What are the advantages of having Portuguese citizenship?

As we've said, having Portuguese citizenship can make life much easier for those who decide to move to Portugal. Among the many advantages of being a Portuguese citizen, the main ones are:

1. Living as a European citizen

By having Portuguese citizenship, you can live, work and study in Portugal. What's more, as Portugal is a member of the European Union (EU), you automatically become a European citizen. This means that you can travel, live, work and study throughout the EU. You will, for example, be entitled to pay the same taxes, take part in public tenders, use public healthcare and move freely between the countries of the European bloc with just your citizen's card.

What's more, you'll be able to enjoy the quality of life in the country, which is known for its safety, low cost of living and quality public services (such as health and education).

And if you want to live in another European country with Portuguese citizenship, all you need to do is apply for your CRE - European Registration Certificate. The CRE is an official document that formalizes the right of residence of EU/EEA/Swiss citizens in European countries other than the one of which they are a national.

2. Dealing with less bureaucracy

Those who are Portuguese citizens will have to deal with less bureaucracy than immigrants who have a residence permit, for example.

People living in Portugal with a residence permit need to renew it every 1, 2 or 3 years, depending on the type of permit they have. Those who are nationals no longer have to go through this procedure or deal with SEF (Portugal's immigration service).

3. Visa-free travel to 188 countries

Portuguese citizens enjoy the advantage of visa-free travel to 188 different countries. That's why the Portuguese passport ranks 4th among the most powerful in the world, and has been rising in this ranking over the years.

This includes trips to the United States, something much desired by Brazilian citizens, who have to pay a lot of money and undergo interviews to get a visa to visit the country.

4. Being able to pass on nationality to descendants

Another advantage of having Portuguese citizenship is that you have the right to pass it on to your children, as an inheritance. If you already have children or intend to have children, they will also have the right to citizenship. (Derivative citizenship can only be passed on to children who are minors. For more details here.)

5. Paying lower fees to study at university in Portugal

One of the advantages of Portuguese citizenship is the possibility of paying lower fees to study in Portugal. If you are a student with Portuguese citizenship, you are entitled to pay the same tuition fees as Portuguese students.

This is a great advantage for those wishing to get a higher education in Portugal, as the costs are significantly lower. To give you an idea, at the Faculty of Letters of the University of Porto (FLUP), a degree course costs 697€ for national students, compared to 1925€ for students from the CPLP (Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries), which includes Brazilian students. For international students, coming from countries that don't have Portuguese as an official language, the cost is higher: 3500€
Therefore, Portuguese citizenship can open doors to a more affordable education in Portugal.

6. access to free basic education

In Portugal, education is compulsory from the age of 6 to 18 (from 1st to 12th grade). Public schools are free and many of them are ranked among the best institutions in the country. Only 20% of Portuguese students are enrolled in private schools, according to the report Educação em Números. Having Portuguese citizenship allows you to access these services..

7. Having access to good health services

Another advantage of Portuguese citizenship is access to high-quality public services at affordable prices, public health being a notable example.

Portugal's National Health System (SNS) is efficient and can be your only source of health care if you wish, eliminating the need for private health insurance. Many SNS services are free, while others have very affordable costs. For example, exams requested by the doctor at the health center are free.

In addition, most prescription drugs are subsidized by the government. In some cases, the co-payment can cover up to 90% of the cost of the medicine. Therefore, Portuguese citizenship can be a gateway to affordable, quality healthcare in Portugal.

8. Having political rights in Portugal

You have the right to vote and run for public office in Portugal and in your country of residence within the EU.

Consular protection

As a Portuguese citizen, you have the right to receive consular assistance from the Portuguese Embassy or Consulates anywhere in the world. This includes emergency situations, accidents, international crises and detentions abroad, ensuring that you receive fair treatment in accordance with local laws, as well as offering legal advice.

In addition, Portugal's consulates can help renew passports, provide legal and medical advice and even help establish contact with family members in cases of loss of communication.

How to acquire Portuguese citizenship

A Portuguese citizenship can be obtained in several ways, according to the Nationality Law, as listed below:

By descent: anyone who is descended from a Portuguese citizen is eligible. If you are the son or grandson of a Portuguese citizen, you can obtain Portuguese citizenship directly. If you are a great-grandchild, you can still get it, as long as your predecessors apply for it first;
By length of residence: can be granted to anyone who has lived legally in Portugal for at least 5 years. In this case it is citizenship by naturalization (derivative);
Through marriage or de facto union: anyone who is married to or lives in a de facto union with a Portuguese citizen (for at least 3 years) can apply for citizenship;
Child of immigrants born in Portugal: provided that the child's parents have a residence permit or have lived in the country for at least 1 year, even without the title;
By adoption: this is valid for people who were adopted by a Portuguese citizen before they turned 18 and before October 8, 1981;
Being a descended from Sephardic Jewsin this case, it is necessary to prove Sephardic origin by means of a certificate issued by the Jewish Community (in Porto or Lisbon);
Through investment in Portugal (Golden Visa/ Golden Visa): citizens who have an investor's visa and maintain the investment for 5 years are also entitled to apply for citizenship.

Is it worth having Portuguese citizenship?

Absolutely! Obtaining Portuguese citizenship not only expands the frontiers of available opportunities, but also offers a number of valuable protections. If you believe that you may be entitled to Portuguese citizenship (or wish to find out), we suggest that you carry out the entire process with the support of a specialized consultancy, such as Via Portugal. Contact our consultants by clicking here.