The easiest way to check if you are entitled to Portuguese nationality

Applicable situations

• Persons born in Portuguese territory, children of a Portuguese mother or father. 
• Persons born abroad, children of a Portuguese mother or a Portuguese father, if one of the parents is abroad in the service of the Portuguese State.
• People born abroad, children of a Portuguese mother or father, who have their birth registered in the Portuguese civil registry or declare that they want to be Portuguese.

Documents 

• Special form
• Identification document
• Birth registration certificate
• Certificate of registration of the parent, which can be waived if the registration is in a national registry office and the registry office, year and registration number are identified.

All documents in a foreign language must be translated into Portuguese and legalized with an apostille or visa from the Portuguese consulate (this does not apply to documents issued by the authorities of European Union Member States).

Fee

Submitting an application for nationality costs 175 euros.

Applicable situation

• Persons with a Portuguese ancestor of the 2nd degree in the straight line (grandparents) who has not lost that nationality 

Requirements

• Be a descendant of a Portuguese national of the 2nd degree in a straight line;
• Have effective ties to the Portuguese community

  The connection to the Portuguese community is recognized if:

1. The person has already been legally resident in Portugal for 3 years, is registered with the tax authorities and the National Health System and has attended school in Portugal or can prove that they know Portuguese
2. The person has been legally resident in Portugal for 5 years and is registered with the tax authorities and the National Health System (or regional health services).
3. The government analyzes the situation and concludes that this connection exists because the person:

          i. has knowledge of the Portuguese language

          ii. has legal residence in Portugal

          iii. travels regularly to Portugal

          iv. bought or rented a house in Portugal more than 3 years ago

          v. lives in or has a connection with a historical Portuguese community abroad

          vi. in the last 5 years, you have participated regularly in the activities of the Portuguese community in the country where you live, for example, by attending the activities of the Portuguese cultural and recreational associations of these communities.

• No prison sentence of 3 years or more, with final and unappealable judgment, for a crime punishable under Portuguese law
• There is no danger or threat to national security or defense by engaging in activities related to the practice of terrorism

Documents

• Special form
• Identification document
• Birth registration certificate
• Birth certificates of the second degree ascendant in the straight line of Portuguese nationality 
• Birth certificate of the Portuguese national's descendant parent
• Criminal record certificate from the country of birth and nationality, as well as from countries where you have resided since the age of 16
• Documents proving your connection to the Portuguese community

All documents in a foreign language must be translated into Portuguese and legalized with an apostille or visa from the Portuguese consulate (this does not apply to documents issued by the authorities of European Union Member States).

Fee

Submitting an application for nationality costs 175 euros.

Those who meet the following conditions can apply for Portuguese nationality as the great-grandchild of a Portuguese citizen.

The new Portuguese Nationality Law, which came into force in 2017, states that the great-grandchildren of Portuguese citizens have the right to Portuguese Nationality, provided they meet certain requirements. The options depend on who is still alive in the family.

In order to make use of this prerogative, the Portuguese descendant (father or mother) must first acquire Portuguese nationality and then pass it on as a child to the current great-grandchild of a Portuguese citizen.

The new law clearly mentions that grandchildren and great-grandchildren have the acquired right, but it is necessary for the grandchild of a Portuguese citizen to provide documentary proof of the affective bond with the Portuguese community.

Requirements

• Married or in a de facto relationship for more than three years with a Portuguese national 
• Applying for nationality for the duration of the marriage
• No prison sentence of 3 years or more, with final and unappealable judgment, for a crime punishable under Portuguese law
• There is no danger or threat to national security or defense by engaging in activities related to the practice of terrorism
• Not hold public office, other than technical positions, in another country
• No non-compulsory military service in another country

Documents

• Special form
• Identification document of the person and spouse/domestic partner
• Birth registration certificate;
• Birth registration certificate of the spouse/ de facto partner, which may be waived if the registration is in a national registry office and the registry office, year and registration number are identified
• If you are married: you must first register the marriage in the birth register of the Portuguese national spouse
• If you are a de facto partner: the certificate of the court ruling recognizing that you have been living for more than 3 years in conditions similar to those of married people, or a declaration, less than 3 months old, in which the Portuguese citizen confirms that you continue to live as a de facto partner.
• Documents proving the person's connection to the Portuguese community (such as a statement from their employers or Social Security, the report cards of their children born or registered in Portugal, their IRS declaration, pay slips, water, electricity or rent bills)
• Criminal record certificate from the country of birth and nationality, as well as from countries where you have resided since the age of 16

All documents in a foreign language must be translated into Portuguese and legalized with an apostille or visa from the Portuguese consulate (this does not apply to documents issued by the authorities of European Union Member States).

Fee

Submitting a nationality application costs 250 euros.

a) He was born outside Portugal;

b) Has a father/mother born in the former colony or a Portuguese grandmother/grandfather, born in the former colony and died before their independence;

c) Declare that they want to acquire Portuguese nationality;

d) Register the birth (of the deceased ascendant) in the Portuguese civil registry;

e) Proof of affectionate ties to the Portuguese community (in the case of Neto).

Independence dates:

Angola - November 11, 1975

Mozambique - June 25, 1975

Guinea Bissau - September 24, 1974

Cape Verde - July 5, 1975

São Tomé and Príncipe - July 12, 1975

Until 1981 - both under the Civil Code of 1867 and under Law no. 2098 - almost everyone who was born in Portuguese territory, as defined in the 1933 Constitution, was Portuguese.

Decree-Law No. 308-A/75 of June 24th regulated the retention and loss of nationality of citizens born and residing in the newly independent countries.

The following tables need to be considered:

• State of India
• Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe 
• Macau
• East Timor

Angola, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe were Portuguese territories until 1975.

Many of the citizens born in these countries retained Portuguese nationality, and their descendants have the right to apply for Portuguese nationality and thus become European citizens.

We publish information on who are the citizens who have lost their Portuguese nationality and who have the right to keep it and acquire it.

In order to answer the question of which citizens born or resident in Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau and São Tomé and Principe retained Portuguese nationality, the dates of independence of these countries are of the utmost importance:

Angola - November 11, 1975

Mozambique - June 25, 1975

Guinea Bissau - September 24, 1974

Cape Verde - July 5, 1975

São Tomé and Príncipe - July 12, 1975

Requirements

• Over 18 years old
• Have been legally resident in Portugal for at least 5 years
• Have sufficient knowledge of Portuguese
• No prison sentence of 3 years or more, with final and unappealable judgment, for a crime punishable under Portuguese law
• There is no danger or threat to national security or defense by engaging in activities related to the practice of terrorism

Documents

• Special form
• Person's identification document
• Birth registration certificate
• Criminal record certificate from the country of birth and nationality, as well as from countries where you have resided since the age of 16
• A document proving that you speak Portuguese (namely a certificate of Portuguese as a foreign language, which can be obtained by taking a test at a recognized Portuguese assessment center - minimum level A2). Anyone who has been a national of a Portuguese-speaking country for more than 10 years is exempt from presenting this document.
• Document proving residence in Portugal (Residence permit issued by AIMA or European Union Citizen Certificate)

All documents in a foreign language must be translated into Portuguese and legalized with an apostille or visa from the Portuguese consulate (this does not apply to documents issued by the authorities of European Union Member States).

Fee

Submitting a nationality application costs 250 euros. 

Requirements

- Under the age of 18

- The mother or father acquired Portuguese nationality after the birth of the child

- Have an effective connection to the Portuguese community (have been legally resident in Portugal for 5 years, or be registered with the tax authorities and the National Health System, or prove that you are studying in Portugal)

- No prison sentence of 3 years or more, with final and unappealable judgment, for a crime punishable under Portuguese law

- There is no danger or threat to national security or defense by engaging in activities related to the practice of terrorism

Documents

- Special form

- Identification document

- Birth registration certificate

- Birth certificate of the parent who acquired Portuguese nationality

- A document proving that you are effectively connected to the Portuguese community (e.g. a statement from the school you attend in Portugal, or a vaccination certificate)

- Criminal record certificate from the country of birth and nationality, as well as from countries where you have resided since the age of 16

All documents in a foreign language must be translated into Portuguese and legalized with an apostille or visa from the Portuguese consulate (this does not apply to documents issued by the authorities of European Union Member States).

Fee

Submitting a nationality application costs 200 euros.

Applicable situations

- Persons born in Portugal, children of foreigners, if at least one of the parents was also born here and was resident here at the time of the child's birth, 

- Individuals born in Portuguese territory, children of foreigners who are not in the service of the respective State, who do not declare that they do not want to be Portuguese, provided that, at the time of birth, one of the parents is legally resident in Portuguese territory, or has been resident here, regardless of title, for at least one year; 

- Persons born in Portugal, children of foreigners, if at least one of the parents has been resident here for at least five years at the time of the child's birth, 

- Persons born in Portugal, children of foreigners, if at least one of the parents has been resident here for at least five years at the time of the application or the minor has completed the first cycle of basic education in Portugal. 

Requirements

- Under the age of 18

- Born in Portugal

- Fulfill one of the applicable situations mentioned above

Documents

- Special form

- Person's identification document

- Birth registration certificate

- Criminal record certificate from the country of birth and nationality, as well as from countries where you have resided since the age of 16

- Proof of Portuguese language 

- Document proving the residence in Portugal of one of the parents (residence permit issued by the Foreigners and Borders Service or European Union Citizen Certificate)

All documents in a foreign language must be translated into Portuguese and legalized with an apostille or visa from the Portuguese consulate (this does not apply to documents issued by the authorities of European Union Member States).

Fee

Submitting an application for nationality costs 250 euros

The word "Sephardic" comes from "Sepharad" or Iberian Peninsula, in Hebrew. The Sephardic Jews were a huge group persecuted for religious reasons in Portugal and Spain from the 15th century onwards.

Sephardic Jews were forced to leave Portugal

Initially expelled from Spain, they emigrated en masse to Portugal. Later, in 1496, King Manuel I created the conditions for their expulsion from Portugal, forcing them to look for other territories to live in.

They spread far and wide, starting with the Ottoman Empire and North Africa, and then moving on to American territories, including Brazil.

But they took the Iberian traditions and culture with them

However, the Sephardic Jews did everything they could to maintain their customs, language, traditions and rituals in the lands that welcomed them.

Ladino, the typical language, has been preserved by many families

For example, "Ladino" was a typical language of the Sephardic community, mixing Portuguese and Spanish, which is still used by many families of Sephardic origin. Typical surnames have also been passed down through the generations in many cases.

Legislation allows descendants of the community to acquire nationality

In this context, recognizing the historical link between Sephardic Jews and Portugal, in 2015 the national legislature made possible a special way for descendants of this community to acquire nationality.

This makes it possible for descendants of Sephardic Jews to obtain Portuguese nationality.

Sephardic Jews can access Portuguese nationality through naturalization, a form of derived nationality.

Descent can come from any family member in a straight line

In this case, the basis may come from any family member in the direct line (father, grandparents, great-grandparents, great-great-grandparents) or from the family relationship in the collateral line of a common parent from the Sephardic community of Portuguese origin. In short, the basis will be Sephardic ancestry.

And of course, proof of Sephardic ancestry is required

However, the fundamental element of this type of case is proving your Sephardic ancestry, which can be done through direct evidence, of a documentary nature, or through indirect evidence, such as your surname, your family language, your customs, your origins.

Requirements

You can apply for Portuguese nationality under these conditions if:

• is over 18 or emancipated according to Portuguese law
• is a descendant of Portuguese Sephardic Jews 
• belongs to a Sephardic community of Portuguese origin.

To apply for Portuguese nationality can:

• have been sentenced to imprisonment for 3 years or more for a crime punishable in Portugal
• being involved in terrorism-related activities.

Documents

• Special form
• Identification document
• Birth registration certificate
• Certificate issued by a Jewish community attesting to the tradition of belonging to a Sephardic community of Portuguese origin, materialized, namely, in the applicant's surname, family language, genealogy and family memory or, alternatively, authenticated documentary records, such as records of synagogues and Jewish cemeteries, as well as residence titles, property titles, wills and other proof of the applicant's family connection, through direct descent or family relationship in the collateral line of a common parent from the Sephardic community of Portuguese origin.
• Criminal record certificate from the country of birth and nationality, as well as from countries where you have resided since the age of 16
• Documents proving an effective and lasting connection to Portugal

Certificate or other supporting document

a) the ownership, transmitted mortis causa, of rights in rem in immovable property located in Portugal, other personal rights of enjoyment or shareholdings in commercial or cooperative companies based in Portugal; or

b) regular trips throughout their lives to Portugal.              

• An application written in Portuguese

All documents in a foreign language must be translated into Portuguese and legalized with an apostille or visa from the Portuguese consulate (this does not apply to documents issued by the authorities of European Union Member States).

Fee

Submitting a nationality application costs 250 euros.

It is possible for the ascendants (parents or grandparents) of an original Portuguese citizen, as long as the ascendants have been legally or illegally resident in Portugal for at least 5 years and the ancestry has been established since the moment the Portuguese citizen was born. 

Requirements

- Over 18 years old

- The person is part of a community that functions as a local Portuguese community located abroad, where most of its members are recognized and proven to be of Portuguese descent, and where most of its members practice and disseminate values and traditions of Portuguese culture from certain regions of the country.

- No prison sentence of 3 years or more, with final and unappealable judgment, for a crime punishable under Portuguese law

- There is no danger or threat to national security or defense by engaging in activities related to the practice of terrorism

Documents

- Special form

- Identification document

- Birth registration certificate

- Birth registration certificates of family members with Portuguese nationality

- Documents proving your connection to the Portuguese community

- Criminal record certificate from the country of birth and nationality, as well as from countries where you have resided since the age of 16

All documents in a foreign language must be translated into Portuguese and legalized with an apostille or visa from the Portuguese consulate (this does not apply to documents issued by the authorities of European Union Member States).

Fee

Submitting a nationality application costs 250 euros.