Legislation
See the key legislation on Portuguese citizenship, visas, matrimonial property regimes and cooperation between Brazil and Portugal. Get your questions answered.
- Nationality Act (Lei da Nacionalidade) (Law 37/81 of October 3, as amended by Organic Law 1/2026 of May 18)
- Portuguese Nationality Regulation (Regulamento da Nacionalidade Portuguesa) (Decree-Law 237-A/2006 of December 14)
- Decree-Law amending the Portuguese Nationality Regulation – Decree-Law 71/2017 (Decreto-Lei) of June 21
- Law amending the Nationality Act – Organic Law 2/2020 (Lei Orgânica) of November 10
- Law amending the Nationality Act – Organic Law 1/2026 (Lei Orgânica) of May 18
- Foreigners Act (Lei de Estrangeiros) (entry, stay, exit and removal of foreign nationals) – Law 23/2007 of July 4, as amended by Law 61/2025 of October 22 and Law 62/2026 of September 10
- Regulations implementing the Foreigners Act – Regulatory Decree 84/2007 (Decreto Regulamentar) of November 5
- Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 – third countries whose nationals require an entry visa
- Regulation (EU) 2016/1103 – matrimonial property regimes
- Regulation (EU) 2019/1111 – matrimonial matters, parental responsibility and international child abduction (repealed Regulation (EC) 2201/2003 as of August 1, 2022)
- Decree 3,927 of September 19, 2001 (Decreto) – Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Consultation between Brazil and Portugal (Porto Seguro, 2000)
- Organic Law 2/2018 of July 5 (Lei Orgânica) – which broadens access to citizenship by origin and to naturalization
- Portuguese Code of Civil Procedure (Código de Processo Civil) (Law 41/2013 of June 26)
- Portuguese Civil Code (Código Civil) (Decree-Law 47 344 of November 25, 1966)
- Municipal Property Tax Code (Código do Imposto Municipal sobre Imóveis) (Decree-Law 287/2003 of November 12)
- Measures for the protection of de facto unions (uniões de facto) – Law 7/2001 of May 11
- Code of Procedure in the Administrative Courts (Código de Processo nos Tribunais Administrativos, CPTA) – Law 15/2002 of February 22
Family, registries, and assets
Divorce
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Learn more →Common questions
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Which law currently governs Portuguese citizenship?
The Nationality Act (Lei da Nacionalidade) is Law 37/81 of October 3, as amended by Organic Law 1/2026 (Lei Orgânica) of May 18. Over time it has been amended by other laws, such as Organic Law 2/2018 and Organic Law 2/2020. The Portuguese Nationality Regulation (Regulamento da Nacionalidade) is set out in Decree-Law 237-A/2006, as amended by Decree-Law 71/2017.
Which law governs the entry and stay of foreign nationals in Portugal?
It is the Foreigners Act (Lei de Estrangeiros), Law 23/2007 of July 4, which regulates the entry, stay, exit and removal of foreign nationals, as amended by Law 61/2025 of October 22 and Law 62/2026 of September 10. Its implementing regulations are set out in Regulatory Decree 84/2007. Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 lists the third countries whose nationals require an entry visa.
Which rules govern de facto unions and matrimonial property regimes?
The measures protecting de facto unions (uniões de facto) in Portugal are in Law 7/2001 of May 11. On matrimonial property regimes, the European reference is Regulation (EU) 2016/1103. Regulation (EU) 2019/1111, in turn, deals with matrimonial matters, parental responsibility and international child abduction, and repealed Regulation (EC) 2201/2003 as of August 1, 2022.
Is there a treaty between Brazil and Portugal?
Yes. The Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Consultation between Brazil and Portugal was signed in Porto Seguro in 2000 and promulgated in Brazil by Decree 3,927 of September 19, 2001. It is part of the key legislation for cooperation between the two countries, alongside the Portuguese Civil Code and Code of Civil Procedure.
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