1 - Foreigners legally residing in Portugal for at least 5 years

The Government grants Portuguese nationality, by naturalization, to foreigners who:

• Have been legally resident in Portugal for at least 5 years;
• Are aged 18 or emancipated under Portuguese law;
• Have sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language;
• Have not been convicted of a final decision and res judicata, of a crime punishable under Portuguese Law, with imprisonment for a maximum equal to 3 years or more;

2 - Minors, born in Portuguese territory, children of foreigners

Minors, born in Portuguese territory, the children of foreigners may acquire Portuguese nationality.

The applicant shall also demonstrate that:

• Have sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language;
• Have not been convicted with a final sentence of judgment and res judicata, of a crime punishable under Portuguese Law, with imprisonment for a maximum equal to 3 years or more;
• One of the parents has been legally resident for at least five years, at the time of application for nationality;
• The minor here has completed the first cycle of basic education, at the time of application for nationality.

3 - Individuals who have had Portuguese nationality and who, having lost it, have never acquired another nationality

The Government grants naturalization to persons who have had Portuguese nationality and who, having lost it, have never acquired another nationality since:

• Are aged 18 or emancipated under Portuguese law;
• Have not been convicted with a final sentence of judgment, of a crime punishable under Portuguese Law, with imprisonment for a maximum equal to 3 years or more.

4 - Persons born in Portuguese territory, the children of foreigners, who have usually stayed here in the 10 years immediately prior to the request

In these cases the Government may grant nationality, by naturalization, who satisfies each of the following requirements:

• Are aged 18 or emancipated under Portuguese law;
• Have sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language;
• Have not been convicted with a final sentence of judgment, of a crime punishable under Portuguese Law, with imprisonment for a maximum equal to 3 years or more.

5 - Individuals who are not stateless

• Have been of Portuguese nationality;
• Those who are descended from Portuguese;
• To members of communities of Portuguese ancestry and to foreigners who have provided or are called upon to render services relevant to the Portuguese State or to the national community.

In these cases the Government may grant nationality, by naturalization to the interested parties, provided that:

• Are aged 18 or emancipated under Portuguese law;
• Have not been convicted with a final sentence of judgment, of a crime punishable under Portuguese Law, with imprisonment for a maximum equal to 3 years or more.

6 - Sephardic Jew ancestry

The acquisition of nationality will take effect from the date of registration and not from birth.

It became a requirement - applicants must demonstrate a tradition of belonging to a Sephardic community of Portuguese origin, based on proven objective requirements of connection to Portugal, such as surnames, family language, direct or collateral descent.

Documents proving the facts that demonstrate an effective and lasting connection to Portugal:

- Ownership, transferred mortis causa, of rights to real estate located in Portugal, or of shares in commercial companies or cooperatives based in Portugal;

- Regular travel throughout the applicant's life to Portugal.

For more information, please contact us