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Portugal citizenship test practice: 20 free questions

Checked on November 13, 2026

The official format of the Portugal citizenship test has not been published yet. Organic Law No. 1/2026 says what the test must cover. The number of questions, the time limit, the pass mark and the language of the test will be set by a decree-law that the Government approved on 29 October 2026 and that has not been published. This practice test helps you learn the themes in the law. It is not a copy of the real exam.

It has 20 multiple-choice questions written by us, four for each theme: language and culture, history, national symbols, fundamental rights and duties, and the political organisation of the State. Answer every question, then press «Check my answers». You will see your score and a short explanation for each question, with the article of the Constitution or the source. The target of 12 correct answers (60%) is ours, not an official pass mark.

Want more? Read what we know about the citizenship test. If you read Portuguese, try the longer 25-question simulado and the explained questions.

20 practice questions we wrote on the five themes listed in Article 6(1)(c) and (d) of the Portuguese Nationality Law. They are not official questions: the official format has not been published yet.

20 questions Pass mark: 12/20

Question 1 of 20Who was the first king of Portugal? Dinis I Afonso Henriques (Afonso I) João I Manuel I

Explanation: Afonso Henriques was recognised as king by Alfonso VII of León and Castile in the Treaty of Zamora (1143) and by Pope Alexander III in the bull Manifestis Probatum (1179).

Question 2 of 20Which Portuguese music genre did UNESCO inscribe as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2011? Samba Flamenco Tango Fado

Explanation: Fado, the 'urban popular song of Portugal' widely performed in Lisbon, was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List in 2011 (decision 6.COM 13.39).

Question 3 of 20What are the two colours of the Portuguese national flag? Blue and white Red and yellow Green and red Green and yellow

Explanation: The flag is divided vertically into dark green and red, with the national coat of arms on an armillary sphere (Constitution, Article 11, and the Government's description of the national symbols).

Question 4 of 20From what age can Portuguese citizens vote? 18 16 21 25

Explanation: Article 49(1) of the Constitution: all citizens over 18 have the right to vote, except for incapacities set out in general law.

Question 5 of 20Which are Portugal's organs of sovereignty? The President, the Government, the city councils and the police The President, Parliament, the Government and the Bank of Portugal Parliament, the Government, the Armed Forces and the Catholic Church The President of the Republic, the Assembly of the Republic, the Government and the Courts

Explanation: Article 110(1) of the Constitution: the organs of sovereignty are the President of the Republic, the Assembly of the Republic, the Government and the Courts.

Question 6 of 20What happened in Portugal on 5 October 1910? The Republic was established The Carnation Revolution Independence from Spain was restored Portugal joined the European Communities

Explanation: The revolution of 5 October 1910 ended the monarchy and established the Republic; the Constitution refers to it in Article 11. 5 October is a national holiday (Labour Code, Article 234).

Question 7 of 20Who wrote 'Os Lusíadas' (The Lusiads), first printed in Lisbon in 1572? Fernando Pessoa José Saramago Luís de Camões Eça de Queirós

Explanation: Os Lusíadas is by Luís de Camões. The first edition (Lisbon, 1572) is digitised by the National Library of Portugal.

Question 8 of 20What is the name of Portugal's national anthem? 'Grândola, Vila Morena' 'A Portuguesa' 'Hino da Carta' 'Hino da Maria da Fonte'

Explanation: Article 11(2) of the Constitution: 'The National Anthem is A Portuguesa.'

Question 9 of 20What does the Constitution say about the death penalty? It is allowed for terrorism It is allowed only in wartime It depends on a national referendum There shall be no death penalty in any case

Explanation: Article 24 of the Constitution: human life is inviolable, and 'in no case shall there be the death penalty'.

Question 10 of 20How long is the term of office of the President of the Republic? 4 years 6 years 5 years 7 years

Explanation: Five years (Article 128(1) of the Constitution). Re-election for a third consecutive term is not allowed (Article 123(1)).

Question 11 of 20What happened on 25 April 1974? Portugal adopted the euro The Republic was proclaimed King João IV was acclaimed The Armed Forces Movement overthrew the Estado Novo dictatorship

Explanation: The preamble of the Constitution says that on 25 April 1974 the Armed Forces Movement 'overthrew the fascist regime'. This is the Carnation Revolution, and 25 April is a national holiday.

Question 12 of 20Which of these dates is a mandatory national holiday in Portugal? 4 July 10 June 14 July 7 September

Explanation: The Labour Code (Article 234) lists 13 mandatory public holidays, including 10 June. The other three dates are not on that list.

Question 13 of 20What is in the centre of the national flag? The national coat of arms on an armillary sphere A royal crown The Cross of the Order of Christ A golden star

Explanation: The centre shows the national coat of arms, bordered in white, on a yellow armillary sphere (Government description of the national symbols).

Question 14 of 20Which principle is set out in Article 13 of the Constitution? Rights depend on how long you have lived in Portugal Men have more political rights than women All citizens have the same social dignity and are equal before the law Only people born in Portugal can own property

Explanation: Article 13: all citizens have the same social dignity and are equal before the law. No one may be privileged or discriminated against because of ancestry, sex, race, language, territory of origin, religion, political or ideological beliefs, education, economic situation, social condition or sexual orientation.

Question 15 of 20Which are Portugal's two autonomous regions? The Algarve and the Alentejo The Azores and Madeira Madeira and the Algarve The Azores and Minho

Explanation: Article 6(2) of the Constitution: the archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira are autonomous regions with their own political and administrative statutes and self-governing bodies.

Question 16 of 20When did Portugal join the European Communities (today's European Union)? 1974 1992 1986 2002

Explanation: Portugal has been a member since 1 January 1986. It joined the Schengen area in 1995 and the euro in 1999 (official EU website).

Question 17 of 20According to the Constitution, what is the official language of Portugal? Portuguese Portuguese and Spanish Portuguese and English Portuguese and French

Explanation: Article 11(3) of the Constitution: 'The official language is Portuguese.'

Question 18 of 20Who composed the music of the national anthem? Henrique Lopes de Mendonça Amália Rodrigues Zeca Afonso Alfredo Keil

Explanation: The music of 'A Portuguesa' is by Alfredo Keil and the lyrics are by Henrique Lopes de Mendonça. The Constituent Assembly proclaimed it the national anthem on 19 June 1911.

Question 19 of 20What does the Constitution say about health? Only people with private insurance have a right to health care Everyone has the right to health protection and the duty to defend and promote it Health care is free only for people born in Portugal The State has no role in health care

Explanation: Article 64(1): everyone has the right to health protection and the duty to defend and promote it. Article 64(2)(a): this is done through a universal and general national health service, tending to be free of charge taking into account people's economic and social conditions.

Question 20 of 20What is the maximum number of members of the Assembly of the Republic? 230 180 250 300

Explanation: Article 148 of the Constitution: the Assembly of the Republic has a minimum of 180 and a maximum of 230 members, as set by the electoral law.

Sources: Organic Law No. 1/2026, Article 6(1)(c) and (d) (themes of the test) — Diário da República

Frequently asked questions

Is this the official Portuguese citizenship test?

No. The official format has not been published yet. We wrote these questions on the five themes listed in Article 6(1)(c) and (d) of the Nationality Law.

What is the pass mark of the Portugal citizenship test?

It has not been announced. Here we use 12 correct answers out of 20 (60%) only as a practice target.

Will the official test be in English?

This has not been announced. The rules of the test, including its language, will be set by the regulating decree-law, which has not been published yet.

Sources

Organic Law No. 1/2026 of 18 May, Article 6(1)(c) to (e) of the Nationality Law — Diário da República
Council of Ministers communiqué, 29 October 2026 — Government of Portugal
Constitution of the Portuguese Republic — Assembly of the Republic
Portuguese democracy: national symbols — Government of Portugal
Autonomous study guide No. 15, History A, year 10: the Portuguese territory — Directorate-General for Education (Portugal)
Portugal: EU country since 1 January 1986 — European Union
Labour Code, Article 234 (mandatory public holidays) — PGDL (consolidated version)
Fado, urban popular song of Portugal (2011) — UNESCO
Os Lusíadas, Lisbon, 1572 (digital edition) — National Library of Portugal