, is a lifelong asset. This means that you do not lose your citizenship in the event of divorce or widowhood.
Therefore, if you have been married or living in a civil union (união de facto) with a Portuguese citizen for more than 3 years, this updated 2026 guide details everything you need to submit your application.
If you are looking for information on other modalities, check our Complete Guide to Portuguese Citizenship.
Realizing your goal of living in Europe or obtaining European citizenship can be simpler than you think. We offer personalized support to make the immigration process more accessible and uncomplicated.
Foreigners married to or in a civil union (união de facto) with an original Portuguese citizen have the right to citizenship. The minimum required time varies depending on the couple’s situation:
Once the time requirements are met, it is necessary to previously register the union in Portugal if it occurred abroad. Only then can the citizenship application be submitted.
The application for nationality by a spouse can only occur after the prior recognition of the marriage in Portugal. Thus, if the marriage took place outside of Portugal, this recognition must be done through a specific administrative procedure called “Transcription of marriage celebrated abroad” (transcrição de casamento celebrado no estrangeiro).
The marriage transcription procedure has a cost of 120€.
The application for nationality by a partner requires the prior recognition of the civil union by a Portuguese Court. If the union was formalized abroad, it is mandatory to file a legal action for the review and confirmation of a foreign judgment so that the relationship has legal validity in Portugal. To understand which documents are accepted by authorities and the necessary proof of cohabitation, access our complete article on De Facto Union in Portugal.
The procedure for recognizing a Civil Union has a cost of 306€.
To apply for Portuguese citizenship by marriage, you must have the following documents:
Documents that are not in Portuguese must be translated!
For unions with less than 6 years of duration, the applicant must prove an effective connection to Portugal to make their request. In this case, the more ties to the country you can prove, the higher the chances of success for your application.
Relevant proofs of ties to Portugal with a high chance of approval include:
Other proofs of ties that can be presented, but which, alone, may not be sufficient:
The requirement for proof of Portuguese language depends on the length of the union and the applicant’s nationality. Check the waiver rules:
In addition to language proficiency, proposed changes to the Portuguese Nationality Law in 2026 include the introduction of a test of knowledge regarding Portuguese culture and society.
It is important to note:
Currently, the process for Portuguese citizenship by marriage or civil union takes, on average, 36 to 48 months (between 3 and 4 years). Although it is one of the legally simplest routes, it is currently one of the lengthiest due to the significant increase in demand recorded in recent years. It is important to highlight that the timeframe may vary depending on the Conservatory where the process is handled. To compare the waiting time of this route with other modalities (such as children or grandchildren), check our detailed article: How long does it take to get Portuguese citizenship?
The total cost to obtain citizenship by marriage or civil union varies according to the complexity of the documentation. In addition to fees for lawyers or specialized consultancy, you must consider official taxes and costs for full-form birth certificates, Hague Apostilles, and, if there are name or numerical discrepancies in the certificates, document rectification must also be performed. For documents in other languages, also account for translation expenses.
Official tax expenses:
For applications for the acquisition of nationality by a spouse or partner, the Nationality Law further provides that Portuguese citizenship MUST NOT be granted in the following cases:
The applicant must declare and/or prove that they are not covered by any of the above hypotheses. Otherwise, the application may not even be accepted by the Consulate or Conservatories, or the Portuguese Public Prosecutor’s Office may file a legal action against the applicant, known as the “Action of Opposition to Portuguese Nationality,” seeking to have the request denied.
It is very much worth relying on the help of a specialized consultancy. The process of obtaining Portuguese citizenship through marriage itself is not complicated. However, having help from a qualified and experienced professional can make all the difference in your application. Not only by offering higher chances of success but also by providing greater peace of mind and comfort. If you wish to apply for your Portuguese citizenship, talk to a consultant at Atlantic Bridge!
The registrar may request updated proof of the union at the end of the process, although this is not a very common situation. We always advise our clients to only file for divorce after nationality has already been granted to the applicant, to avoid the risk of denial.
No! Divorce does not annul the citizenship that has already been acquired. All the more reason to apply as soon as you meet the requirements.
No. The application for Portuguese citizenship and the respective declaration of will must always be made during the subsistence of the marriage or civil union! An exception applies only to women married before October 1981. At that time, the acquisition of citizenship for women was automatic; thus, the request can still be made.
No. The application for nationality must always be made during the subsistence of the marriage. Just as with divorce, there is an exception for widows of marriages prior to 1981.
Nationality obtained via marriage is a Derived Acquisition (commonly known as naturalization). The main difference is that it produces effects only from the date of registration (it does not retroact to birth). Once acquired, it guarantees all the rights of a citizen and can be transmitted to minor children or those born after the conclusion of the process, even if born into another marriage.
Author:
Silvia Resende
