If you are considering applying for Portuguese nationality, this guide will help you understand the eligibility criteria and the steps involved.
Since COVID-19, services for nationality requests have not only had extremely extended deadlines but have also had the positive addition of online submission, which aims to reduce the long lead times. However, only an authorized lawyer can submit it on your behalf. This is part of our service. Below is the latest messaging from the Central Registry that coordinates the nationality requests.
Citizenship by Investment, or the “Golden Visa,” is one of the most popular routes to Portuguese nationality. You can apply for nationality after holding your investment for 5+ years and meeting other annual requirements. To know more about the requirements and investment options, visit our investment partner site: www.emb-investment.com.
One of the most straightforward ways to obtain a Portuguese Passport is through your parents or grandparents. This is called by descent, and it’s possible for people where at least one parent or grandparent was born in Portugal.
Passport by marriage is a route that allows one to become a citizen based on marriage to a Portuguese citizen. This route is only available if you have been married to your spouse for at least 3 years and your marriage is registered in the Portuguese system (IRN).
If not eligible under Portugal’s Nationality Law by birth or descent, then you may be able to apply for citizenship through naturalization. To qualify for this route, you must be able to prove that you have been living legally and uninterruptedly in Portugal for at least five years before applying. You must also demonstrate proficiency or knowledge in the language and knowledge of culture. To prove your language proficiency, you must pass a language exam at the CIPLE A2 level. The exam tests your ability to use basic vocabulary and grammar structures. The new citizenship law of 2024 allows the total counted time to be started from the date of submission of the residency request at year zero instead of waiting for the final residence card. (Ex: Application date at the Consulate March 20, 2020, received your residency card December 20th, 2020, you will apply after March 20, 2025). This allows savings on the total time spent to get the passport.
Portugal’s Citizenship law by birth allows people born within the territory, or those born outside of Portugal but have at least one parent born in Portugal, to apply. If you were born here, you are automatically a national by birth. If you were born outside of Portugal but one of the parents was born here, then you are eligible for Citizenship by birth. If you are born in Portugal with two foreign parents, and they have been legal residents for one year, then you are also eligible for Citizenship by birth.
Persons born in Portugal but are residents of one of the former Portuguese colonies can retain Portuguese citizenship.
Persons born in the former Portuguese colonial territories but who have resided in Portugal for a long time can retain citizenship.
Some African territories were formerly under the colonial rule of Portugal before they gained their independence. These countries are Mozambique, Angola, Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde, and Sao Tome and Principe. Upon independence from Portugal, many Africans lost their Portuguese nationality.
However, some Africans were able to preserve their citizenship. These people were:
Spouses and children of the Portuguese citizens mentioned above can acquire Portuguese citizenship as long as the citizens have their records in the Portugal Civil Registry.
Macao was under Portuguese administration until December 20, 1999, when it became the Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China. People born in Macau from 21 November 1981 to 19 December 1999 were Portuguese citizens.
Since China does not allow dual citizenship, acquiring Portuguese citizenship was restricted when it took over on December 20, 1999. Only citizens with valid Portuguese passports after December 20 could retain Portuguese citizenship.
The following are entitled to Portuguese citizenship:
Mecanese who wish to obtain Portuguese citizenship must meet the requirements above. They must have their birth records in the Portuguese civil registry.
Citizens born in Goa, Damiao, Diu, Dadrá, and Nagar-Haveli of India before or on December 20, 1961, are recognized as Portuguese under the Portuguese nationality law. These territories are called India-Portuguese.
Also, citizens born in these territories before 3 June 1975 were Portuguese due to not residing in any former colony.
Persons in these criteria or their children must have their birth records in Portugal Civil Registry. Only then can their spouses and children obtain Portuguese nationality.
Before its independence from Portugal, people born in Timor were entitled to Portuguese nationality. After its independence, only children of Portuguese parents born in Timor-Leste were eligible to acquire Portuguese nationality.
Persons in these criteria or their children must have their birth records in Portugal Civil Registry. Only then can their spouses and children obtain Portuguese nationality.
If you registered your residency in Portugal before the Brexit deadline in 2020, you’re eligible for an exciting opportunity in 2025. Not only can you secure a Portuguese residency card, but you can also apply for Portuguese nationality. This opportunity isn’t limited to UK Brexit applicants—European citizens holding a CRUE (EU Residency Certificate) with over 5 years of registration are also eligible.
A nationality application follows the following steps:
For adults, it currently takes between 24 and 29 months, from the submission of the nationality application to the final registration of nationality, for applications that immediately present all the necessary documents and the application correctly completed.
Approximately 9 to 11 months of preparation take place between the submission of the request and the beginning of the analysis, the analysis and the respective steps normally take 9 to 12 months and the decision and final registration occur 6 to 8 months after finalizing the analysis. These deadlines will be longer if the process is not complete and correct from the beginning and it is necessary to request additional documentation.
Requests from minors, children of a Portuguese father or Portuguese mother and declared directly by the parents, are treated with priority, so the analysis and decision time can last between 2 and 4 months.
Have questions? Feel free to book a consultation or send us an email at [email protected].
Prices are exclusive of VAT (23%). Exemptions are made when invoicing a foreign company.
Prices do not include any fees for the obtainment of required documents (i.e. records, notaries, etc.) or couriers.
Payment terms are 100% for services €2,000 or below 50% payment to begin and 50% at the end of services for values above €2,000.
*Prices do not include state fees, which are currently €350 at the time of submittal, and €150 upon approval for emission of ID. Prices are subject to change as the government updates them from year to year.
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