Portugal dual citizenship with Russia: can you keep both passports in 2026

10 min read · Published 6 October 2026

Portugal does not require giving up your previous citizenship, but since 19 May 2026 the road to a passport has doubled: 10 years of legal residence instead of 5. We cover the new rules, marriage, children, taxes and notifying the Russian Interior Ministry.

In short

Yes: Portugal does not require renouncing your previous citizenship, so the Russian passport is kept on naturalisation or marriage, and you only need to notify the Russian Interior Ministry.

Previous passport on naturalisation	Kept
Country rule	No need to give up your previous citizenship
Legal basis	Portuguese Nationality Law No. 37/81
What Russia requires	notify the Interior Ministry within 60 days
Checked	October 2026

Russia allows a second citizenship and so does Portugal, so both passports are kept. The main question is now different: the 2026 reform lengthened the time to citizenship and added requirements, and the filing date decides which rules apply to you.

What Portugal requires on naturalisation

Citizenship is governed by Law No. 37/81, republished as amended by Organic Law 1/2026 of 18 May 2026. The law does not require renouncing the previous citizenship on naturalisation or marriage: for Portugal you are simply a Portuguese citizen, and other passports are irrelevant.

Since 19 May 2026 naturalisation requires 10 years of legal residence, or 7 years for citizens of the EU and Portuguese-speaking countries. Residence counts from the issue of the first residence card, time waiting for the card does not count, and interrupted periods are added up if they fit within a 12-year window. Applications filed before 19 May 2026 are decided under the previous 5-year rules.

Besides residence you need sufficient knowledge of Portuguese, knowledge of the culture, history and national symbols and of citizens' rights and duties, the ability to support yourself, no serious convictions and a declaration of adherence to the principles of a democratic state governed by the rule of law.

A spouse of a Portuguese citizen obtains citizenship by declaration after 3 years of marriage, and a partner after 3 years of a de facto union recognised by a court. If the marriage has lasted more than 6 years or there are joint children with Portuguese citizenship, ties to the country are presumed.

What Russia requires

Russia allows a second citizenship and does not end its own, but inside the country treats you only as a Russian citizen (Article 10 of Federal Law No. 138-FZ on Citizenship).

Within 60 days of receiving the second passport, file a notification with the Interior Ministry (MVD). If you are abroad at that moment, the period runs from the day you enter Russia.
Attach a copy of the foreign passport or another document proving the citizenship.

Failure to notify falls under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code: a fine of up to $2,400 or up to one year of income, or up to 400 hours of compulsory work.
Late or incomplete notification: a fine of $10-15 under Article 19.8.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences.
A residence permit abroad must be reported under the same rules (Article 11 of Law No. 138-FZ).

A Russian citizen with a second passport may not hold state or municipal office, serve in government bodies or stand for election. The duties of a Russian citizen, including military service, remain, and inside Russia the second passport is not taken into account.

How to keep both passports: step by step

Build up residence: 10 years of legal residence from the issue of the first residence card, with breaks within a 12-year window.
Prove your language and knowledge of the culture, history and system of government with a certificate or exam.
Collect documents: a Russian criminal record certificate with an apostille and translation, proof of income and of your residence permit.
Apply to the registry and notary authority and pay the 250 euro fee, about $290.
Receive the decision and passport of a Portuguese citizen; processing often takes more than a year.
Notify the Russian Interior Ministry within 60 days of receiving the passport, or within 60 days of entering Russia if you are abroad.

If you reached 5 years before 19 May 2026 but did not apply, the new rules already apply to you: you will need 10 years.

What happens to children

A child with a Portuguese citizen parent becomes Portuguese by origin, and with the other parent a Russian citizen usually Russian too; no renunciation is needed. Since 19 May 2026 a child of foreigners born in Portugal acquires citizenship at birth only if one parent has lived there legally for 5 years and a declaration is made. Minor children of a naturalised parent obtain citizenship by declaration.

Taxes and military service

You become a Portuguese tax resident with 183 days in the country in a year or a home used as your habitual residence. A resident pays tax on worldwide income on a scale from 12.5% to 48%. Russia suspended most of the double taxation treaty with Portugal on its side in 2023.

Portugal has had no compulsory military service since 2004. The military duty of a Russian citizen with a second passport remains.

Common mistakes

Counting residence from the residence permit application. Since 2026 the years run from the issue of the first card, and waiting time does not count.
Delaying the application, counting on the old 5 years. Applications from 19 May 2026 need 10 years.
A break outside the 12-year window. Then the early years of residence are lost.
Applying without proof of knowledge of the country. Besides language, knowledge of the culture, history and system of government is now checked.
Missing the Russian Interior Ministry notification. The deadline is 60 days from receiving the Portuguese passport or from entering Russia.

How to get Portuguese citizenship

The main route for Russian citizens is a residence permit, 10 years of legal residence and naturalisation with language and knowledge of the country. The passive income visa, digital nomad visa, work and the golden visa all qualify, with residence counted from the first card. Spouses of Portuguese citizens qualify faster, after 3 years of marriage.

Requirements, timelines and costs are on the page Portuguese citizenship.

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

Portuguese citizenship under the new rules without losing years

The law does not stop you applying for Portuguese citizenship on your own. But mistakes cost more than the fee: miscounted residence, breaks outside the 12-year window, documents without proof of knowledge of the country and a missed notification to the Russian Interior Ministry. We count your residence under the new rules, prepare the application and documents, see it through to the passport and remind you to notify. We guarantee professional work and a transparent process.

The cost of support depends on the route and family size; our consultant in the chat will calculate it.

Talk to a consultant now

This topic in other countries

Dual citizenship rules with Russia in other countries:

FAQ

Can you hold Portuguese and Russian citizenship at the same time?

Yes: Portugal does not require renouncing your previous citizenship, so the Russian passport is kept on naturalisation or marriage, and you only need to notify the Russian Interior Ministry.

Do I need to notify the Russian Interior Ministry about Portuguese citizenship?

Yes. A Russian citizen notifies the Interior Ministry of a second citizenship within 60 days under Article 10 of Law No. 138-FZ; failing to notify carries criminal liability under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code.

Does Portugal allow dual citizenship?

Yes. Portuguese law does not require renouncing the previous citizenship on naturalisation or marriage.

Do I have to renounce Russian citizenship to become Portuguese?

No. The Russian passport is kept; you only need to notify the Russian Interior Ministry within 60 days.

How many years must you live in Portugal before citizenship in 2026?

Since 19 May 2026, 10 years of legal residence from the first card, or 7 years for citizens of the EU and Portuguese-speaking countries. Earlier applications are decided under the 5-year rule.

Can you get Portuguese citizenship through marriage?

Yes, a spouse of a Portuguese citizen applies after 3 years of marriage, and renouncing Russian citizenship is not needed.

How much does Portuguese citizenship cost?

A 250 euro fee, about $290, plus translations, apostilles and proof of language.

Will a child have Portuguese and Russian citizenship?

Yes, if one parent is Portuguese and the other Russian. A child of foreigners born in Portugal gets citizenship if a parent has lived there legally for 5 years.

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.

The Murblz consultant replies straight away in the chat on this page. Describe your situation and we will work it out together.

Free consultation

Or message us on Telegram →

FreeConfidentialInstant reply

Programs

Programs in Portugal

Digital nomad Talent visa

Portugal dual citizenship with Russia: can you keep both passports in 2026

What Portugal requires on naturalisation

What Russia requires

How to keep both passports: step by step

What happens to children

Taxes and military service

Common mistakes

How to get Portuguese citizenship

This topic in other countries

FAQ

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

Programs in Portugal

Read next

Russia double tax treaties in 2026: which countries still apply them

Exchanging a driving licence in Portugal: a guide for foreigners

Estonian citizenship in 2026: how a foreigner gets it