Portuguese Nationality - IRN Administrative Silence

90 days have passed and IRN is silent? That's illegal. Not tolerance—illegality.

Your Right: Judicial Action to Force a Decision

If your nationality application is stalled at IRN beyond 90 days, you have the legal right to file a lawsuit to force a decision. It's written in Portuguese law—and we represent you in court.

The Problem: Illegal Administrative Silence

IRN has 90 days to decide a nationality application (Portuguese Nationality Law). If they don't respond within that deadline, it's administrative silence—which is illegal.

Many immigrants wait 6, 12, 18+ months while IRN stays silent. Meanwhile:

You can't renew foreigner documents
Your passport expires
Employment, banking, and insurance problems
Risk of losing life opportunities

Your Right: Judicial Action Against Administrative Silence

Under Portuguese administrative law (CPTA) and court decisions, you can file:

Acceleration Action: Force IRN to decide within 30 days
Presumption of Approval: In certain cases, silence can mean approval
Damages Claim: If we prove harm from the illegal delay

How the Nationality Process Works

Days 1-30: Submit application to IRN with all documents (birth certificate, employment contract, residence proof, etc.)

Days 30-90: IRN analyzes documents and requests clarification if needed

Day 90 (LEGAL DEADLINE): IRN must decide—approval or refusal

After Day 90: If no response, it's illegal administrative silence—go to court

If IRN Refused: You Can Also Appeal

If IRN denied your application (instead of staying silent), you can still challenge in court. Common arguments that work:

Incomplete or misinterpreted documents
Discriminatory application of criteria
Lack of clear reasoning in the refusal
Non-compliance with procedural deadlines

What We Do

Analyze your application and existing documents
Identify strong legal arguments
Draft formal court petition (acceleration action)
Full representation in Administrative Court
Follow-through to final decision and appeals if needed

Who Can File?

Anyone whose nationality application:

Has been pending for 90+ days with no response
Was refused without clear reasoning
Faced repeated suspensions or delays
Shows signs of clear discrimination

Timeline: How Long Does a Lawsuit Take?

A judicial action against IRN administrative silence typically takes:

6-12 months: First court decision (Administrative Court)
+6-12 months: If you appeal to the Court of Appeals
In urgent cases, we can request emergency measures to speed things up

Contact Us Now

Don't wait anymore. Your right exists. Let's enforce it.

Phone: +351 939 599 589 (Lisbon) | +351 933 228 288 (Queluz)

Email: jose@legalsupport.pt

Hours: Monday-Friday, 10am-6pm

No guarantee of results. See terms at https://legalsupport.pt/termos.html

Applicable Law

Law n.º 37/81 (Portuguese Nationality Law): Deadlines and criteria
CPTA (Administrative Court Procedure Code): Action against administrative silence
CPA (Administrative Procedure Code): Rights of individuals
Court Case Law: Supreme Court and Appellate Court rulings on nationality