Over 25,000 Portuguese nationality applications stuck in backlog

More than 25,000 applications for Portuguese nationality submitted via consular posts are currently pending due to a severe shortage of staff at Portugal’s civil-registry authority, according to official figures released by the Ministry of Justice.

The Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado (IRN), which handles nationality processes, confirmed that 25,507 birth-certificate integrations – a crucial step required before citizenship can be granted – were still awaiting completion as of November 19. The figure includes 24,878 adult applicants and 629 minors over one year old, according to The Portugal News, which reported the ministry’s data and stated that certificates for children under one year old “are handled on the same day.”

IRN says HR shortages are delaying applications

The Ministry of Justice acknowledged that the delays stem from what it described as a “significant structural challenge caused by a continuous reduction in human resources,” affecting the IRN’s ability to process nationality applications at the pace required. (ECO)

Immigration professionals say the shortages affect service quality and timelines across the entire nationality system.

Which applications are most affected by the backlog?

While applications for newborns and infants under one year old are reportedly processed very quickly, but backlogs for older minors and adults remain substantial.

Growing concern among expats in Portugal

The backlog has caused widespread frustration among international applicants, including thousands of English-speaking expats and UK nationals who have applied for Portuguese nationality since Brexit.

On consumer-rights platform Portal da Queixa, one applicant wrote: I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with my application for Portuguese nationality through marriage, submitted on August 30, 2022, to the IRN Vila do Conde and forwarded to the Central Registry Office on September 13, 2022.

To date, whenever I check my application using my access code, it never progresses beyond the first stage.

This delay has caused great frustration and insecurity, as the process is fundamental to my personal and family life.” (Portal da Queixa)

Government says relief is coming, but no firm timeline

Officials say new staff will ease pressure once trained and deployed, but no clear estimate has been given for when the 25,000-strong backlog will be resolved. For now, processing capacity continues to lag.

For foreigners seeking Portuguese nationality, the backlog means longer waits for citizenship rights and EU freedom of movement. Applicants should prepare for extended timelines, ensure documentation is up-to-date, and monitor the status of their applications closely.

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