Portuguese Nationality General Program
As you know, beside the special Portuguese Nationality programs for descendents of Sephardic Jews or citizens of the former colonies, there is the Portuguese Nationality Program on a permanent basis.
However, if you are not in one of those groups, you may apply through the regular Portuguese Nationality Program, if you fill any of these requirements:
- Adoption by Portuguese Citizens;
- Marriage or co-habitation;
- Minor or incapacitated, whose mother or father has acquired Portuguese nationality after his/her birth;
- Children of one or two Portuguese parents, born abroad, who register their birth in the Portuguese Civil registry, or declare that they want to be Portuguese;
- Individuals born abroad with at least one ascendant of Portuguese nationality up to the second degree in straight line, who has not lost that nationality;
- Have been legally resident in Portugal for at least 5 years;
- Minors, born in Portuguese territory, children of foreign citizens;
- Individuals who have had Portuguese nationality and who, having lost it, have never acquired another nationality;
- Children of foreigners who have usually stayed here in the 10 years immediately prior to the request;
- Born in Portugal and having no other Nationality;
- Children – born in Portugal – of foreign parents.
Some of the common requirements that are common to almost every situation are:
- Have sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language;
- Have not been convicted – res judicata – of a crime punishable under Portuguese Law, with imprisonment for a maximum equal to 3 years or more;
- Evidences of effective connection to the Portuguese Community;
- Not have carried out public administrative duties of a non-technical nature in the service of a Foreign State;
- Not to have served voluntary military service in a Foreign State;
- There is no danger or threat to national security or defense by involvement in activities related to terrorism.
If you need more information about the Portuguese Nationality Program, feel free to contact us.
Portuguese Nationality For Former Colonies Citizens
Citizens of the Portuguese Former colonies are entitled to the Portuguese Nationality if they fit some of the following requirements:
Angola
- Born in Angola until 11th November 1975;
- Descendants up to the third degree of the above mentioned;
- Be married to a Portuguese citizen whose citizenship is linked to this former colony.
Cape Verde
- Born in Cape Verde until 5th July 1975;
- Descendants up to the third degree of the above mentioned;
- Be married to a Portuguese citizen whose citizenship is linked to this former colony.
East Timor
- Born in East Timor until 25th April 1976 or between 26th April 1976 and 20th May 2002 children of a Portuguese father or mother or after 20th May 2002 children of a Portuguese father or mother has the right to become Portuguese;
- Descendants up to the third degree of the above mentioned;
- Be married to a Portuguese citizen whose citizenship is linked to this former colony.
Goa, Daman, Diu, Dadrá and Nagar-Aveli
- Born in those areas until 3rd June 1975;
- Descendants up to the third degree of the above mentioned;
- Be married to a Portuguese citizen whose citizenship is linked to these former colonies.
Guinea-Bissau
- Born in Guinea Bissau until 25th June 1975;
- Descendants up to the third degree of the above mentioned;
- Be married to a Portuguese citizen whose citizenship is linked to this former colony.
Macao
- Born in Macao and its dependencies until 21st November 1981;
- Born in Macao between 21st November 1981 and 20th December 1999, children of a Portuguese father or mother;
- Descendants up to the third degree of the above mentioned;
- Be married to a Portuguese citizen whose citizenship is linked to this former colony.
Mozambique
- Born in Mozambique until 25th June 1975;
- Descendants up to the third degree of the above mentioned;
- Be married to a Portuguese citizen whose citizenship is linked to this former colony.
Sao Tome and Principe
- Born in São Tomé and Príncipe until 12th July 1975;
- Descendants up to the third degree of the above mentioned;
- Be married to a Portuguese citizen whose citizenship is linked to this former colony.
If you think you qualify to the Portuguese Nationality, contact us.