For work
Working in Portugal: how long to residence and citizenship
The thing a visa list won't tell you
Permanent residence still comes at five years; only citizenship moved out to seven or ten. The gap between the two is now the whole story.
Your ladder
- 5 years
Work permit
✓ counts toward citizenship
Permanent residence at
5 years
Citizenship assessed at
10 years
Still to serve after these rungs
5 years
Sources
- · Work residence permit under Law 23/2007 as amended by Lei n.º 61/2025 (in force 23 Oct 2025)
- · Permanent residence after 5 years of legal residence (2026)
- · Applications from 19 May 2026: 7 years for EU/CPLP nationals, 10 years for all others
Keep going
- All study and work routes →
- Studying in Portugal instead →
- How to find a regulated immigration lawyer in Portugal →
- What buying a home in Portugal actually costs →
Not immigration advice. Orientation only. Immigration rules change often and decisions are discretionary — nothing here is a promise of residence or citizenship. Check your case with a licensed immigration adviser. Rules reviewed 2026-07. (2026-07)