The Institute of Registries and Notaries (IRN) has confirmed that the new Nationality Law in Portugal only applies to new applications for Portuguese nationality. According to reports from Executive Digest, applications will be counted from the date of submission. This means that any applications submitted before the new law's approval will be evaluated based on the criteria of the previous law, which includes shorter residency requirements.
The President of the Republic, António José Seguro, has emphasized the importance of transitioning the administrative process smoothly. He stated that it is crucial to ensure that pending processes are not adversely affected by the legislative change, as this could lead to a breach of trust in the State, both internally and externally.
This clarification comes amid concerns regarding how the new law would impact existing applications. By maintaining the previous criteria for applications submitted before the law's enactment, the IRN aims to provide reassurance to applicants who may have been anxious about the changes.
Overall, the IRN's confirmation serves to delineate the boundaries of the new law's applicability and underscores the government's commitment to a fair and transparent immigration process.