Portuguese Nationality Through Grandparents

The grandchildren of Portuguese citizens are entitled to original Portuguese nationality, without needing to proof connection with the exception of sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language.

This means that after obtaining nationality, these grandchildren can pass Portuguese nationality on to their family, namely spouses and children, without limit of generations.

Portuguese grandchildren who obtained Portuguese nationality through naturalization have since June 2017 the possibility to obtain “conversion” of their nationality into attribution and then pass it to their descendants.

 

What to do before?

• Find the Portuguese ascendant birth certificate of the Portuguese ancestor of second degree in Portugal and confirm that he/she has not lost the Portuguese Nationality.
• Verify the establishment of the filiation during the Portuguese minority to the Applicant parent under the Portuguese law in force at the date of birth.*
• If the Portuguese ascendant’s marriage was celebrated abroad, it is necessary to transcribe this marriage to Portugal to establish the filiation (there are some exceptions to this rule).

What are the conditions?

1. Prove the absence of conviction of a crime punishable by imprisonment of a maximum of 3 years or more under Portuguese law;
2. Prove effective connection with the Portuguese community – only by proving sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language.

Necessary documents:

(This is a purely informative and indicative list, subject to change in specific cases.)
For the assignment process:

• Birth certificate of Portuguese ancestor;
• Applicant’s birth certificate;
• Birth certificate of the father or mother who is a direct descendant of the Portuguese citizen;
• Photocopy of the Applicant’s identification document;
• Criminal record certificate from the country of origin and nationality and also from all countries where the Applicant resided after 16 years of age;
• Proof of sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language

 

* It is necessary to prove the establishment of affiliation during the applicant’s minority under the Portuguese law in force on the date of birth , bearing in mind that in the last decades many changes were made to the civil registry law and therefore each case must be analyzed carefully.

 

Although consulates / embassies are able to receive and prepare these type of processes, they are not competent to decide so they will simply work as a “post office” and send it to Lisbon, where the only sector with jurisdiction to work this processes is. So, working trough the consulate is not a safe option not only because of the delay added to the process but because it may give the Applicant a false feeling of security in the treatment of the process when in fact the Consulate cannot and will not be held responsible for misinformation or any other problem with the process, so we advise everyone to submit the process directly in Portugal at the Central Registry Office.

 

If you need more information, please contact us here, or use the form below.