Portuguese Citizenship in 2026: Porto Central Registry Office Reveals Which Applications Are Currently Under Review

The Porto Central Registry Office has released updated information on the progress of Portuguese citizenship applications as of September 2026. The figures reveal significant differences between application categories, with applications submitted in 2022, 2023, 2025, and 2026 still at various stages of review and decision-making.

One of the most common questions among applicants for Portuguese citizenship is how long the Institute of Registries and Notaries (IRN) takes to review and decide applications.

Although there is no single processing timeframe applicable to every category, a communication issued by the Porto Central Registry Office on October 8, 2026, provides important information about applications being reviewed or decided by that office during September.

The information offers greater insight into the progress of Portuguese citizenship applications, particularly those submitted by children and grandchildren of Portuguese citizens, applicants seeking naturalisation based on legal residence, and individuals applying under other citizenship provisions.

It is important to clarify, however, that these figures relate specifically to the Porto Central Registry Office and do not necessarily reflect processing times at other registry offices throughout Portugal.

Which Portuguese Citizenship Applications Are Being Reviewed in 2026?

According to the Porto Central Registry Office, applications are generally processed in the order in which they are received, taking into account the applicable legal category.

The office explains that this approach seeks to ensure equal treatment of applicants, in accordance with the principles of impartiality and administrative legality.

The published table provides the following reference dates for applications under review or awaiting a decision:

Citizenship categorySubmission dates of applications under review or decisionChildren of Portuguese citizens — Article 1(1)(c), registration procedure, adultsFirst half of March 2026Children of Portuguese citizens — registration procedure, minorsSecond half of June 2026Children of Portuguese citizens — transcription procedure, adultsSecond half of June 2025Children of Portuguese citizens — transcription procedure, minorsSecond half of November 2025Grandchildren of Portuguese citizens — Article 1(1)(d), adultsSecond half of September 2023Grandchildren of Portuguese citizens — minorsFirst half of April 2026Citizenship through legal residence — Article 6(1)First half of November 2023Citizenship — Article 6(2)Second half of March 2026Citizenship — Article 6(7)First half of June 2022

Source: Porto Central Registry Office — Service Status, September 2026.

These dates refer to when the applications currently being reviewed or decided were submitted. They do not constitute an official estimate of when newly submitted applications will be completed.

Portuguese Citizenship for Children of Portuguese Citizens: Differences Between Registration and Transcription

One of the most relevant aspects of the communication is the difference between citizenship applications for children of Portuguese citizens submitted through registration and transcription procedures.

Under the registration procedure, applications involving adults that were under review had been submitted during the first half of March 2026.

For minors, the office was already reviewing applications submitted during the second half of June 2026.

Applications submitted through the transcription procedure, however, were at a different stage.

For adults, the reference date was the second half of June 2025.

For minors, it was the second half of November 2025.

These differences demonstrate that, even within citizenship applications involving children of Portuguese citizens, processing times may vary significantly depending on the procedure used.

For this reason, it would be inaccurate to establish a single estimated processing time for all citizenship applications submitted by children of Portuguese nationals.

The type of registration procedure, the applicant's age, and the office responsible for processing the application must all be considered.

Portuguese Citizenship for Grandchildren: Applications From 2023 Were Still Under Review

For citizenship applications submitted by grandchildren of Portuguese citizens under Article 1(1)(d) of the Portuguese Nationality Law, the communication reveals a substantial difference between adult and minor applicants.

Applications involving adults that were under review or awaiting a decision had been submitted during the second half of September 2023.

This means that, in September 2026, the Porto Central Registry Office was still reviewing applications submitted approximately three years earlier.

For minors, however, the reference date was the first half of April 2026.

The communication also notes that this application category began being accepted by the office on May 22, 2022.

These figures demonstrate that citizenship applications submitted by grandchildren of Portuguese citizens may involve lengthy processing periods, particularly for adult applicants.

However, it is essential to distinguish between the submission dates of applications currently under review and the expected processing time for a new application.

The fact that the office was reviewing applications from September 2023 does not necessarily mean that all newly submitted applications will take three years to complete.

Portuguese Citizenship Through Legal Residence: Applications From November 2023 Under Review

Another important finding concerns naturalisation applications based on legal residence in Portugal.

For applications submitted under Article 6(1) of the Portuguese Nationality Law, the Porto Central Registry Office indicated that it was reviewing or deciding applications submitted during the first half of November 2023.

Therefore, in September 2026, the reference date corresponded to applications submitted approximately two years and ten months earlier.

This information is particularly relevant to foreign nationals who have already fulfilled the legal requirements for Portuguese citizenship and are awaiting a decision from the IRN.

Submitting an application does not mean that citizenship is granted immediately.

After submission, the application must undergo the necessary stages of document examination, verification of legal requirements, and administrative decision-making.

Processing times may vary depending on the application category, the documentation provided, and whether information must be obtained from other public authorities.

Other Citizenship Categories Also Show Significant Differences

The Porto Central Registry Office's communication also provides information on other naturalisation categories.

For applications submitted under Article 6(2), the reference date for review or decision was the second half of March 2026.

For applications under Article 6(7), the reference date was the first half of June 2022.

These differences reinforce the fact that processing times are not uniform across Portuguese citizenship categories.

Each legal basis may involve specific requirements, verification procedures, and administrative steps.

Consequently, directly comparing applications submitted under different legal provisions may lead to inaccurate conclusions about their processing times.

Why Have Some Older Applications Still Not Been Decided?

An important clarification provided by the Porto Central Registry Office concerns applications submitted before the dates listed in the table that have still not received a decision.

According to the office, this may result from external factors, particularly the absence of responses from other public authorities.

The communication specifically identifies:

• Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA);
• Directorate-General for the Administration of Justice (DGAJ);
• Portuguese Judicial Police (PJ);
• Border and Foreigners Coordination Unit (UCFE).

For certain citizenship categories, the procedure depends on obtaining information from these authorities, pursuant to Article 27(5) and (7) of the Portuguese Nationality Regulation.

As a result, an application may remain pending even when its submission date precedes the dates currently being reviewed by the registry office.

The age of an application alone does not establish that all the administrative steps required for a decision have been completed.

It is necessary to assess the stage of the procedure and identify any outstanding administrative requirements.

How Can You Check the Status of a Portuguese Citizenship Application?

The Porto Central Registry Office advises applicants to monitor the status of their applications primarily through the online consultation platform, using their access code.

According to the communication, the platform is kept updated regarding the status of applications.

The office also clarifies that applicants are formally notified of procedural acts that have relevant legal effects.

This means that, when additional documents are required or other relevant decisions are issued, the applicant should receive formal notification through the appropriate channels.

Where documents are requested by the Porto Central Registry Office, the communication states that originals or certified copies must be sent by post, indicating the application reference number, to:

Arquivo Central do Porto
Rua da Cunha, No. 404
4200-250 Porto, Portugal

The communication also explains that the completion of the application and the issuance of the corresponding Portuguese birth registration certificate are automatically communicated to the email address provided in the application.

Is It Possible to Request Urgent Processing of a Portuguese Citizenship Application?

Yes. However, the Porto Central Registry Office emphasises that urgent processing is strictly exceptional.

A request must be submitted in writing and accompanied by supporting documents demonstrating the grounds for urgency.

According to the office's guidance, the request must be sent by post and is subject to an administrative decision.

Therefore, urgent processing is not automatically granted simply because an application has been pending for a long time.

Specific grounds must be presented and will be assessed by the competent authority.

What Can Be Done When a Portuguese Citizenship Application Is Excessively Delayed?

The figures published by the Porto Central Registry Office demonstrate that certain citizenship categories continue to experience lengthy processing periods.

However, the existence of a substantial backlog does not remove the Administration's obligation to act in accordance with the law and the principles governing administrative procedures.

When an application remains undecided for an excessive period, it may be appropriate to seek an individual legal assessment.

Such an assessment should consider the submission date, the legal basis of the citizenship application, its current procedural status, and whether any administrative steps remain outstanding.

Depending on the circumstances, administrative or judicial measures aimed at obtaining a response from the authorities may be considered.

The possibility of bringing legal proceedings depends on the specific circumstances of each case and does not mean that the citizenship application will necessarily receive a favourable decision.

The purpose of any judicial intervention must be determined according to the available legal grounds and the actual status of the application.

Conclusion: Portuguese Citizenship Processing Times Continue to Vary Depending on the Application Category

The information released by the Porto Central Registry Office in October 2026 provides valuable insight into the progress of Portuguese citizenship applications.

The figures show that, in September 2026, some application categories had already reached submissions made during that same year, while others were still reviewing applications from 2022 and 2023.

The differences are particularly significant between applications submitted by children and grandchildren of Portuguese citizens, registration and transcription procedures, and naturalisation applications based on different legal provisions.

For this reason, there is no single processing timeframe that can be applied to all Portuguese citizenship applications.

It is also important to emphasise that the published dates reflect the Porto Central Registry Office's progress at a particular point in time and do not guarantee that an application will be decided within a specific period.

For applicants who have been waiting several years, an individual assessment can help clarify the administrative situation and identify potentially appropriate legal measures.

Rafaela Barbosa Advocacia Internacional provides legal assistance with Portuguese citizenship procedures, including applications for children and grandchildren of Portuguese citizens, naturalisation through legal residence, and judicial measures relating to excessive administrative delays.

Our team conducts an individual legal assessment of each case, considering the applicable legal framework, the current procedural stage, and the available options.

Has your Portuguese citizenship application been pending for an extended period? Contact our team to learn more about our legal assistance services.

Rafaela Barbosa Advocacia Internacional
Specialists in immigration, Portuguese citizenship, and international mobility.

Portugal | Brazil | Italy
Phone: +351 913 158 360
Email: advocacia.rafaelabarbosa@gmail.com
Website: www.rafaelabarbosaadv.com

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