Most people want to apply for Portuguese citizenship as soon as they become eligible. But not everyone does. Some people come from countries that do not allow dual citizenship and do not want to give up their original passport. Others simply do not want the extra paperwork, cost, or hassle.
“You can keep renewing… you have a permanent residency status, you’re not obliged to apply for citizenship to reside in Portugal.”
Sandra Gomes Pinto
So no, you do not have to apply for citizenship once you become eligible. If you would rather not become a Portuguese citizen, you can continue living in Portugal as a resident instead.
In practice, most people become eligible for citizenship after 10 years of legal residency, although this may depend on the rules in force at the time you apply. Before that, you would usually become eligible for permanent residency after 5 years. Permanent residency can then be renewed indefinitely: every 5 years for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens, and every 10 years for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens.
You also do not have to switch to permanent residency after 5 years. If you prefer, you can simply keep renewing your temporary residence permit instead. For some non-EU/EEA/Swiss residents, this may be appealing because permanent residency usually requires a Portuguese language exam, while continuing on temporary residency can avoid that step.
Thinking about Moving to Portugal?