The Portuguese Law sets out two types of citizenship: citizenship by origin and acquired citizenship.
The first one applies to those who were born with the right to Portuguese citizenship, such as children and grandchildren of Portuguese citizens, as well as, in some circumstances, individuals born in Portugal; the second one applies to those who acquired this right throughout their lives, by way of marriage, adoption or naturalisation. In this article, we will explain in greater detail which options exist and clarify some aspects of the citizenship application process.
Who is considered a Portuguese citizen by origin?
1.1 Children of Portuguese citizens:
The child of a Portuguese citizen is a Portuguese citizen by origin and can obtain citizenship by a declaration of will or by registering their birth at the Portuguese Civil Registry or, when abroad, the Portuguese consulate.
1.2 Grandchildren of Portuguese citizens:
Grandchildren of a Portuguese citizen who were born abroad can obtain citizenship if they meet the following criteria:
- At least one of their grandparents is a Portuguese citizen and has not lost his/her Portuguese nationality; and
- The applicant can demonstrate ties of effective connection to the Portuguese community, such as basic knowledge of the Portuguese language.
1.3 Individuals born in Portuguese territory:
In some cases, individuals born in Portuguese territory can become Portuguese citizens, namely if their parents were effectively residing in Portugal at the time of birth, provided that they meet all the legal criteria.
Ways of acquiring Portuguese citizenship
2.1 Portuguese citizenship by marriage or civil partnership:
A foreign citizen married to or in a civil partnership with a Portuguese citizen for more than three years can obtain Portuguese citizenship. In this case, the foreign citizen will need to demonstrate ties of effective connection to the Portuguese community. The process becomes easier for couples who have been together for more than six years or have common children with Portuguese nationality.
2.2 Portuguese citizenship by adoption:
The adopted child of a Portuguese citizen can acquire Portuguese nationality.
2.3 Portuguese citizenship by naturalisation:
In general terms, foreign citizens residing in Portugal can obtain citizenship by naturalisation, provided that they legally reside in Portugal for at least five years, demonstrate proof of basic knowledge of the Portuguese language, and have not been convicted of crimes nor can be considered a threat or menace to national defence or to national security.
How long does the citizenship application take?
The citizenship application is a bureaucratic process that can take, on average, from a couple of months up to three years to be concluded, depending on the type of request and documentation required, as well as the workload of the Civil Registry services.
Where is the citizenship application submitted?
If made in person, the citizenship application is either submitted before the Portuguese Civil Registry or, when abroad, the Portuguese consulate. A lawyer representing the applicant can submit the process online through a special platform for the purpose.
What are the costs involved in the process?
The government fees are €175,00 for citizenship by origin applications and €250,00 for acquisition of citizenship applications. Depending on the documentation required, there may be more costs involved, namely, for issuing, legalising and translating foreign documents.
If you reside in Portugal or have family bonds with Portuguese citizens and would like to know if you are entitled to Portuguese citizenship, we recommend seeking legal advice from an Immigration Lawyer.
Teresa Patrício & Associados, Sociedade de Advogados SP, RL
Lisbon: Avenida Almirante Gago Coutinho, n.º 96, 1700-031 Lisboa
Algarve: Urbanização da Boa Entrada, Rua Natália Correia, n.º 2, Loja A, Edifício Atlântico Plaza, 8100-724 Loulé
Tel.: +351 217 981 030 (Lisbon) or +351 289 143 189 (Algarve)
E-mail: info@tpalaw.pt
Website: www.tpalaw.pt
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