From the freedom to live and work in Portugal to the opportunity to travel freely inside the European Union, obtaining Portuguese citizenship has several advantages. In this detailed guide, we explore the various ways through which you can obtain Portuguese citizenship – discussing the application process, the language test, exceptional cases, how to get a Portuguese passport, dual nationality, and the advantages of becoming a Portuguese citizen.
The attribution of Portuguese nationality may depend on the person’s place of birth, how many years they have lived in Portugal, the nationality of their family members or spouse, and their relationship with the Portuguese community, among other factors. It’s important to note that the process is multifaceted and involves various phases, like a language test (in some cases). Let’s delve into these intricacies to ensure you’re well-prepared.
You can apply for Portuguese nationality if you have been married or united to a Portuguese national for more than three years on the date of the application. Depending on your situation, you may need to present certain documents, proving your connection to the Portuguese community. Some required documentation:
Portuguese nationality applications can be submitted online (with a lawyer or solicitor representing you) or in person for those married to or united with a Portuguese citizen. It has an associated fee of 250€.
You can acquire Portuguese nationality under these conditions if:
If this applies to you, you can apply to become a Portuguese citizen through residence on the web (lawyer or solicitor representing you) or in person. It costs 250€ as well.
In this case, the applicant must invest in the country through one of the investment routes permitted by the Golden Visa program:
Any legal adult with a clean criminal record who is not an EU, EEA, or Switzerland citizen can apply for the Golden Visa. Here is an overview of the requirements:
Anyone applying for the Golden Visa must spend at least seven days in the country in the first year and 14 days in the subsequent years.
You can apply for Portuguese nationality if you were born in Portugal and/or:
If you meet these conditions, you can apply for Portuguese nationality free of charge, naturally.
Children under 18 legally adopted by a Portuguese citizen from abroad can petition for citizenship immediately. It will be necessary for you to exhibit a degree of affiliation with the Portuguese community. For instance, this could involve enrollment in Portuguese education or proficiency in Portuguese. The application is comparable to those of other categories. You must submit identification, adoption documents, and evidence of your relationship to Portugal (usually taken care of by the parents, right away). The application is free, as long as the adoption occurred after October 8, 1981.
To qualify, you must satisfy at least one of the following criteria:
The application is free if you are applying through descent (i.e., you have Portuguese parents or ancestors). The cost is 250€ if you register through birth (born in Portugal). Suppose you are under the age of 18 or severely disabled and are applying because a parent became a Portuguese national after your birth. In that case, you will be required to pay 200€.
Here we need to consider if:
Under exceptional circumstances, specific groups can petition for Portuguese citizenship on a fast track:
If you’re a proven descendant of the Portuguese Sephardic Jews who were expelled from Portugal and Spain in the fifteenth century, you can be granted Portuguese citizenship rather easily. In order to be approved, you must submit proof of:
Besides the typical documents we have mentioned before (birth certificate, criminal record, etc), you need to present a Jewish community certificate with religious-related status in Portugal, which proves “lineage of Portuguese origin, through surname, family language, genealogy, and family memory”. If you can’t get this certificate, you can also resort to documentary records, such as records of synagogues and Jewish cemeteries, as well as residence permits, property deeds, wills and other documents that prove your family relations and your Portuguese Sephardic roots.
The Portuguese citizenship language test is a requirement for anyone applying for citizenship, and its purpose is to evaluate your proficiency in Portuguese. Applicants will be asked to demonstrate their ability to understand, speak, read, and write in Portuguese at an A2 level. A certified Portuguese language test instructor conducts the test, which you must pass to proceed with the citizenship application process.
The passing score for the test is 55%. Oral comprehension is 30%, reading and writing are 40%, and oral expression is 30%. If you don’t pass the citizenship language test, don’t worry! You can retake it.
It costs 72€, which you can pay via MULTIBANCO (only in Portugal) or bank transfer.
Once you have obtained Portuguese nationality, you can apply for a Portuguese passport online or at either of the following locations:
Portugal allows dual nationality, which means it is unnecessary to renounce the previous nationality to obtain Portuguese one. This is especially beneficial for those who wish to maintain legal ties and rights in their country of origin. Nevertheless, verifying with your country of origin whether dual citizenship is also permissible is necessary. In certain instances, your home country may mandate that you relinquish your citizenship before obtaining Portuguese nationality.
Having Portuguese citizenship means, among other things, that you have the same rights as someone born in Portugal. Here are some of the advantages of obtaining Portuguese citizenship:
Costs can vary depending on the method chosen. Still, fees typically include application processing (max. 250€) and legal assistance (when you talk to a lawyer or another legal professional).
Yes, Portuguese citizenship can be lost in some specific cases, such as:
Yes, if you’re American and you acquire Portuguese nationality, you do not need to give up your American citizenship. Matter of fact, you can hold even another nationality in Portugal.
This varies from case to case and depends on if your situation is simpler or a little bit more complicated. On average, this process takes between 6 to 24 months – once all the required documents have been submitted.
Well, not exactly. However, through investment, you can obtain a Golden Visa, that after 5 years qualifies you for Portuguese nationality.
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4 Responses
Hi, I am a Portuguese citizen living in the USA, y children were both born in the USA, i would like to get Portuguese dual citizenship for them, is there any way you can help?
Hi Norberto,
Were you living in Portugal when they were born? And are they minors?
My grandmother was born in Lisbon, Portugal in 1897. She has since passed. Am eligible for Portuguese passport through her?
Just being born in Portugal is not enough to get citizenship