Portugal receives over 63,000 citizenship applications in first 4 months of 2024

Lisbon: More than 63,000 requests for Portuguese citizenship have been received in the first four months of 2024.

The figures provided by the Institute of Registries and Notaries (IRN) reveal that there has been a significant increase in the number of citizenship applications.

The surge in the number of citizenship applications has brought difficulties to authorities when it comes to the processing of requests.

Over 63,000 requests for Portuguese citizenship have been received in the first four months of this year, based on the figures provided by the Institute of Registries and Notaries (IRN).

The statistics show that there has been a notable increase compared to the figures from last year when 198,000 applications were registered, Schengen.News reports.

The surge in the number of applications for Portuguese citizenship has brought new challenges for the country’s authorities when it comes to the processing of applications.

In this regard, Tammy Cavaleiro, partner at Você Europeu, told Mercados y Eventos that due to the high number of applications, a large number of applications are being delayed.

Despite efforts to increase staff recruitment, the growth curve in citizenship applications is very steep. This has a negative impact on processing times, with many applications being delayed, which further lengthens waiting times for new applicants.

Last year, of about 200,000 citizenship applications, only 116,000 were granted.

Cavaleiro said that the demand for Portugal’s citizenship should continue to grow, driven mainly by the stability that the country offers.

These are times of global uncertainty, and the advantages of citizenship can be decisive. Applicants should only be aware of the challenges that may result in delays. It is essential that they are prepared to face possible obstacles.

In May this year, it was reported that over 500,000 applications for Portuguese citizenship are waiting to be processed for up to two years.

The government said the main reason for the ongoing delay is the high demand.

Portugal Among Ten Easiest Countries for Acquiring Citizenship

Among the reasons for applying for citizenship in Portugal is that the country is among the easiest ones for obtaining nationality.

According to a study from the Canadian Immigration Agency, CanadaCIS, Portugal is among the top ten countries on the list when it comes to obtaining nationality.

In the study, Portugal was ranked fourth among the 32 European countries when it came to granting citizenship.

According to the report, more than three in every 50 residents of third countries become citizens of Portugal, which corresponds to 6.6 per cent of the total.

In spite of the study concluding that it is easy to acquire citizenship in Portugal, commenters of the Portugal News didn’t agree with these findings.