Sephardic citizenship in Portugal: the route is closed, pending files continue
- The Sephardic route closed to new applications on 19 May 2026 (Lei Orgânica 1/2026).
- Files pending on that date continue under the previous law. About 160,000 Sephardic files were waiting at IRN on 30 June 2025.
- Pending file: check your wait and your court options. No file: other routes, such as descent or naturalisation, may still fit.
Which situation are you in?
Pick the closest one and we point you to the right page. It is an orientation, not legal advice.
Select a situation above.
What the 19 May 2026 closure means
No new applications
Lei Orgânica 1/2026 ended the Sephardic route for new applications from 19 May 2026.
Pending files continue
Files pending on that date follow the previous law, under the transitional rule in art. 7.º.
≈160,000 files waiting
On 30 June 2025 IRN had 515,334 nationality files pending, about 31% of them Sephardic.
Sources: Lei Orgânica 1/2026, Ministry of Justice notice, IRN statistics release. Some reports cite other cut-off dates, so we check each file against the law, not the press.
Every guide and service in one place
Pages on this site, our citizenship guides at portuguese-nationality.com and our practice pages at cscadvogada.com. Linked guides may open in English.
If your file is pending
If you need another route
For your family
If you may need a court
Who reviews your file
Clara Silva da Costa
Lawyer in Lisbon, registered with the Ordem dos Advogados (cédula 45229 L). She advises on Portuguese citizenship and represents clients before the administrative courts.
More on the lawyer profile.
What a file review covers
- Which rules apply to your filing date
- Where your file stands against IRN's published times
- Whether to wait, send a formal request, or go to court
- Other routes that may fit your family history
Sephardic citizenship: frequently asked questions
Is the Sephardic route to Portuguese citizenship still open?
No. The route closed to new applications on 19 May 2026 under Lei Orgânica 1/2026.
I filed a Sephardic application before 19 May 2026. What happens now?
Files pending on that date continue under the previous law, under the transitional rule in art. 7.º. Your file is not cancelled by the closure.
How long does a pending Sephardic file take at IRN?
IRN's published waiting times for Sephardic analysis in August 2026 were reported at about 50 months at the Arquivo Central do Porto and 62 months at the Registos Centrais in Lisbon. These figures come from a secondary report and should be checked against IRN's latest table.
Can I take legal action if IRN does not decide my file?
Yes, in the administrative courts. The usual path is a formal request to IRN, then an ação administrativa de condenação. An urgent intimação needs specific urgency. A court orders IRN to decide; it does not grant nationality.
Are there other ways to become Portuguese if I did not file in time?
Other routes exist, such as descent from a Portuguese parent or grandparent and naturalisation after legal residence. Whether one fits depends on your family history and residence, so we assess each case.
Which rules apply to my pending file?
Files pending on 19 May 2026 follow the previous law. Files filed from 1 September 2022 also had to prove an effective and lasting connection to Portugal under Decreto-Lei 26/2022.
Do I need a lawyer to follow my file?
Checking your status with IRN does not require one. Court action, and a legal reading of your dates and documents, are where a lawyer helps.
Who runs this website?
Clara Silva da Costa, a lawyer in Lisbon (Ordem dos Advogados, cédula 45229 L), at CSC Advogada.
Official sources
Figures on this page were checked on 2 November 2026. Always confirm amounts and dates with the official source before you act.
Talk to a lawyer about your Sephardic file
Tell us your filing date, registry and questions. We usually reply within one working day. Your results above are added to your message.