An IMGW News Report
The number of applications for Portuguese citizenship has surged by over 366% in the past six years, with more than 1.4 million applications recorded during this period. In 2022 alone, 300,000 requests were submitted, a stark contrast to the fewer than 100,000 recorded in 2013. This significant rise has prompted concerns within Portugal’s Justice Ministry about the system’s ability to handle such demand.
“… the current workforce is operating at 34% below required levels, leaving nearly 500,000 applications stuck in the system.”
Maria José Barros, Secretary of State for Justice, recently highlighted the challenges during a procedural hearing. She noted that while the Institute of Registries and Notaries (IRN) launched a platform last year to improve processing times, delays persist. Currently, even urgent applications filed in October 2024 remain unprocessed, with average waiting times exceeding two years.
Barros acknowledged the bottlenecks, citing a lack of staff as the primary reason for delays. The Ministry of Justice revealed that the current workforce is operating at 34% below required levels, leaving nearly 500,000 applications stuck in the system. Fabio Silva, a Registry Office employee, disclosed that he starts work at 5 a.m. to manage the overwhelming demand, while applicants often queue from dawn, with service tickets running out minutes after opening.
The rising trend in citizenship applications reflects growing interest among foreigners to acquire Portuguese passports, but the system’s inability to cope risks undermining efficiency. In 2023, a record 230,000 applications were submitted, further straining resources.
