Portuguese nationality can be applied for by any citizen who is the child or grandchild (and, in some cases, even great-grandchild) of a Portuguese citizen. It can also be requested by parents of minors born in Portugal and by spouses of Portuguese citizens. Descendants of Sephardic Jews can also apply for nationality.

In addition to recovering the history of your ancestors, Portuguese nationality can broaden your horizons. Nationality confers the right to a Portuguese passport, which allows the Portuguese to work or visit, for limited periods, several countries without the need for a visa. But let's start from beginning.

The Portuguese Nationality is applied to whom?

All the residents (and also non-residents) who are from non-EU/EFTA countries can also ask to the benefit from reforms in Portuguese nationality law. In 2006 Portugal relaxed its citizenship laws with the amendment of the Portuguese Nationality Act. This amendment made possible the Portuguese citizenship eligibility for non-EU nationals after five years of legal residence, an also the Portuguese Nationality by marriage is available after three years.

What's the Portuguese Nationality benefits?

You'll notice that the rights given by the Portuguese permanent residents (via residence permit) are the same as Portuguese Nationality rights, as below:

• Possibility to get hired in full employment or self-employment (without a Portuguese work permit)

• Smooth participate in education and study, including cheaper tuitions on the best universities

• Full access to the Portuguese social security benefits and pensions

• Facilitated process to buy property in Portugal, including mortgages.

More than these benefits, the Portuguese nationality also gives you the:

• Right of vote in Portuguese elections and referendums

• Portuguese passport, ranked 16th in the world on the Passport Index

• Possibility to acquire EU citizenship (and EU passport) in others words you can travel freely across EU countries

• Right of live, work or even retire in other EU member states.

The process to obtain the Portuguese Nationality is more demanding than obtaining and time-consuming than request the permanent residence permit. However, have a Portuguese Nationality and also a Portuguese Passport can make life easier.

Who can applies for Portuguese Nationality?

• Marriage to a Portuguese citizen (after three years of marriage)

• Descent or birth (Portuguese by origin)

• Naturalization after five years of residence

• Adoption by a Portuguese citizen

• Being a citizen of a former Portuguese overseas territory

• The Sephardic Jews (Portuguese Sephardic citizenship scheme)

The foreign residents need to apply for the Portuguese Nationality process at the Portuguese Ministry of Justice by IRN (Instituto de Registos e Notariado). The documents required will depend accordingly which case. In that case, you can count on our expertise.