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Portuguese Citizenship by Descent
Arms of the King of Portugal (1509)
Would you like to obtain a second passport in Portugal? If so, you've come to the right place. With over 20 years of experience in helping people like you with genealogy projects all over the world, our team of specialists can assist you in getting your second passport through the process of jure sanguinis, or citizenship by descent.
There are currently around 6 million people of Portuguese descent living outside of Portugal, many of whom are eligible for citizenship through the process of jure sanguinis. In addition, there are many more millions of people with Portuguese ancestry dating back hundreds of years, as the Portuguese colonized many parts of the world including South America, Africa, India, East Asia, and elsewhere. Over the last hundred years or so, many Portuguese also immigrated to places like the United States, Canada, Brazil, and South Africa, where large populations are also found in the present day.
In Portugal, the process of acquiring citizenship through one's ancestors is legally referred to as "Acquisition by Descent" (AKA Aquisição por descendência), which means that you can apply for Portuguese citizenship through your lineage. However, it is important to keep in mind that a person's citizenship rights can also be lost, for example, if their ancestors were naturalized in another country. To get your Portuguese passport therefore requires gathering a checklist of records that prove your entitlement to citizenship, which comes with many rights and privileges, including the right to live, work, study, and travel in any of the 27 member states of the European Union.
To expedite the process of acquiring your citizenship, documentation can be gathered for you with the help of professional genealogists, lawyers, and related professionals who can represent you with your citizenship goals. You will also need the help of professional translators to translate these documents into the Portuguese language, which can then be submitted to the Portuguese government for processing.
There are currently around 6 million people of Portuguese descent living outside of Portugal, many of whom are eligible for citizenship through the process of jure sanguinis. In addition, there are many more millions of people with Portuguese ancestry dating back hundreds of years, as the Portuguese colonized many parts of the world including South America, Africa, India, East Asia, and elsewhere. Over the last hundred years or so, many Portuguese also immigrated to places like the United States, Canada, Brazil, and South Africa, where large populations are also found in the present day.
In Portugal, the process of acquiring citizenship through one's ancestors is legally referred to as "Acquisition by Descent" (AKA Aquisição por descendência), which means that you can apply for Portuguese citizenship through your lineage. However, it is important to keep in mind that a person's citizenship rights can also be lost, for example, if their ancestors were naturalized in another country. To get your Portuguese passport therefore requires gathering a checklist of records that prove your entitlement to citizenship, which comes with many rights and privileges, including the right to live, work, study, and travel in any of the 27 member states of the European Union.
To expedite the process of acquiring your citizenship, documentation can be gathered for you with the help of professional genealogists, lawyers, and related professionals who can represent you with your citizenship goals. You will also need the help of professional translators to translate these documents into the Portuguese language, which can then be submitted to the Portuguese government for processing.
Eligibility for Portuguese Citizenship
Map of Portugal in 1579
Eligibility for Portuguese citizenship, as described above, is based on your ancestry, which can be claimed through the second degree of succession, namely your grandparents, who did not lose their citizenship. Great-grandchildren are generally not eligible for citizenship by descent unless their parents or grandparents first acquire citizenship through this process. Unlike citizenship programs and residency permits in other countries, where a donation or investment in a country's government bonds or native businesses might be required, your citizenship in Portugal comes through your genealogy. Moreover, there is no citizenship test or term of residency for you to claim citizenship, and the whole process can even be undertaken overseas in places like the United States, Canada, Brazil, and elsewhere.
Although there are no citizenship tests or residency requirements for Portuguese citizenship, there is a language requirement which must be met before final approval is made on your application. According to the Portuguese Embassy, this requirement can be satisfied by providing the government with the following credentials or proof of fluency in the language: diploma of work completed at an accredited Portuguese public or private school; certificate of approval carried out at one of the aforementioned institutions; certificate of approval in exam provided by the Center of Evaluation of Portuguese Language (CAPLE); or certification of proficiency in Portuguese issued by an accredited Portuguese language center.
Another pathway to Portuguese citizenship by descent is through a person's Jewish ancestry, if it's proven that their ancestors were Sephardic Jews who lived in the past on the Iberian Peninsula in either Portugal or Spain. You can prove your eligibility for this option in one of three ways: by showing a family tree with documented Sephardic ancestry; by having a traditional surname associated with the Sephardic community; or by being a speaker of the Ladino language. There is no requirement for the applicant to be a current adherent of the Jewish faith, only that they meet one of these criteria. Although this option is an interesting one for applicants, it is generally very difficult to document Sephardic ancestors, as many of them were expelled from the Iberian Peninsula more than 500 years ago during the Spanish Inquisition.
Although there are no citizenship tests or residency requirements for Portuguese citizenship, there is a language requirement which must be met before final approval is made on your application. According to the Portuguese Embassy, this requirement can be satisfied by providing the government with the following credentials or proof of fluency in the language: diploma of work completed at an accredited Portuguese public or private school; certificate of approval carried out at one of the aforementioned institutions; certificate of approval in exam provided by the Center of Evaluation of Portuguese Language (CAPLE); or certification of proficiency in Portuguese issued by an accredited Portuguese language center.
Another pathway to Portuguese citizenship by descent is through a person's Jewish ancestry, if it's proven that their ancestors were Sephardic Jews who lived in the past on the Iberian Peninsula in either Portugal or Spain. You can prove your eligibility for this option in one of three ways: by showing a family tree with documented Sephardic ancestry; by having a traditional surname associated with the Sephardic community; or by being a speaker of the Ladino language. There is no requirement for the applicant to be a current adherent of the Jewish faith, only that they meet one of these criteria. Although this option is an interesting one for applicants, it is generally very difficult to document Sephardic ancestors, as many of them were expelled from the Iberian Peninsula more than 500 years ago during the Spanish Inquisition.
Benefits of Portuguese Citizenship
Flag of Portugal
There are many benefits relating to Portuguese citizenship, especially since Portugal is one of the 27 member countries of the European Union. As a Portuguese passport holder, some of the rights, benefits, and privileges you will enjoy include the following:
- Right to visa-free travel within the EU and Schengen Area
- Right to live in any EU member state or Schengen Area
- Right to work or start a business in Portugal and other EU countries
- Right to vote in Portuguese national elections and European Parliament elections
- Ability to purchase property anywhere in the EU
- Access to universal health care
- Reduced or free tuition at the university level in any EU member state
Required Documents
It is not enough to simply supply the Portuguese government with a few records like birth, marriage, or death certificates to prove your eligibility for Portuguese citizenship. A large collection of records, along with their associated certifications, apostilles, and translations must be submitted to the government to correctly document your heritage. These records would be found at many different locations, including civil registry offices, regional archives, public libraries, national archives, church parishes, and elsewhere. Records that would help substantiate your claim would include many different types of records relating to yourself, spouse, children, parents, grandparents, and other relatives, and might include the following:
Lisbon, Portugal in 1598
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Where to Apply
countries with Portuguese diplomatic missions
A person eligible for Portuguese citizenship through their ancestry can apply to the Institute of Registries and Notaries of the National Center for Migrant Integration (CNAIM) in the cities of Lisbon or Porto. Applications can also be made at the Portuguese consulate or embassy which has jurisdiction in your current place of residence. Any documents found outside of Portugal would need to include apostilles for international records, and all of these documents would need to be translated into the Portuguese language by an official translator. Current charges for processing applications usually ranges between €175 and €200. Processing time sometimes takes as much as two years, but the research and records collection part of the process usually happens much more quickly.
Application with Family Members
Ribeira Palace in the 18th century
Another great benefit to Portuguese citizenship is that you can pass it on to your descendants. However, if you're applying for citizenship with other members of your family, any children over 18 would need to have their applications processed separately, which would include their own individual records, apostilles, translations, and associated documents.
For children born after the acquisition of their parents' citizenship, the nationality law in Portugal states that they would automatically acquire citizenship through the right of their parents, so no additional records or applications would be required for these individuals to confirm their citizenship.
Spouses of those acquiring citizenship through the process of jure sanguinis are ineligible for Portuguese citizenship, but through their spouse they would have many of the same rights and privileges to live and work in the European Union. However, after a period of residency, they can apply for citizenship through the standard naturalization process.
For children born after the acquisition of their parents' citizenship, the nationality law in Portugal states that they would automatically acquire citizenship through the right of their parents, so no additional records or applications would be required for these individuals to confirm their citizenship.
Spouses of those acquiring citizenship through the process of jure sanguinis are ineligible for Portuguese citizenship, but through their spouse they would have many of the same rights and privileges to live and work in the European Union. However, after a period of residency, they can apply for citizenship through the standard naturalization process.
Getting Your Passport
Portuguese Passport
The Portuguese passport is one of the strongest in the world and currently ranks fourth globally, in a tie with Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. It allows visa-free access to 188 countries, making it a highly desirable travel document for those seeking second citizenship. Portugal also allows dual citizenship, so Americans, Canadians, and other nationalities would be able to retain their original passports after getting their new ones for Portugal.
After your application for Portuguese citizenship has been approved, you can apply for a passport. However, you will first need to get a copy of your Portuguese Citizenship Card to provide the Portuguese consulate with proof of your citizenship. After this happens, you can apply for your passport through the Portuguese consulate that has jurisdiction in your current place of residence. To do this, you'll need to make an appointment with the Portuguese consulate through their online reservation system to schedule an in-office visit for completion of your application, as Portuguese passports now require fingerprinting and other biometrics before being issued.
After your application for Portuguese citizenship has been approved, you can apply for a passport. However, you will first need to get a copy of your Portuguese Citizenship Card to provide the Portuguese consulate with proof of your citizenship. After this happens, you can apply for your passport through the Portuguese consulate that has jurisdiction in your current place of residence. To do this, you'll need to make an appointment with the Portuguese consulate through their online reservation system to schedule an in-office visit for completion of your application, as Portuguese passports now require fingerprinting and other biometrics before being issued.
Portuguese Citizenship FAQS
What is citizenship by descent?
Citizenship by descent is the process by which an individual attains citizenship in a country through one's ancestry or family tree. The process, known in legal terminology as jus sanguinis or jure sanguinis, would be translated from Latin as the "right of the blood," meaning that one's right to citizenship is based upon their ancestry, regardless of where they were born. This differs from jus soli, or birthright citizenship, where one's citizenship rights are determined by their place of birth.
Does Portugal offer citizenship through the process of jure sanguinis, also known as citizenship by descent?
Yes, in Portugal this process is referred to as "Acquisition by Descent," or Aquisição por descendência.
How many generations of ancestry does Portugal allow for a citizenship by descent application?
Portugal allows citizenship by descent up through your grandparents.
Why would I want a second citizenship?
Having a second passport and additional citizenship rights opens a world of possibilities for you and your family in terms of travel, economic opportunities, political freedom, access to high-quality healthcare, and world class education. In an ever-changing political landscape and globalizing world, possibilities also exist for a backup plan if needed for you and your family to begin a new life elsewhere.
How strong is the Portuguese passport?
The Portuguese passport is one of the strongest in the world and currently ranks at #4 globally. It is tied with Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden, and allows visa-free access to 188 countries.
Which records are needed for my Portuguese citizenship application?
You will need to document an unbroken chain of evidence between yourself and your Portuguese ancestor. To do this, you will need to acquire copies of vital records for each generation of your tree (i.e. birth, marriage, and death certificates). You will also need to locate ships’ passenger lists, naturalization records, and many other types of records.
Is there a language requirement for confirming my Portuguese citizenship?
Yes. Before Portuguese citizenship is granted you will need to complete a course of study or take a language examination verifying your fluency in the Portuguese language.
Is there a residency requirement for acquiring Portuguese citizenship?
No. Acquisition of Portuguese citizenship is an automatic process, and your citizenship will be recognized even if your are living or applying from overseas.
How many hours does it take to do a Portuguese citizenship case?
Every project is unique, but most citizenship cases take on average between 40 to 80 hours of work from start to finish.
Can I apply for Portuguese citizenship along with my spouse, children, and other members of my family?
When submitting your citizenship application, you will be required to submit primary source records for yourself and other members of your family. However, children over 18 years of age would need to gather their own records and submit applications separately. Although spouses are not automatically granted citizenship during the confirmation of citizenship process, as a spouse of a Portuguese citizen they would still have many of the same rights and privileges of a Portuguese passport holder, including the right to live and work in Portugal and the European Union.
Will the Portuguese consulate accept digital or printed copies of my genealogy records?
No. All records submitted with your application must be paper documents with the appropriate certifications and apostilles for international records originating outside of Portugal.
Do I have to renounce my current citizenship?
No. Portugal allows dual citizenship.
How long have you been doing citizenship cases?
Our current research team, which includes many genealogists, attorneys, and other experts in the field, have been doing citizenship cases for more than 20 years. We have helped many clients get second passports in places like Portugal, Ireland, Italy and elsewhere.
Where are you located?
We are currently in the process of opening a new office in Dublin, Ireland, which gives us direct access to the European Union, United Kingdom, and Schengen Area. Our company headquarters, which falls under the umbrella of MyGenealogist.com, is located in Salt Lake City, USA, where we have access to the world's largest collection of genealogical records at the Family History Library. We also have on-the-ground contacts in many major international cities, including New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., London, Rome, Madrid, and elsewhere.
I can only budget a small amount of money for this. What are the cheapest options available for people with limited resources?
Citizenship cases are generally much more challenging than standard genealogy projects, as on-the-ground research is usually required at multiple archives and in multiple geographic jurisdictions and countries. Unlike standard family history projects, you are also required to get translations and special certifications of records during this type of project, which requires much more labor and time-management in terms of editing, records ordering, report-writing, letter-writing, and overall administration. This is the reason we generally recommend working in either a 40-hour or 80-hour block of research time, as most projects like this take around 80 hours total from start to finish. However, if you'd like assistance doing research on your own, we offer hourly consultations at €150 an hour, as well as research plans that take about 5 hours to put together, since we have to review all of your past research, records, and eligibility for citizenship based upon your current documentation. The price for this service would be €700. However, even if you are saving money on a smaller block of research time, you will still need to order certified copies and translations of the records needed for your case, which oftentimes ends up costing several hundred euros even when doing your own research.
If I only need a few records for my citizenship application, why would it take so many hours to complete my project?
Although you might only need a few records to help solve your case, gathering those individual records will be a labor-intensive and time-consuming process as these records will no doubt be found at multiple archives, libraries, public health departments, courthouses, registry offices, churches, cemeteries, and elsewhere. In addition, and especially for clients in the U.S., Canada, and Australia, records will need to gathered in more than one country, and records in Europe will need to found during onsite visits to a variety of government agencies and archives overseas. In addition to this, there is a huge amount of records review, analysis of evidence, editing, report-writing, and other tasks that must be completed during a citizenship case, which means that these projects are much more challenging than standard family history projects where research can be completed online at websites like Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, and MyHeritage from the comfort of home.
How much does a standard standard Portuguese citizenship cases cost?
As noted above, we recommend starting with at least a 40-hour block of research time for citizenship cases, although some cases take 80 hours or more to complete. It's possible that your case could be completed in 40 hours, but it might take up to 80 hours or more if we're encountering a lot of brick walls during the search for your ancestors, or if we're doing research in a lot of different jurisdictions. Our hourly rate for a standard 40-hour project would be €135/hour, so a project of this size and scope would cost €5,400. If the 80-hour project fits into your budget, there would be a €1,200 discount on the larger project, which would come out to €9,600. Although these projects might be out of the range of affordability for some people, it's important to keep in mind that the process of acquiring a second citizenship is a huge investment in you and your family's future, with all of the associated rights, responsibilities, privileges, and benefits that would accrue not only to yourself, but also to your descendants. Genealogy research can be a substantial investment, but it is also a great value in terms of what you'd ultimately be getting with affordable health care, educational opportunities, property ownership, freedom of movement, and citizenship rights in Portugal and the 27-member block of the European Union.
What is the current turnaround time on citizenship projects?
Depending on your situation, most projects take an average of 10-12 weeks to complete. However, if brick walls are encountered in finding your documentation, the project could take considerably longer. In addition, some government agencies are notoriously slow in responding to record requests, which is the primary reason we recommend larger projects where we have enough time to do on-the-ground research in the places of interest, where we can often get records on the same day, thus saving time and labor, as opposed to waiting for records requests to come in from overseas, where you could sometimes end up waiting for several months or longer. The other thing to take into consideration in terms of timing and completion of your overall citizenship case, is that we will attempt to complete your project in 2-3 months, but you would still most likely need to make an appointment with your new country's consulate near your current place of residence. For example, if doing a Portuguese citizenship case, where you're currently residing in New York City, you will need to take your package of documentation to them during your appointment, and with the various consulates getting booked up many months in advance, the Portuguese government may take several months or more than a year to process your application, even after all of the research work and document gathering has been completed.
How long does it take to acquire citizenship through the process of jure sanguinis (AKA citizenship by descent)?
As earlier discussed, the genealogical research required for citizenship cases usually takes a couple of months. However, the entire process of confirming your citizenship can sometimes take a year or two because there are additional steps that must be completed in terms of your new country processing your application, and interviews with various consulates and government agencies might be required before your final papers are processed. Many countries, Portugal being a good example of this, are literally swamped with requests for citizenship from people overseas in places like the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Australia, so processing time on the government side of things can often take a bit of time and patience for the person applying.
Will I have the contact information of the genealogists assigned to my case?
Yes. You will be in contact with a project manager from start to finish of your case. All projects are worked on collectively as a team, with researchers working in many different geographic areas and with different specialties. The project manager is responsible for handling all aspects of your case and would be collaborating with researchers, libraries, lawyers, archives, and government agencies as needed for completion of your case.
Why do records need to be certified?
Official copies of records would be needed for your citizenship case, which means that these records must be paper copies (not photocopies or digital copies) with the proper certifications or embossed seals as proof of official certification. For example, you can't print out copies of vital records, passenger lists, or census records from websites like FamilySearch or Ancestry.com and present them to the Portuguese government as evidence for your case. For these types of records, you would need to obtain official copies from many different repositories including libraries, archives, health departments, courthouses, and civil registry offices. In addition, you would need to get a separate certification, or apostille, for all international records.
What is an apostille?
An apostille is an internationally recognized certification as defined by the Hague Treaty of 1961. Countries like Portugal require that records found outside the country have this certification in addition to that provided by local health departments, government archives, and other agencies.
I now have all of the records required for my citizenship application. Which consulate or government agency do I need to contact for submission of my application?
You will need to visit the Portuguese consulate closest to your place of residence.
Do my documents need to be translated into the Portuguese language for my citizenship application?
Yes. Any records found outside of Portugal will need to be translated into the Portuguese language by a certified translator.
Do I need an attorney to help with my case?
You may need the help of an attorney with your case if you are going before a court to apply for citizenship in Portugal. However, if you are submitting your documentation to a consulate and were able to gather all of your required records by yourself or through the help of a genealogist, this might be unnecessary. For example, the consulate through which you're applying will be reviewing a checklist of documents needed for your case. If you have everything needed as required by the Portuguese nationality law, your citizenship will be confirmed based upon this checklist of records. Citizenship cases are generally handled by Portuguese consulates, and not handled in court.
Can I live anywhere in Europe after acquiring my Portuguese passport?
Yes. after confirming your citizenship, you can not only live in Portugal, but also in countries like Germany, Spain, France, or elsewhere. As a Portuguese and EU citizen, you have the right to live, work, study, and travel in all 27 EU member states.
How many countries are there in the European Union?
There are 27 member countries in the European Union.
What is the Schengen-Area?
The Schengen Area is associated with the European Union but not under its jurisdiction. The Schengen Treaty allows visa-free travel and residency in EU member states, as well as the Schengen Area countries of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
Can I also live, work, or study in other countries in the Schengen Area but outside of the EU?
Yes, as a European citizen you would have all the rights and privileges to live, work, travel, and study in Schengen countries outside of the European Union. These countries include Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, so you will have access to 31 countries total with your Portuguese passport.
Can I live, work, or study in the UK after getting Portuguese citizenship?
No, after the United Kingdom left the European Union in 2018, European citizens no longer have any rights or privileges to reside, work, or study in the United Kingdom without a residency permit. The exception to this would be Ireland, which has a reciprocal agreement with the UK.
Will I be subject Portuguese income taxes after acquiring my citizenship?
No. You will only become a tax resident of Portugal if you live there for more than 183 days a year.
Can my children or grandchildren attend university in the European Union after getting Portuguese citizenship?
Yes, unlike the United States where premier universities like NYU, Harvard, or Princeton charge upwards of $50,000-$60,000 per year in tuition, European institutions of a similar pedigree often charge much less or are even free for EU citizens. However, your children or grandchildren would first need to confirm their Portuguese citizenship through your application, if under 18 years of age, or on their own if they have reached adulthood.
Am I eligible for healthcare in the European Union after getting citizenship in a member country?
Yes. Health care in Europe is considered a human right, unlike countries like the United States, where people often go into bankruptcy because of high medical expenses.
Can I buy property in the EU after getting second citizenship there?
Yes, as a European citizen you can acquire property in any of the 27 member states, but there generally aren't many restrictions on foreigners buying property in most EU countries. However, having rights to ownership differ from rights to residency, so if you plan on living in your new property, you will need to get a residency visa or second citizenship in your country of choice.
Citizenship by descent is the process by which an individual attains citizenship in a country through one's ancestry or family tree. The process, known in legal terminology as jus sanguinis or jure sanguinis, would be translated from Latin as the "right of the blood," meaning that one's right to citizenship is based upon their ancestry, regardless of where they were born. This differs from jus soli, or birthright citizenship, where one's citizenship rights are determined by their place of birth.
Does Portugal offer citizenship through the process of jure sanguinis, also known as citizenship by descent?
Yes, in Portugal this process is referred to as "Acquisition by Descent," or Aquisição por descendência.
How many generations of ancestry does Portugal allow for a citizenship by descent application?
Portugal allows citizenship by descent up through your grandparents.
Why would I want a second citizenship?
Having a second passport and additional citizenship rights opens a world of possibilities for you and your family in terms of travel, economic opportunities, political freedom, access to high-quality healthcare, and world class education. In an ever-changing political landscape and globalizing world, possibilities also exist for a backup plan if needed for you and your family to begin a new life elsewhere.
How strong is the Portuguese passport?
The Portuguese passport is one of the strongest in the world and currently ranks at #4 globally. It is tied with Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden, and allows visa-free access to 188 countries.
Which records are needed for my Portuguese citizenship application?
You will need to document an unbroken chain of evidence between yourself and your Portuguese ancestor. To do this, you will need to acquire copies of vital records for each generation of your tree (i.e. birth, marriage, and death certificates). You will also need to locate ships’ passenger lists, naturalization records, and many other types of records.
Is there a language requirement for confirming my Portuguese citizenship?
Yes. Before Portuguese citizenship is granted you will need to complete a course of study or take a language examination verifying your fluency in the Portuguese language.
Is there a residency requirement for acquiring Portuguese citizenship?
No. Acquisition of Portuguese citizenship is an automatic process, and your citizenship will be recognized even if your are living or applying from overseas.
How many hours does it take to do a Portuguese citizenship case?
Every project is unique, but most citizenship cases take on average between 40 to 80 hours of work from start to finish.
Can I apply for Portuguese citizenship along with my spouse, children, and other members of my family?
When submitting your citizenship application, you will be required to submit primary source records for yourself and other members of your family. However, children over 18 years of age would need to gather their own records and submit applications separately. Although spouses are not automatically granted citizenship during the confirmation of citizenship process, as a spouse of a Portuguese citizen they would still have many of the same rights and privileges of a Portuguese passport holder, including the right to live and work in Portugal and the European Union.
Will the Portuguese consulate accept digital or printed copies of my genealogy records?
No. All records submitted with your application must be paper documents with the appropriate certifications and apostilles for international records originating outside of Portugal.
Do I have to renounce my current citizenship?
No. Portugal allows dual citizenship.
How long have you been doing citizenship cases?
Our current research team, which includes many genealogists, attorneys, and other experts in the field, have been doing citizenship cases for more than 20 years. We have helped many clients get second passports in places like Portugal, Ireland, Italy and elsewhere.
Where are you located?
We are currently in the process of opening a new office in Dublin, Ireland, which gives us direct access to the European Union, United Kingdom, and Schengen Area. Our company headquarters, which falls under the umbrella of MyGenealogist.com, is located in Salt Lake City, USA, where we have access to the world's largest collection of genealogical records at the Family History Library. We also have on-the-ground contacts in many major international cities, including New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., London, Rome, Madrid, and elsewhere.
I can only budget a small amount of money for this. What are the cheapest options available for people with limited resources?
Citizenship cases are generally much more challenging than standard genealogy projects, as on-the-ground research is usually required at multiple archives and in multiple geographic jurisdictions and countries. Unlike standard family history projects, you are also required to get translations and special certifications of records during this type of project, which requires much more labor and time-management in terms of editing, records ordering, report-writing, letter-writing, and overall administration. This is the reason we generally recommend working in either a 40-hour or 80-hour block of research time, as most projects like this take around 80 hours total from start to finish. However, if you'd like assistance doing research on your own, we offer hourly consultations at €150 an hour, as well as research plans that take about 5 hours to put together, since we have to review all of your past research, records, and eligibility for citizenship based upon your current documentation. The price for this service would be €700. However, even if you are saving money on a smaller block of research time, you will still need to order certified copies and translations of the records needed for your case, which oftentimes ends up costing several hundred euros even when doing your own research.
If I only need a few records for my citizenship application, why would it take so many hours to complete my project?
Although you might only need a few records to help solve your case, gathering those individual records will be a labor-intensive and time-consuming process as these records will no doubt be found at multiple archives, libraries, public health departments, courthouses, registry offices, churches, cemeteries, and elsewhere. In addition, and especially for clients in the U.S., Canada, and Australia, records will need to gathered in more than one country, and records in Europe will need to found during onsite visits to a variety of government agencies and archives overseas. In addition to this, there is a huge amount of records review, analysis of evidence, editing, report-writing, and other tasks that must be completed during a citizenship case, which means that these projects are much more challenging than standard family history projects where research can be completed online at websites like Ancestry.com, FamilySearch, and MyHeritage from the comfort of home.
How much does a standard standard Portuguese citizenship cases cost?
As noted above, we recommend starting with at least a 40-hour block of research time for citizenship cases, although some cases take 80 hours or more to complete. It's possible that your case could be completed in 40 hours, but it might take up to 80 hours or more if we're encountering a lot of brick walls during the search for your ancestors, or if we're doing research in a lot of different jurisdictions. Our hourly rate for a standard 40-hour project would be €135/hour, so a project of this size and scope would cost €5,400. If the 80-hour project fits into your budget, there would be a €1,200 discount on the larger project, which would come out to €9,600. Although these projects might be out of the range of affordability for some people, it's important to keep in mind that the process of acquiring a second citizenship is a huge investment in you and your family's future, with all of the associated rights, responsibilities, privileges, and benefits that would accrue not only to yourself, but also to your descendants. Genealogy research can be a substantial investment, but it is also a great value in terms of what you'd ultimately be getting with affordable health care, educational opportunities, property ownership, freedom of movement, and citizenship rights in Portugal and the 27-member block of the European Union.
What is the current turnaround time on citizenship projects?
Depending on your situation, most projects take an average of 10-12 weeks to complete. However, if brick walls are encountered in finding your documentation, the project could take considerably longer. In addition, some government agencies are notoriously slow in responding to record requests, which is the primary reason we recommend larger projects where we have enough time to do on-the-ground research in the places of interest, where we can often get records on the same day, thus saving time and labor, as opposed to waiting for records requests to come in from overseas, where you could sometimes end up waiting for several months or longer. The other thing to take into consideration in terms of timing and completion of your overall citizenship case, is that we will attempt to complete your project in 2-3 months, but you would still most likely need to make an appointment with your new country's consulate near your current place of residence. For example, if doing a Portuguese citizenship case, where you're currently residing in New York City, you will need to take your package of documentation to them during your appointment, and with the various consulates getting booked up many months in advance, the Portuguese government may take several months or more than a year to process your application, even after all of the research work and document gathering has been completed.
How long does it take to acquire citizenship through the process of jure sanguinis (AKA citizenship by descent)?
As earlier discussed, the genealogical research required for citizenship cases usually takes a couple of months. However, the entire process of confirming your citizenship can sometimes take a year or two because there are additional steps that must be completed in terms of your new country processing your application, and interviews with various consulates and government agencies might be required before your final papers are processed. Many countries, Portugal being a good example of this, are literally swamped with requests for citizenship from people overseas in places like the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Australia, so processing time on the government side of things can often take a bit of time and patience for the person applying.
Will I have the contact information of the genealogists assigned to my case?
Yes. You will be in contact with a project manager from start to finish of your case. All projects are worked on collectively as a team, with researchers working in many different geographic areas and with different specialties. The project manager is responsible for handling all aspects of your case and would be collaborating with researchers, libraries, lawyers, archives, and government agencies as needed for completion of your case.
Why do records need to be certified?
Official copies of records would be needed for your citizenship case, which means that these records must be paper copies (not photocopies or digital copies) with the proper certifications or embossed seals as proof of official certification. For example, you can't print out copies of vital records, passenger lists, or census records from websites like FamilySearch or Ancestry.com and present them to the Portuguese government as evidence for your case. For these types of records, you would need to obtain official copies from many different repositories including libraries, archives, health departments, courthouses, and civil registry offices. In addition, you would need to get a separate certification, or apostille, for all international records.
What is an apostille?
An apostille is an internationally recognized certification as defined by the Hague Treaty of 1961. Countries like Portugal require that records found outside the country have this certification in addition to that provided by local health departments, government archives, and other agencies.
I now have all of the records required for my citizenship application. Which consulate or government agency do I need to contact for submission of my application?
You will need to visit the Portuguese consulate closest to your place of residence.
Do my documents need to be translated into the Portuguese language for my citizenship application?
Yes. Any records found outside of Portugal will need to be translated into the Portuguese language by a certified translator.
Do I need an attorney to help with my case?
You may need the help of an attorney with your case if you are going before a court to apply for citizenship in Portugal. However, if you are submitting your documentation to a consulate and were able to gather all of your required records by yourself or through the help of a genealogist, this might be unnecessary. For example, the consulate through which you're applying will be reviewing a checklist of documents needed for your case. If you have everything needed as required by the Portuguese nationality law, your citizenship will be confirmed based upon this checklist of records. Citizenship cases are generally handled by Portuguese consulates, and not handled in court.
Can I live anywhere in Europe after acquiring my Portuguese passport?
Yes. after confirming your citizenship, you can not only live in Portugal, but also in countries like Germany, Spain, France, or elsewhere. As a Portuguese and EU citizen, you have the right to live, work, study, and travel in all 27 EU member states.
How many countries are there in the European Union?
There are 27 member countries in the European Union.
What is the Schengen-Area?
The Schengen Area is associated with the European Union but not under its jurisdiction. The Schengen Treaty allows visa-free travel and residency in EU member states, as well as the Schengen Area countries of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
Can I also live, work, or study in other countries in the Schengen Area but outside of the EU?
Yes, as a European citizen you would have all the rights and privileges to live, work, travel, and study in Schengen countries outside of the European Union. These countries include Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, so you will have access to 31 countries total with your Portuguese passport.
Can I live, work, or study in the UK after getting Portuguese citizenship?
No, after the United Kingdom left the European Union in 2018, European citizens no longer have any rights or privileges to reside, work, or study in the United Kingdom without a residency permit. The exception to this would be Ireland, which has a reciprocal agreement with the UK.
Will I be subject Portuguese income taxes after acquiring my citizenship?
No. You will only become a tax resident of Portugal if you live there for more than 183 days a year.
Can my children or grandchildren attend university in the European Union after getting Portuguese citizenship?
Yes, unlike the United States where premier universities like NYU, Harvard, or Princeton charge upwards of $50,000-$60,000 per year in tuition, European institutions of a similar pedigree often charge much less or are even free for EU citizens. However, your children or grandchildren would first need to confirm their Portuguese citizenship through your application, if under 18 years of age, or on their own if they have reached adulthood.
Am I eligible for healthcare in the European Union after getting citizenship in a member country?
Yes. Health care in Europe is considered a human right, unlike countries like the United States, where people often go into bankruptcy because of high medical expenses.
Can I buy property in the EU after getting second citizenship there?
Yes, as a European citizen you can acquire property in any of the 27 member states, but there generally aren't many restrictions on foreigners buying property in most EU countries. However, having rights to ownership differ from rights to residency, so if you plan on living in your new property, you will need to get a residency visa or second citizenship in your country of choice.