Over 25,000 Nationality Applications Await Processing in IRN
More than 25,000 requests for Portuguese nationality submitted through the country’s consulates remain pending. According to the Ministry of Justice, these delays are linked to a lack of human resources at the Instituto de Registos e Notariado (IRN). Of the pending cases, 629 involve children over one year old, and 24,878 concern adults.
More than 25,000 applications for Portuguese nationality submitted to various Portuguese consular posts are pending due to a lack of human resources, a situation the government hopes to resolve with the hiring of new professionals, according to the Ministry of Justice.
Recent Birth Records for Infants Under One Year Processed Without Delays
The Ministry of Justice confirmed that birth records for children aged one or younger are processed on the same day they arrive from consulates. “The Conservatória dos Registos Centrais is analysing and integrating birth records submitted by consulates on the same day,” the ministry stated in its response to the Socialist Party (PS).
IRN Faces Structural Challenges Due to Staff Shortages and Retirements
The government highlighted ongoing structural difficulties at IRN caused by:
Continuous reductions in personnel
Retirements
Transfers to other agencies
The absence of new recruitment competitions
The latter have “had a very significant impact on the response capacity of registry services, including nationality processes,” according to the Ministry of Justice.
Government Plans to Recruit 784 New Registry Professionals Across Portugal
To address the backlog, the Ministry of Justice is running several recruitment processes. The plan includes hiring 159 new employees, eight for the Autonomous Region of Madeira, and 617 registry officers. These measures aim to improve processing capacity and reduce pending cases in the coming months.
What Are The Consequences for Applicants?
If a nationality request is delayed or pending, the consequences depend on an applicant’s legal status in Portugal, but the impact is real and affects multiple aspects of daily life:
Legal Residency Status
Applicants who already hold a valid residence permit or visa can usually continue living in Portugal legally while their nationality application is processed.
If their residence permit expires during the waiting period, they must apply for a renewal; failure to do so could lead to temporary irregular status.
Travel and Work Restrictions
Without Portuguese nationality, individuals cannot use an EU passport. This limits travel within the European Union for work or residence purposes.
They may also face restrictions on public sector jobs or other benefits that require Portuguese citizenship.
Leaving the Country
People can leave Portugal, provided their current visa or residence permit is valid for re-entry.
Those without valid permits may face difficulties returning, as they might be treated as unauthorized entrants.
Access to Certain Rights
Pending nationality requests mean applicants cannot vote in national elections or hold certain public positions.
Source: Sapo.pt
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