Over half a million applicants for Portuguese citizenship are facing wait times of up to two years for their applications to be processed. The government attributes the delays and congestion to high demand, with queues at the Lisbon Central Registry Office starting as early as 5 am. However, the Registry and Notary Workers Union claims that the shortage of professionals to handle the requests is the true cause.

According to SIC, the Ministry of Justice stated that the delays in processing citizenship applications are linked to the significant volume of requests. Aside from the lengthy processing wait times, initiating the application process is also challenging. SIC notes that the queue at the Lisbon Central Registry Office forms as early as 5 am, with individuals even bringing chairs. Approximately 60 service tickets are distributed to applicants who secure them within the first few minutes of the Registry Office opening.

Certain individuals turned to social media platforms to express their worries. One netizen mentioned that they applied for Portuguese citizenship in November 2022 and haven't received any updates even after 17 months. Another applicant, who was pursuing citizenship through their grandparents, highlighted that a company named Portugal Solutions in Rhode Island informed them that it could take up to five years to acquire Portuguese citizenship. 

As per the Immigration, Borders, and Asylum Report, there has been a notable increase in requests for Portuguese nationality in 2022. The number surged by 37.2% compared to the previous year, with 74,506 individuals seeking citizenship. Out of 64,040 processed applications, only 911 were rejected.