Nationality by Descent
Nationality by Direct Descent (Children of Portuguese citizens)
Who can apply:
Children of Portuguese citizens, regardless of whether they were born inside or outside Portugal.
Required documents:Applicant’s birth certificate (apostilled or legalized and translated if not in Portuguese).
Birth certificate of the Portuguese parent (issued by the Civil Registry in Portugal).
Copy of identification document of the Portuguese parent (passport or citizen card).
Declaration that the applicant wishes to acquire Portuguese nationality (filled out at a notary or authenticated).
Identification document of the applicant (passport, ID card, or equivalent).
Nationality by Grandchildren of Portuguese citizens
Who can apply:Grandchildren of Portuguese citizens, born outside Portugal.
Required documents:Applicant’s birth certificate, apostilled or legalized and translated if necessary.
Birth certificate of the father or mother (direct child of the Portuguese citizen), apostilled.
Birth certificate of the Portuguese grandfather/grandmother (obtained from the Civil Registry in Portugal).
Marriage certificate of the Portuguese grandfather/grandmother, if applicable.
Proof of effective connection to the Portuguese community (such as language skills, regular travel, or other cultural ties).
Identification document of the applicant (passport or ID card).
Proof of non-existence of Portuguese nationality of the parent who did not pass it down, if applicable.
Nationality by Stable Union or Marriage to a Portuguese Citizen
Who can apply:Spouses of Portuguese citizens, after 3 years of marriage or stable union.
Required documents:Marriage certificate or document proving the stable union recognized by a Portuguese court.
Birth certificate of the foreign spouse, apostilled and translated if necessary.
Birth certificate of the Portuguese spouse (obtained from the Civil Registry in Portugal).
Proof of effective connection to the Portuguese community (if married for less than 6 years).
Certified copy of the applicant’s passport or identification document.
Declaration of non-existence of divorce or judicial separation.
Nationality by Adoption
Who can apply:Fully adopted children of Portuguese citizens.
Required documents:Adopted person’s birth certificate, apostilled.
Full adoption certificate recognized by a Portuguese court.
Identification document of the applicant (passport or ID card).
Birth certificate of the Portuguese adoptive parent (obtained in Portugal).
Additional general steps:
Hague Apostille: Make sure all documents issued outside of Portugal are apostilled in the country of origin.
Certified Translation: If documents are not in Portuguese, they must be translated by a certified translator and apostilled.
Official forms: Many cases require specific forms provided by consular services or the Institute of Registries and Notaries (IRN).
Where to submit the application:
Portuguese Embassy or Consulate in the country of residence.
Directly in Portugal, at the Institute of Registries and Notaries (IRN).
Effective connection to the Portuguese community is automatically recognized if, at the time of the application:
You have been married or in a stable union for at least 6 years, or
You have been married or in a stable union for at least 5 years and prove knowledge of the Portuguese language, or
You have been married or in a stable union for at least 5 years and were born and are a national of a country with Portuguese as an official language, or
There are common children of the couple with Portuguese nationality, or
You have had legal residence in Portugal for at least 5 years, or
You have had legal residence in Portugal for at least 3 years and can prove you are studying in Portugal or have knowledge of the Portuguese language.