New Portuguese Nationality Service Center Opens in Lisbon Amidst Backlog & Law Changes
Lisbon, Portugal – A new face-to-face service center for Portuguese nationality requests opened today, September 1st, consolidating services previously offered at the Central Registry Office and Espaço Regisas da Expo in Lisbon. The Ministry of Justice (MJ) stated the new location “will receive all the face-to-face service that has so far been provided” at those prior locations.The center, located at Alameda do Oceano, No. 67-L, Parque das Nações, 1990-208 Lisbon, will operate from 9:00 to 16:00 with both scheduled and walk-in appointments. From 16:00 to 19:00, service will be exclusively for individuals with prior appointments. Those with existing appointments at the former locations will be contacted to confirm details and the new address.
While the new center aims to improve accessibility, the Institute of Registrations and Notaries (IRN) is encouraging applicants to utilize online and mail-in submission options, with the online portal currently limited to lawyers and solicitors.
Applicants can monitor the status of their applications online via a manual available at http://justica.gov.pt/Servicos/Consultar-estado-do-processo-de-nacionalidade or by calling 211 950 500 (option 1) between 9:00 and 17:00, Monday through Friday.The opening coincides with ongoing efforts to address a significant backlog of applications. According to the Registry and Notary Workers Union (STRN), approximately 700,000 requests are currently under review. In response,the government is proposing legislative changes to increase the required residency period for citizenship eligibility. A proposal to be voted on in Parliament this September would extend the residency requirement to seven years for citizens of the community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) and ten years for citizens of other nations, up from the current five years.Secretary of State of Justice, Ana Luisa Machado, is scheduled to visit the new facilities on Monday. The government states the reorganization aims to “offer more space, better facilities, greater convenience in service and greater accessibility, seeking to raise the quality of service provided to citizens.”