Applying For Dual Citizenship In Portugal

Article by Viv Europe - Official Legal and Relocation partner to KipperTree.

10 06 2023

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If you are considering permanently relocating to Portugal, you must consider getting a Portuguese permanent residency or citizenship. You may end up obtaining dual citizenship in Portugal! Would you like to know all the perks? 

While both routes allow you to stay in Portugal indefinitely, getting citizenship grants you more benefits during your stay in Portugal. There are plenty of incentives that the government has put in place to benefit ex-pats who choose citizenship. 

This article will bring to the fore the intricacies of applying for Portuguese citizenship and a deep dive into dual citizenship in Portugal. Let’s get right in!

Applying for dual citizenship in Portugal through residency

Portugal has different provisions for citizenship applications for EU and non-EU citizens. 

While it is rather easy to apply for citizenship for European Union citizens, it is quite different for non-EU counterparts. 

Applying for dual citizenship in Portugal through residency

There are different ways of getting Portuguese citizenship which include:

Marriage;

Naturalization (after living in Portugal for 5 years);

Descent;

Via former Portuguese colonies;

Descent of Sephardic Jewish heritage;

Birth;

Adoption.

Let’s have a look at citizenship by naturalization.

Wait until you have lived in Portugal for 5 years

Getting citizenship via naturalization is the most common route to citizenship for most immigrants in Portugal. 

What makes citizenship through naturalization a viable option for most ex-pats is that it is a method most people can control. 

Naturalization might take longer than other methods like citizenship via marriage, but it remains the only method under your full control. 

Citizenship via naturalization is granted to ex-pats who have legally stayed in Portugal for a minimum of 5 years. 

5 years of legal residency in Portugal is deemed enough time for ex-pats, whether EU or non-EU citizens, to be given a chance to apply for citizenship. 

Conditions to applying for Portugal dual citizenship through residency

While getting the opportunity to apply for dual citizenship in Portugal through naturalization remains within every expat’s control, there are requirements you must fulfil. 

Proof of five years of legal residency in Portugal;

No criminal record during the period of your stay in Portugal;

Clear your tax obligation with no outstanding taxes in Portugal;

Must know the Portuguese language at least to an A2 level;

Show proof of present integration into the community;

Should be of 18 years or older.

Children of parents who have acquired citizenship by naturalization may also get citizenship by declaration. 

Subsequently, the children born from parents who got citizenship through declaration acquire citizenship by birth. 

The documents you must show

Application for citizenship in Portugal is an official process and requires proof of fulfilment of the requirements by presenting the necessary documentation. 

Here are the documents that you will need to present:

A birth certificate;

Valid passport or travel ID;

Proof of knowing the Portuguese language;

Residence permit details;

Proof of details of your country of birth, age, current residence, occupation, and the list of other countries you have resided in previously;

A valid document from the SEF showing you have been living legally in Portugal;

Criminal record certificate.

If you’re confused with the process or don’t know if you have all the necessary documents, contact Viv Europe and let experts guide you through the process. 

Where to apply for dual citizenship in Portugal for the time of residence

Once you consolidate every required detail and are sure you’ve met the criteria mentioned above, it is time to submit your application. 

Send the duly filled form with all the documents to the Central Registry Office at the IRN. 

Be sure to pay the required fee as well; keep reading to know how much it can cost for one application. Remember, the application takes time to process, depending on the type of application. 

However, if you fall short of some requirements, you should be informed within 20 days that your application was unsuccessful.

Do I lose my original citizenship by getting Portuguese?

No, you do not! Dual citizenship is legal and applies to both expats and citizens in Portugal. You shouldn’t have concerns about revoking your country’s citizenship to get Portuguese. That’s one of the many perks of obtaining dual citizenship.

However, you should check with your country if having dual citizenship is possible. Countries that do not allow dual citizenship (like Saudi Arabia, India, Japan, China, Ethiopia, and Austria) will require you to relinquish your citizenship from your home country before applying for dual citizenship.

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