• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Where Can I Live Logo White

Where Can I Live

  • How to Choose
  • Explore Countries
  • Planning
    • Visa Help
    • Health Insurance Quotes
    • Removalist Quotes
    • Transfer Money Internationally
    • Learn a Language
  • Articles
  • About Us

Portugal Citizenship Full Guide >> 7 best ways to get it

Published February 9, 2021 | Last Updated November 18, 2022
Written by Alastair Johnson

Portugal citizenship comes with a huge range of benefits. Not least is the right to live and work in Portugal. Keep reading to find out how to get Portuguese citizenship – we look at 7 great ways to get a Portugal passport today.

Lady in Lisbon, Portugal who has citizenship and a passport
Table Of Contents
  1. How to get Portugal citizenship
  2. The benefits of Portuguese citizenship
  3. How to show ties to the Portuguese National Community
  4. A2 Portuguese Language Proficiency level
  5. Next steps for your Portugal citizenship

How to get Portugal citizenship

Here are 7 ways to get Portuguese citizenship and a Portuguese passport.

  1. Birth or birthright citizenship.
  2. Descent from your parents or grandparents.
  3. Portuguese Sephardic citizenship.
  4. Marriage or de facto partnership.
  5. Naturalization by living in Portugal.
  6. Citizenship by Investment.
  7. Citizens of former Portuguese territories.

1) Citizenship by birth in Portugal

Portugal’s nationality law applies some principles of Jus Sanguinis (the right of blood) and some of Jus Soli (the right of soil). What does that mean in practice?

For those born in Portuguese territory

You can apply to become a Portuguese citizen if you meet these requirements.

  • Your mother or father is a Portuguese national.
  • Even if they are not Portuguese nationals, your mother or father was born in Portugal.
  • Your mother or father legally lived in Portugal for two years before your birth. And, they declare they want to become a Portuguese citizen.
  • You do not possess another nationality.

2) Portuguese Citizenship through Parents and Grandparents

If one or both of your parents are Portuguese citizens you are eligible to become a Portuguese citizen. Where you are born impacts the process, not your rights.

  • You were born in Portuguese territory – You are automatically a Portuguese national by origin.
  • You were born in a non-Portuguese territory – You are a Portuguese nation by origin if your parents register you on the Civil Registry.

Double Descent (You have a Portuguese grandparent).

If one or both of your grandparents are citizens of Portugal, then you are eligible to become a citizen of Portugal by origin.

For those adopted by a Portuguese citizen

Any child under 18 who a Portuguese citizen adopts is eligible for Portuguese citizenship.


Looking for an immigration lawyer in Portugal you can trust?

Well, search no more! We have done the research and vetting for you!

We’ve referred loads of satisfied clients to Goncalo and his team. You can see the excellent feedback on them here.

Book a 30-minute consultation to understand your immigration plan.


3) Portugal Citizenship by Sephardic Descent

The Sephardic Jewish community was expelled from Portugal and Spain in the late 1400s. To right this wrong, Portugal offers descendants of this group naturalization as Portuguese citizens. The law made Portugal the second country after Israel to pass a Jewish Law of Return.

We have a detailed article with information on qualifications and application for Portugal Sephardic citizenship.

4) Portuguese Citizenship through Marriage / Partner

If you are in a long-term relationship with a Portuguese citizen, you may be eligible for Portuguese citizenship after just three years. Eligible relationships are:

  • Spouse in a legal marriage.
  • Living with a partner in a de facto union.

Portugal does allow gay marriage (and has done since 2010) and all requirements are identical for same-sex partners.

You do not need to move to Portugal for the qualifying time, or indeed, when you apply. However, you must show verified ties to the Portuguese community.

5) Portuguese Citizenship by Naturalization

Once you have been a legal resident of Portugal for five years, you can apply for citizenship.

Popular visa options for naturalization include:

  • D7 Passive Income Visa
  • Portugal Golden Visa (or Residency by Investment)

You can explore other Portugal visa and residency options here. Many people who retire in Portugal take up naturalization.

As part of the application, you need to pass a A2 language skills test and show you have meaningful ties to Portugal.

A view over the Algarve in Portugal.

6) Portugal’s Citizenship by Investment

Portugal does not have a direct citizenship by investment program where you can buy EU citizenship immediately.

However, it does have a Residency by Investment program, the Portugal golden visa program. You can use this residence permit to qualify for Portugal citizenship by naturalization. The program is especially popular as you don’t have to move to Portugal to retain the permit. You only need to visit for 7 – 14 days each year.

This program is often mistakenly referred to as Portugal Citizenship by Investment.

Once you have held this residence permit for five years, you can apply for Portuguese citizenship and a passport. At this time you’ll need to have passed the A2 language test.

7) Portuguese Citizenship for former Portuguese Territories

There are some circumstances where citizens of former Portuguese territories and colonies can apply for Portuguese nationality. The criteria vary by date of birth and by territory. If you were born in one of the following countries, it is worth discussing your case with a trusted immigration lawyer.

  • Former Portuguese States of India (Goa, Daman, Diu and Dadrá and Nagar-Aveli)
  • Cape Verde
  • Angola
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Mozambique
  • São Tomé and Principe
  • Macau
  • Timor-Leste

The benefits of Portuguese citizenship

Portuguese citizenship is one of the most respected in the world. Portugal is seen as a good global citizen and has very few diplomatic or international issues. This reputation means that if you are travelling as a Portuguese citizen, you’ll receive a worldwide welcome.

A beautiful set of houses in Portugal where people can get citizenship.

The powerful Portuguese passport

Portugal citizenship gives you the Portuguese passport, recognized as one of the most powerful in the world. Most passport power rankings have Portugal’s passport in the Top 10, with visa-free access to more than 180 countries and territories.

These include high-value destinations like:

  • Australia
  • European Union (EU), European Economic Area, and Switzerland.
  • Israel
  • Japan
  • New Zealand
  • United Kingdom (UK)
  • United States of America (USA)

Portugal allows Dual Nationality

Portugal allows dual and multiple citizenships. This allowance is important, as it means you can retain any citizenship and passport you had. It also means if you get another citizenship in the future, you can maintain your Portuguese nationality and Portugal passport.

You will need to understand the dual citizenship policies for those nationalities that you already hold. Some countries insist you give up citizenship when you take on a new nationality.

You can live, study, and work in the European Union

Portugal is a founding member of the European Union. As a citizen, you can work, live, and travel freely in any of the 30 European Economic Area countries. Portugal is also a SCHENGEN state, so you can enjoy border-free travel throughout this area.

You can pass your Portuguese nationality on to your children

In many cases, you can pass Portuguese nationality onto your children. Please see the citizenship by Birth section below for all the details.

How to show ties to the Portuguese National Community

You can prove your connection to Portugal in many ways. The evidence for your Portugal citizenship application will be assessed together, so the more items you cover, the more certain your ties.

Effective links to the Portuguese community could include:

  • Speaking Portuguese to C2 level.
  • Living in Portugal.
  • Own or rent a property in Portugal.
  • Portuguese tax residency, tax identification number, and social security registration.
  • Portuguese bank accounts.
  • Regular travel to Portugal.
  • Active involvement in Portuguese cultural or social organizations.
  • Portuguese friends and family.
  • Investing in Portugal or Portuguese companies.

A2 Portuguese Language Proficiency level

The Common European Framework of Reference for Language (CEFR) is the standard used by the government to assess your ties to the country.

You need to be at the A2 level:

“Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.”

There are many language testing centers and schools that can help you with this requirement.

Next steps for your Portugal citizenship

If you found a path to Portuguese citizenship and a Portugal passport, great news! Now, what next? First is to identify the full requirements of your citizenship option.

Next is to start to gather all the documentation you’ll need to present to make your case.

Our partner in Portugal, an experienced and qualified Portugal immigration lawyer will make the process simpler. They’ll be best placed to understand the law’s nuance and be on top of any changes. They’ll help you submit an application that will be approved as fast as possible. You can see all the reviews of Goncalo and his team from happy Where Can I Live clients here.

Becoming a citizen of Portugal opens up wonderful opportunities for you and your family. And, with the excellent immigration options, this is a real possibility for many people.

About Alastair Johnson

Alastair has lived in South Africa, the United Kingdom, Australia and Spain. He's travelled and worked in more than 50 countries so far. He's an owner and founder of Where Can I Live, a company created to help you share in the joy and opportunity of living abroad.

If he's not researching the latest visa, immigration, and residency opportunities he's either hiking or scuba diving.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mahendra kumar says

    February 17, 2022 at 9:39 pm

    Bom dia sir av nacisem territories Mozambique anos 1959 beira Mozambique pai mae indin pod ter nacionlidade Portugal

    Reply
  2. Beatrice Sequeira says

    April 21, 2022 at 11:56 am

    My son would like to apply for a Portuguese passport. His father and grandparents on both sides of the family were born in Goa, now part of India
    What should he do to achieve this.
    Many thanks.

    Reply
    • Alastair Johnson says

      April 25, 2022 at 6:42 pm

      Hi Beatrice. Please book a consultation with our partner Portugal Immigration Law firm – they’ll be able to help your son decide if he has a reasonable case and how to proceed. All the best, Alastair

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Posts

Smiling girl with Italian Citizenship

Italian citizenship >> Complete 2022 Guide + How to

UK Parliament representing citizenship

How to get UK Citizenship >> 2022 Guide to British Nationality

A bike in front of a maple leaf representing Canada citizenship

How to become a Canadian Citizen: New 2022 guide

Primary Sidebar

Alison and Alastair in South Africa

Hi, we're Alison and Alastair, We're here to help you choose your next home abroad or make a move abroad easier! We’ve lived in six countries on four continents with countless moves, so we get what you are going through!

Sign up below for advice from other Expats, opportunities, and professional advice.

Latest Articles

  • Rhonda on Orkney Islands
    Moving To The UK And The Orkney Islands
  • A Digital Nomad in Spain looking at her laptop
    Spain Digital Nomad Visa >> New 2023 Guide
  • A couple doing their US Expat Taxes
    US Expat Taxes Guide – How to make it easier
  • Healthy Daughter and Father on staris in Spain
    Healthcare in Spain >> Public & Private Care Guide
  • Healthy people at the beach in Spain
    Health Insurance in Spain Guide >> How to pick a perfect policy

Footer

Our Mailing Address:

Where Can I Live Ltd.
71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden,
London, United Kingdom
WC2H 9JQ

CONTACT US

© 2021 All Rights Reserved | Privacy & Terms

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2023 | All Rights Reserved

This site uses cookies to ensure an amazing experience! Read More ACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT