Portuguese Citizenship
Embarking on the path to Portuguese citizenship can be a daunting task, given the complexities involved. However, at Portugalize, we are here to guide and support you at every step of the way. Our team has extensive knowledge of Portuguese immigration and citizenship laws, documentation procedures, and cultural integration, allowing us to make your journey towards citizenship significantly smoother.
We are committed to ensuring that you not only navigate the process successfully but also fulfill all the necessary requirements to acquire Portuguese citizenship.
The most common ways to be entitled to get the Portuguese citizenship
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Foreign-born, child of Portuguese parent at birth
Requirements:
- Born outside of Portugal
- Having at least one Portuguese parent
- Expression of will to become a Portuguese citizen
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Foreign-born, grandchild of a Portuguese grandparent
Requirements:
- Born outside of Portugal
- Having at least one Portuguese grandparent
- Expression of will to become a Portuguese citizen
- To register your birth un the Portuguese Civil Registry
- Proof of a connection with the Portuguese community.
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Living legally in Portugal for at least 5 years
Requirements:
- Being over 18 years old
- Living legally in Portugal for at least 5 years
- Having enough knowledge in Portuguese language
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To have been born in Portugal with foreign parents
Requirements:
- Being born on October the 8th 1981 or after
- Both parents are foreigners
- At the moment of your birth, at least one of your parents was living legally in Portugal for at least 5 years
- Expression of will to become a Portuguese citizen
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Being married or in a domestic partnership for at least 3 years
Requirements:
- Expression of will to become a Portuguese citizen
- Proof of having an effective connection with the Portuguese Community
What is an effective connection with the Portuguese community and how to prove it?
Automatically recognized by the Portuguese government:
- To have already had legal residence in Portugal for 3 years, be registered with the Tax Authority and the National Health System, and have attended school in Portugal or be able to demonstrate proficiency in the Portuguese language.
- To have already had legal residence in Portugal for 5 years, be registered with the Tax Authority and the National Health System (or regional health services).
Supporting evidence for analysis by the Portuguese government:
- Knowledge of the Portuguese language
- Legal residence in Portugal
- Regularly travel to Portugal
- To have owned or rented a house in Portugal for more than 3 years
- To live or have a connection with a historical Portuguese community abroad.
- In the last 5 years, to have actively participated in the activities of the Portuguese community in the country where you reside, for example, by attending cultural and recreational events organized by Portuguese associations in those communities
How can I prove my knowledge of the Portuguese language?
- Certificate of qualification or transcript issued by a recognized public, private, or cooperative educational institution, provided that the holder has successfully completed the Portuguese or Portuguese as a Non-Native Language curriculum unit/course for at least two academic years.
- Certificate of passing a Portuguese language examination conducted in public educational institutions within Portuguese territory, or in accredited locations by Camões – Institute for Cooperation and Language, when conducted abroad.
- Certificate in Portuguese as a foreign language, issued upon completion of a test at a Portuguese evaluation center for foreign language proficiency.
- Certificate attesting the completion of level A2 or higher of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
- Certificate of completion of the Portuguese Language for Reception course, attesting the completion of level A2 or higher of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, issued by public educational institutions.
- Certificate of qualifications attesting the completion of Portuguese language competency units/ training units included in the school training component of a qualification within the National Qualifications Catalog.
Contact us
For all your relocation and ongoing support needs in Portugal, trust Portugalize. We’re here to help you at every step. Fill out the form below to contact our team!