Nationality / Citizenship
The Portuguese nationality is the link between a citizen and the Portuguese nation. Becoming a Portuguese national is a way many people reconnect with their ancestry, and discover family traditions or facilitate business prospects that can present different career options.
Both the attribution and the acquisition of the Portuguese nationality depend essentially on the registration of the birth certificate on the Portuguese Civil Registry.
The Portuguese nationality act (revised updated version) allows the acquisition of Portuguese nationality by citizens who already have one or more nationalities. It equally allows Portuguese nationals, to acquire one or more nationalities. If a citizen has various nationalities, and one of them is Portuguese nationality, only that will matter with regards to the Portuguese law.
Who is entitled to have Portuguese nationality?
- Attribution of nationality on the grounds of original nationality.
- Acquisition of nationality by will.
- Acquisition of nationality by adoption.
- Acquisition of nationality by naturalisation.
The attribution of nationality goes back to the date of birth whilst voluntary acquisition or adoption, or even naturalisation, produce effect only after the act of registration on the Portuguese Civil Registry.
- The Children of a Portuguese mother or father born in Portuguese territory.
- The Children of a Portuguese mother or father born abroad if the Portuguese parent is there serving the Portuguese state.
- The Children of a Portuguese mother or father born abroad if they have their birth registered at the Portuguese Civil Registry of if they declare that they wish to be Portuguese.
- Grandchild of a Portuguese national born abroad.
- Persons born in Portuguese territory to foreign parents, if at least one of the parents was also born in Portugal and resides here, irrespective of title at the time of birth.
- Persons born in Portuguese territory to foreign parents who are not serving their respective state, if they declare that they want to be Portuguese and provided that one of the parents has legally resided in Portugal for at least 5 years at the time of the birth.
- The children of foreign citizens born in the national territory that do not have another nationality.
The acquisition of Portuguese nationality by minors or disabled children:
- Minors or disabled children one of whose parents acquires Portuguese nationality may also acquire it by means of declaration.
The acquisition of Portuguese nationality by marriage or de facto union with a Portuguese national:
- A foreigner married to a Portuguese national before the vigency of the current nationality law.
- Foreigners married to Portuguese nationals for more than 3 years.
- Foreigners who live in a de facto union with a Portuguese national for more than 3 years.
The acquisition of Portuguese nationality after a hainment of legal capacity:
- Persons who have lost Portuguese nationality as a result of a declaration made during their minority or legal disability, may acquire it, when of full legal age and capacity, by means of a declaration before the vigency of the current nationality law.
- Foreigners married to Portuguese nationals for more than 3 years.
- Foreigners who live in a de facto union with a Portuguese national for more than 3 years.
The acquisition of Portuguese nationality by adoption:
- A child fully adopted by a Portuguese national acquires Portuguese nationality.
The acquisition of Portuguese nationality by naturalisation:
- Foreigners residing in Portugal for over 5 years.
- Minor children of foreign residents in Portugal for over 5 years.
- Those who had Portuguese nationality and who, having lost it, never acquired another nationality.
- Those born in Portuguese territory, to foreign parents, if they have remained habitually in Portugal for 5 years prior to their application.
- Those who are considered to be Portuguese descendants.
- Those who are members of communities of Portuguese ancestry.
- To foreigners who have rendered or are called to render relevant services to the Portuguese state or the national community.
- Descendants of Portuguese citizens residing in Portugal for over 5 years.
- Descendants of Portuguese Sephardic Jews.
Marriage Transcription
- Marriage certificate issued by the authorities of the country where the marriage had taken place.
- Full narrative birth certificate of the partner issued no less than 6 months.
- A valid identity document for each person.
- All documents issued abroad will need to be Apostilled, translated, and certified.
Revision of Foreign court decisions
- Divorce settlement. (Consensual or Litigious) ruled by notary or tribunal.
- Public deeds, by public notary declaring a de facto union.
- Adoption sentence.
- Regulation of parental responsibilities.