Portuguese Citizenship

Foreign nationals may become Portuguese citizens by naturalization after living in the country for at least five years.

Additionally, to be able to apply for Portuguese citizenship by naturalization applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have a clean criminal record
• Have enough money to support themselves
• Be able to pass a Portuguese language test and a test on Portuguese culture and society

To start the naturalization process, applicants must first apply for a permanent residence permit. Once you have spent the required period of time living in Portugal as permanent residents, they can apply for naturalization.

Foreign nationals who get married to a Portuguese citizen might be able to get Portuguese citizenship after being married to them for at least three years. It is important to note that the marriage must be registered in the Portuguese system.

Similar rules apply to those who are not married but are in a de facto union with a Portuguese citizen.

After receiving judicial recognition of such a status by a civil court and being in a relationship with a Portuguese citizen for at least three years, foreign nationals might be able to obtain Portuguese citizenship.

Those who want to obtain Portuguese citizenship by marriage must prove their knowledge of Portuguese. They can do so by providing the following documents:

• Diploma from a Portuguese public or private school
• Certificate of approval for a Portuguese language exam issued by a Portuguese institution or Portuguese Consulate
• Certificate of proficiency in Portuguese issued by an accredited Portuguese evaluation centres

If the applicant has been married to the Portuguese citizen for more than 5 years, they do not have to provide proof of knowledge of the Portuguese language.

Those who get a divorce after obtaining Portuguese citizenship do not have their status revoked.

However, if they divorce or separate before the application process is finalised, they stop being eligible for Portuguese citizenship by marriage.

Foreign nationals who have a significant amount of money to invest in Portugal might be eligible for the Portuguese D9 Visa, also known as the Golden Visa.

The D9 Visa is a residence visa, which means that those who get it can stay in Portugal long-term. Initially, the Golden Visa is valid for one year but its holders can continue to renew it for two-year periods provided that they maintain their investment.

After living in Portugal for five years, holders of the D9 Visa can apply for Portuguese citizenship.

There are several types of investments that foreign citizens can make to qualify. These include:

• Purchase a property worth at least €500,000
• Invest €350,000 in a property in a Portuguese urban regeneration area
• Invest at least €350,000 in a qualifying Investment Fund
• Invest at least €350,000 in scientific research in Portugal
• Invest at least €250,000 in the sectors of arts or culture
• Invest at least €500,000 in small- or medium-sized businesses in Portugal
• Create at least 10 jobs in Portugal
• Make a capital transfer of at least €1 million into Portugal
• Purchase company shares worth at least €1 million

Those who invest money in Portugal are not required to be constantly present in Portugal. To maintain their status, they must spend at least 7 days in Portugal in the first year and at least 14 days in the following two-year periods.

Foreign investors who have enough funds to make an investment in Portugal and apply for the Golden Visa do not have to take a language test to do so.

However, they need to pass one if they want to obtain Portuguese citizenship after living in the country with the D6 Visa for at least 5 years.

Jews of Sephardic descent might be eligible to apply for Portuguese citizenship under Decree-Law 30-A/2015 introduced in 2015.

The law was put in place to correct the wrongdoing of King Manuel I of Portugal who, in 1496, began to expel Jews who refused to convert to Christianity.

The law allows descendants of Sephardic Jews of Portuguese origin to return to Portugal and get Portuguese citizenship.

To be able to do it, applicants must prove that they have genuine Sephardic origin and must demonstrate a link with Portugal. They can do that by providing documents showing their Portuguese Sephardic ancestry by, for example, surname, language, or genealogy.

There are three documents that applicants can use to prove their Portuguese Sephardic ancestry. These are:

• A certificate issued by a Sephardic community recognised under Portuguese law (the document must state that the applicant has ties with a Portuguese Sephardic community through language, surname, lineage, or family memory)
• A certified document issued by the applicant’s Jewish community (the document must confirm that the applicant speaks Portuguese Sephardic languages or engages in cultural practices used by the Portuguese Sephardic community)
• A certified document such as a marriage certificate, death certificate, or birth certificate that confirms the applicant’s family ties to the Portuguese Sephardic community

If the applicant manages to prove that their Sephardic ancestry is genuine, they are granted Portuguese citizenship.

It is important to note that Portuguese citizenship for Jews with Sephardic origins is granted at the discretion of the Minister of Justice.

If the applicant fails to submit extensive evidence supporting their application, they might be denied Portuguese citizenship.

This process for obtaining Portuguese citizenship via this route can be complicated, so get in touch with our legal experts today so they can assist you: +1 844 290 6312

Obtaining Portuguese citizenship comes with numerous benefits, including the right to live, work, and study in Portugal without any restrictions.

Those who hold Portuguese citizenship can leave and re-enter Portugal as many times as they want without having to worry about losing their status. They can also participate in local and national elections, and access free healthcare.

Furthermore, as Portugal belongs to the European Union, Portuguese citizens can live and work in EU member states without having to meet any specific requirements or apply for visas.

If you are thinking of becoming a citizen of Portugal, our lawyers can assess your individual circumstances and tell you which of the routes to Portuguese citizenship is the right one for you.