Immigration
Ask the Lawyer: I lived in Portugal for seven years and returned to Brazil. Can I still apply for citizenship?
The law allows for periods of legal residence to be cumulative (consecutive or interpolated) within a maximum nine-year window, but a key requirement for naturalization is holding valid legal residence in Portugal at the moment the application is submitted. Having lived in the country for seven years previously does not grant a right to citizenship if the applicant's residence permit has since expired or they are no longer legal residents.
Why it mattersIf you are a Brazilian national who lived in Portugal for seven years but have since left, your previous time can only be counted toward citizenship if you are currently a legal resident in Portugal or manage to obtain a valid permit again within the nine-year window.