Almost 50,000 foreigners acquired Portuguese nationality in 2024, but only 15,000 of them live in Portugal, according to the latest data from INE statistics institute.
This stark fact suggests all kinds of conclusions, but the next revelation is something of a ‘surprise’: the new nationality taking ‘top place on the podium’ is Israeli. It is not Bangladeshi/ Pakistani/ Indian as some politicians seem to be suggesting.
Says SIC today, “just as in 2023, almost 18,000 Israelis succeeded in holding a Portuguese citizen’s card”.
The number of foreigners generally acquiring nationality has increased by 13% in relation to 2023, but “the majority of these new Portuguese citizens live outside the country”.
This is particularly relevant to Israelis.
After Israel, Brazil is the second country where most citizens seek Portuguese nationality.
Brazil is followed, says SIC, by Cape Verde, Angola and Guinea.
Indians, Bangladeshis, Nepalese and others are seemingly well down the list.
The huge influx nonetheless of ‘new citizens’ is due to plummet, says SIC, particularly in the case of Israelis, due to the new Nationality Law, already approved in parliament but still awaiting promulgation by President Marcelo.
In the law, the notorious Sephardic Jew amnesty – now overshadowed by suspicions of corruption – is finally due to be extinguished, SIC adds – stressing that as a result of the delay (between political intentions and presidential promulgation) there is a veritable race against the clock, with over half a million requests for nationality still said to be pending.
Source: SIC Notícias
