One way to get Portuguese citizenship

As a Portuguese national you are considered a European Union (EU) citizen.'

​
​Portugal is another western European country that is offering an express citizenship pathway to those aspiring to it. In particular, Portugal has an express citizenship pathway for those who can demonstrate that they are descended from Sephardic Jews. 

Applying for Portuguese citizenship comes with less stringent documentary burdens – applications are open indefinitely, and only documented proof of past Sephardic familial origin is required.

Lisbon (pictured above) is known for its colonialist history and wonderfully ornate architecture. Image by nextvoyage from Pixabay

​Many Sephardic Jews were killed, forced to convert to Christianity, or forced to leave Portugal at the end of the 15th Century.

​The Portuguese “Law of Return”, passed by Portuguese MPs in 2013 (later becoming law in 2015), allows certain descendants to obtain Portuguese citizenship, including:

• Sephardic Jews (hailing from Spain and Portugal) and 
• Conversos (Jews forcefully converted to Christianity). 

The Portuguese Decree Law No. 30-A / 2015 of February 27th considers as 'Sephardic' all Jews descended from the ancient and traditional Jewish communities of the Iberian Peninsula. 
​

​Typical requirements for eligibility

​You can apply for Portuguese nationality if:

• you are over 18 years old, or emancipated in accordance with Portuguese law
• you are descended from Portuguese Sephardic Jews
• you belong to a Sephardic community of Portuguese origin.

​
The decision rests on the Portuguese Minister of Justice.
​

Many people are attracted to the flexibility and advantages of Portuguese citizenship. Image by b1-foto from Pixabay

​
General documentary requirements

The main requirements fall into four main categories that establish your identity, your criminal status, your descent, and a formal letter addressed to the Portuguese Minister of Justice.
​
You will need:

1. Your legalised birth certificate, in full copy and issued by photocopy. There are additional requirements if your birth certificate is not Portuguese (and not in the Portuguese language).
2. Your criminal record issued by the foreign countries where you have lived since the age of 16 (and a certified translation of those records into Portuguese).
3. A certificate of confirming your Sephardic ancestry issued by an official Jewish community that has religious legal status in Portugal. Some applicants have drawn on records from established Sephardic communities in London and Amsterdam. Others have been able to produce a letter from their Rabbi, produce other family documents such as a marriage certificate, or even demonstrate their cultural inheritance.
4. Your application addressed to the Portuguese Minister of Justice outlining your particulars (such as your name and date of birth), and statement of facts showing how you belong to a Sephardic community of Portuguese origin.

Unlike the Spanish citizenship application process, there is no language requirement for citizenship applicants under the Portuguese Law of Return. You can appoint a legal representative to act on your behalf negating the need to travel to Portugal to submit and process your citizenship application. 

Situated at the western tip of Europe, Portugal is considered one of the best EU countries to live in. Image by jorono from Pixabay

The benefits that Portuguese citizenship confers

As a Portuguese national you are considered a European Union (EU) citizen.

 ‘EU citizens’:

• have rights relating to voting and access to the EU system;

• can live and work in any of the EU member states; and
• can avail of the rights and privileges offered by the EU country in which they live or move to, including health, education, unemployment programs and pensions.

As an ‘EU citizen’ you can stay in another EU country for up to 3 months without registering there.

​As an ‘EU citizen’, you can live and complete your study in your chosen EU country if you:

• are enrolled in an approved educational establishment
• have sufficient income and
• have comprehensive health insurance cover.

For more information, consult a local migration agent based in Portugal or visit your local Portuguese consulate for more information.