Over 25,000 Portuguese Nationality Applications Stuck In Backlog

More than 25,000 applications for Portuguese nationality submitted via consular posts are presently pending owed to a terrible shortage of unit astatine Portugal’s civil-registry authority, according to charismatic figures released by nan Ministry of Justice.

The Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado (IRN), which handles nationality processes, confirmed that 25,507 birth-certificate integrations – a important measurement required earlier citizenship tin beryllium granted – were still awaiting completion arsenic of November 19. The fig includes 24,878 big applicants and 629 minors complete 1 twelvemonth old, according to The Portugal News, which reported nan ministry’s information and stated that certificates for children nether 1 twelvemonth aged “are handled connected nan aforesaid day.”

IRN says HR shortages are delaying applications

The Ministry of Justice acknowledged that nan delays stem from what it described arsenic a “significant structural situation caused by a continuous simplification successful quality resources,” affecting nan IRN’s expertise to process nationality applications astatine nan gait required. (ECO)

Immigration professionals opportunity nan shortages impact work value and timelines crossed nan full nationality system.

Which applications are astir affected by nan backlog?

While applications for newborns and infants nether 1 twelvemonth aged are reportedly processed very quickly, but backlogs for older minors and adults stay substantial.

Growing interest among expats successful Portugal

The backlog has caused wide vexation among world applicants, including thousands of English-speaking expats and UK nationals who person applied for Portuguese nationality since Brexit.

On consumer-rights level Portal da Queixa, 1 applicant wrote: I americium penning to definitive my dissatisfaction pinch my exertion for Portuguese nationality done marriage, submitted connected August 30, 2022, to nan IRN Vila do Conde and forwarded to nan Central Registry Office connected September 13, 2022.

To date, whenever I cheque my exertion utilizing my entree code, it ne'er progresses beyond nan first stage.

This hold has caused awesome vexation and insecurity, arsenic nan process is basal to my individual and family life.” (Portal da Queixa)

Government says alleviation is coming, but nary patient timeline

Officials opportunity caller unit will easiness unit erstwhile trained and deployed, but nary clear estimate has been fixed for erstwhile nan 25,000-strong backlog will beryllium resolved. For now, processing capacity continues to lag.

For foreigners seeking Portuguese nationality, nan backlog intends longer waits for citizenship authorities and EU state of movement. Applicants should hole for extended timelines, guarantee archiving is up-to-date, and show nan position of their applications closely.

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