What if you want to know how to get Portuguese citizenship through parents? The Portuguese passport is presently ranked 5th place on the Guide Passport Index. It offers visa-free access to over 191 countries making it the most desirable in the world.
Portugal also offers a high quality of living, and great tax benefits among other reasons to move to the country. It’s also one of the most gorgeous European countries with a great mix of climatic and atmospheric conditions. So, who wouldn’t want to move there, especially if you can go with your parents? This article offers insights on how to get Portuguese citizenship through parents.
How to get Portuguese citizenship through parents
Typically, there are three ways you can get Portuguese citizenship through parents – by descent or birth. But then that leads to diverse situations with different levels of conditions and documents necessary for processing your nationality.
Gaining Portuguese citizenship by descent
Citizenship by descent means claiming citizenship in Portugal based on your ancestry. It typically means having one or two of your parents from Portugal. Your place of birth here is irrelevant.
Beyond your Portuguese parents, you can even get accepted if you have a grandparent who is a Portuguese citizen and registered in the Portuguese civil registry. In the case of your grandparents (second-degree relatives) you’re eligible provided they didn’t lose their citizenship. Citizenship by descent is the most straightforward and (cost-effective).
That said, the burden of proof is on you. You need to track and secure all information to prove that decent. You’ll need to demonstrate marriage certificates, birth certificates, and other documents that the authorities require. If you’re going through your grandparents you also need to show more ties to the country such as A2 knowledge of the Portuguese language.
How to apply for Portuguese citizenship by descent
By descent, you have to apply for Portuguese nationality through your Portuguese parent (first-degree relative) at the Portuguese Consulate of your present residency. So you don’t have to be in Portugal to carry out your application.
Again, if you want to obtain your Portuguese citizenship via a Portuguese ascendant of second degree like a grandparent, you’ll need to have also studied the language. Hence, you must demonstrate knowledge of the Portuguese language, open a Portuguese bank account, and apply for a tax ID. Do also note that the grandparent route does not work if you’re considering using your great-grandparents.
Eligibility for Citizenship by Descent:
Basic requirements via parents:
- At least one parent is a Portuguese citizen.
- The parent was Portuguese at the time of the applicant’s birth.
- Declare that you want to acquire Portuguese nationality.
- No minimum residency requirement for applicants.
Requirements via grandparents:
- At least one grandparent is Portuguese
- Demonstrate knowledge of Portuguese language
- Not being a threat to national security
- Not being convicted for three or more years of a crime is punishable under Portuguese law.
- Open a bank account and tax ID
If you are concerned about demonstrating knowledge of the Portuguese language, we recommend taking a certified exam after attending a Portuguese-speaking school.
Documents required to apply for Portuguese citizenship through parents or grandparents
- Application form signed in the presence of the Portuguese consulate official
- Copy of your passport or other valid picture ID
- Certified copy of your birth certificate
- Any relevant marriage certificate
- Copy of birth certificate of both parents
- Declaration of acquisition of Portuguese nationality if you are of legal age o if you’re a minor, the declaration should be done in front of your parents.
- Birth certificate of the Portuguese grandparent – if applicable
- Birth certificate of the parent who is the child of the Portuguese grandparents – if applicable
- Document proving you speak Portuguese – if applicable
- Criminal record certificate
You can make your application online if you’re a newborn up to 1 year of age or have a lawyer or solicitor. Alternatively, if you’re above the age, and do not have a representative, you can submit your request in person. There are several avenues you can go through including the National Support Center for Migration integration in Lisbon or Portugal, the Nationality Desk of civil registry offices across Portugal, Records Space of the Justice and Benfica Campus, or the Portuguese consulate where you live.
Gaining Portuguese citizenship by birth
When you’re born in Portugal you can be guaranteed the right to citizenship. But it’s also mandatory that one of your parents must have been a legal resident in the country for at least one year. Alternatively, if one of your parents was born in Portugal, that can count positively in your favor.
That said there are two different sets of rules if you decide to apply for Portuguese nationality before or after becoming 18 years.
How to apply for Portuguese citizenship by birth before 18 years
Eligibility
- Must be under 18 years old
- Must have been born in Portugal
- Was a child of foreigners
- Has a mother or father that resided in Portugal for up to 5 years (with or without a residence permit or mother or father legally resides in Portugal or had attended 1 year of pre-school education, or basic, secondary, or vocational education.
- As a 16 or 17 years old had not been sentenced to 3 years in prison
Documents required
- A request to the Minister of Justice stating sex, marital status, full name, why you wish to become a citizen, nationality, parents, and more
- Documents either proving residency or your education as a minor
- No criminal record.
You can order online when you have a solicitor or representative. Otherwise, you can use the National Support Center for the Integration of Migrants in Porto and Lisbon, the Nationality Desk of civil registry offices, the Nationality Desk of the Porto Central Archive, your consulate, and many more.
How to apply for Portuguese citizenship by birth and have lived in the country for five years?
You can apply for Portuguese citizenship if you are over 18 years old, were born in Portugal, and have lived in the country for over 5 years. But you’ll need to demonstrate that you know the Portuguese language adequately.
That said the rules concerning this path keep changing and are complicated. Presently, not just being born is enough. You also need to be over 18 years old (or legally emancipated from your parents) and must have lived in Portugal for up to 5 years to apply.
Eligibility
- Have parents who are foreigners and have resided legally or not in Portugal around when you were born
- You are over 18 years old (or emancipated)
- You have lived in Portugal for the last five years
- Your knowledge of the Portugues language is sufficient
- You have not been sentenced to prison of 3 or more years for a crime punishable in Portugal
Documents you need
- Birth certificate
- A request addressed to the Ministry of Justice, written in Portugal, stating why you want to be a citizen, your biodata, naturalness, nationality, address, countries you’ve traveled to after the age of 16, profession, and Portuguese residency credentials.
- Documents proving you’ve resided in Portugal for over 5 years
- Documents proving you know the Portuguese language adequately.
- A document certifying your criminal record
You can apply for this online if you have a representative such as a solicitor or lawyer. Alternatively, you apply in person National Support Center for the Integration of Migrants in Porto and Lisbon, the Nationality Desk of civil registry offices, the Nationality Desk of the Porto Central Archive, the central registry office, your consulate, and many more.
How to apply for Portuguese citizenship by birth under 18 years old and parents did not have nationality at the time of birth
Eligibility
- Mother or father acquired Portuguese nationality after birth
- You want to declare to acquire Portuguese nationality.
- Has demonstrated ties to the Portuguese community either by residing legally for 5 years or can prove that you’re studying in Portugal if under 18 years old
- Again you must have no criminal records
- You must not have completed compulsory military service in another country.
Documents needed
- Birth certificate of mother or father who acquired Portuguese nationality
- Your birth certificate
- Proof of foreign nationality and certified translation to Portuguese
- Criminal record
- A document proving non-compulsory military service to another country
- A document proving the type of public service you’ve given to another country\
- The declaration for the acquisition of the Portuguese nationality
- Document proving effective connections to Portugal such as vaccination record or school you attend in Portugal
You can order online through a lawyer or solicitor. Alternatively, if you’re above the age, and do not have a representative, you can submit your request in person. There are several avenues you can go through including the National Support Center for Migration integration in Lisbon or Portugal, the Nationality Desk of civil registry offices across Portugal, Records Space of the Justice and Benfica Campus, or the Portuguese consulate where you live. In this case, the application isn’t free. It costs 200 euros which you can pay by check, bank or card.
How to apply for Portuguese Golden visa holders
Another less-known route on how to get Portuguese citizenship through parents is the Golden visa route. If you are born to children of Portuguese Golden visa holders then you can apply. However, the criteria is that the Golden visa holder has been a resident for at least one year
- If the birth happened in Portugal, you may apply immediately, provided the parent has been there for at least one year. Alternatively, if the birth happened outside of Portugal, you may apply via the Portuguese consulate in your country of birth.
The eligibility criteria, documents, and application process are the same for applying before becoming 18 years old.
Gaining Portuguese citizenship by adoption
One more less-talked-about route on how to get Portuguese citizenship through parents is the adoption route. If you are adopted by Portuguese parents, then you can become a Portuguese citizen. But you also have to be under the age of 18 for that to happen. Again there are two different paths through adoption. Under Portuguese law, you have two different sets of application processes if you were adopted before October 8, 1981, or after that date.
How to apply if you were adopted by Portuguese parents before October 8, 1981.
As said earlier, you can apply to be a Portuguese citizen if you were adopted by Portuguese parents before October 8, 1981. You also need a declaration to acquire Portuguese nationally and a court ruling that your adoption expired before October 8, 1981.
You can make your application online through a lawyer or solicitor. Alternatively, if you’re above the age, and do not have a representative, you can submit your request in person. There are several avenues you can go through including the National Support Center for Migration integration in Lisbon or Portugal, the Nationality Desk of civil registry offices across Portugal, Records Space of the Justice and Benfica Campus, or the Portuguese consulate where you live.
Eligibility
- Must have been adopted before October 8, 1981
- Must have been adopted before you were 18 years old
- Declaration to acquire Portuguese nationality
- The period for appealing the ruling of the court that declared the adoption ended before October 8, 1981.
Document required
- Legal Birth certificate
- The certificate of the court decision authorizing the adoption
- Birth certificate of the Portuguese person who adopted you
This application for Portuguese nationality costs 250 euros. You can make your application online through a lawyer or solicitor. Alternatively, if you’re above the age, and do not have a representative, you can submit your request in person. There are several avenues you can go through including the National Support Center for Migration integration in Lisbon or Portugal, the Nationality Desk of civil registry offices across Portugal, Records Space of the Justice and Benfica Campus, or the Portuguese consulate where you live. That said, unlike other forms of Portuguese citizenship through parents, you’ll pay 250 euros. You can make payment using a bank card where you place the order, or by check.
How to apply for Portuguese citizenship if the adoption took place after October 8, 1981
If you are adopted before you turn 18 years old and after October 8, 1981, then two measures might happen. If you had been born in Portugal, then you only need the certificate of the court’s decision. Alternatively, if you were born outside Portugal, you need the following documents:
- Certificate of the court’s decision
- Birth certificate of the Portuguese person who adopted you.
You can make your application online through a lawyer or solicitor. Alternatively, if you’re above the age, and do not have a representative, you can submit your request in person. There are several avenues you can go through including the National Support Center for Migration integration in Lisbon or Portugal, the Nationality Desk of civil registry offices across Portugal, Records Space of the Justice and Benfica Campus, or the Portuguese consulate where you live.
Getting the Portuguese citizenship as Sephardic Jews
Sephardic Jewish ancestry is also another route that links to ancestry. In April 2013, Portugal amended its law on Nationality to allow descendants of Sephardic Jews expelled to claim Portuguese citizenship on the proviso that they “belong to the Sephardic community of Portuguese origin with ties to Portugal.
The idea is to right a wrong because, during the Inquisition period, thousands of Jews fled the Iberian Peninsula. So you’ll need to demonstrate your Sephardic Jewish ancestry through Sephardic surnames, evidence of the Ladino language being used in your family or cemetery records as well as other documents.
How to apply to get Portuguese citizen through the Portuguese Jewish community
Once you gather a certificate from a Sephardic community recognized under Portuguese law confirming that you are a descendant of Portuguese Sephardic Jews and a certified document from your Jewish community, you can begin your application.
Nevertheless, since March 2022, you’ll also have to prove that your personal home, professional base (company), or that you’ve been traveling extensively to Portugal as well. In 2024, the rules might also change such as showing that you’ve lived in Portugal fo at least three years.
To apply, you can do so at the consulate in your residency.
Documents required
- Authenticated photocopy of passport
- Birth certificate
- Signed application form
- A certificate issued by a Jewish community in Portugal
- Documents that prove you have lasting connections with Portugal such as ownership or transmitted properties, shareholdings, or regular trips to the country
- An application written in Portuguese stating your full name, date of birth, sex, marital status, intention, description of your Sephardic community ties and more
You can apply online if you have a solicitor or lawyer. Alternatively, you can apply in person, at a Portuguese consulate, Nationality Desk of the civil registry offices, National Support Center for Migrant Integration, among other places. This application costs $250.
Application Processing time
Depending on your unique circumstances, you won’t pay any application fees. But for most applications that require payment, the fees don’t go above 250 euros. That said, you may also have to pay for translating and authenticating documents like criminal records and birth certificates. If your application is delivered via mail, you also have to make provisions for postage and handling fees. That said, your citizenship application might take anywhere from six to twelve months.
For citizens of countries outside the European Union, the application process can take from a few months to two years. However, once it’s been approved, you will receive a notification confirming your Portuguese citizenship.
Tips to make your application process smooth and hassle-free
No matter your circumstances and origin, here are tips that can make your application process more efficient.
- Hire a lawyer or immigration specialist to work you through the process. With their help, you can even start your application online
- Double-check all documents to ensure they are accurate and complete
- As a rule of thumb, you need certified translations of any documents that aren’t in Portuguese
- Understand the residency requirements for your specific situation. You should also note that these requirements change regularly. Hence, the best way to get the most recent information is by contacting the consulate offices
- Be prepared that the processing time can be lengthy.
- Portugal also allows dual citizenship. So you don’t have to renounce your present nationality.
Conclusion
Obtaining Portuguese citizenship through your parents opens a gateway to various opportunities, from visa-free travel to a high quality of life and more. Now you know how to get Portuguese citizenship through parents using descent, birth, adoption and even Sephardic Jewish ancestry. Always stay updated on the specific criteria that fits your needs. You should also seek professional guidance from a lawyer or immigration specialist who can help.
