We help families broaden their horizons with Portuguese nationality
Our technical team consists mainly of lawyers and specialists in Portuguese nationality.
Contact us
Contact us
Advantages of obtaining Portuguese Nationality
Freedom, global mobility and lasting opportunities for you and your family.
-
-
Pass Portuguese nationality on to descendants and spouses
-
Easier entry to many countries worldwide
-
Access to the European Union education system
-
The Portuguese passport is one of the world’s most secure passports
-
Travel freely across all European Union countries
Why choose us for your Portuguese citizenship process?
-
Portuguese nationality specialists for 18 years
-
We are a law firm registered with the OAB and OAP, not a company
-
Thousands of families served safely and efficiently
-
Support at every stage, from document review to completion of the process
-
Every case handled with care, transparency and professionalism
-
Team specialised in international law
-
Clear, reliable experience even in complex, bureaucratic cases
-
Access to the Client Area for case tracking
Who is entitled to Portuguese Nationality?
Children of Portuguese citizens
Children of Portuguese citizens
Children of Portuguese citizens are entitled to recognition of original Portuguese nationality. This process allows the descendant to have nationality recognised directly in Portugal, ensuring access to Portuguese citizenship rights and, consequently, European Union citizenship.
Grandchildren of Portuguese citizens
Grandchildren of Portuguese citizens
Grandchildren of Portuguese citizens are entitled to recognition of original Portuguese nationality, provided family ties are proven and requirements under Portuguese law are met. Current legislation requires demonstration of knowledge of Portuguese culture, history and symbols, as well as fundamental rights and duties inherent to Portuguese nationality and the political organisation of the Portuguese State.
Great-grandchildren of Portuguese citizens
Great-grandchildren of Portuguese citizens
Great-grandchildren of Portuguese citizens are entitled to Portuguese nationality, but the procedure varies according to the situation of ancestors in the family line. When the second-generation ancestor (grandfather or grandmother) has already passed away, it is usually necessary to follow the successive nationality route, starting with the father or mother’s process — grandchild of the Portuguese citizen — before proceeding with the great-grandchild’s application. If first-generation (father or mother) and second-generation (grandfather or grandmother) ancestors are alive, the applicant may choose to complete the processes successively, starting with the grandparent, then the parent, and then their own application; or apply directly through the grandchildren route, which may allow “skipping” a generation when legal requirements are met. If all ancestors in the Portuguese line have passed away, the great-grandchild may currently apply for Portuguese nationality after legally residing in Portugal for 5 years.
Spouses of Portuguese citizens
Spouses of Portuguese citizens
People married to or in a de facto union with Portuguese citizens may be entitled to Portuguese nationality, provided the relationship meets the minimum period required by law and other applicable legal requirements are fulfilled. For marriage, the Portuguese citizen’s civil status must be regularised in Portugal, with the marriage duly transcribed in the Portuguese register. For de facto unions, the relationship must first be recognised by a Portuguese court before nationality can be applied for.
Other common types of proceedings
Marriage transcription
Marriage transcription
Marriage transcription in Portugal is the procedure for registering a marriage celebrated in Brazil (or abroad) under Portuguese law. This civil status regularisation is an obligation for Portuguese citizens who married outside Portugal. It keeps records up to date and avoids obstacles in future procedures such as issuing Portuguese documents, transmitting nationality or marriage-related processes.
Period of residence
Period of residence
Brazilian citizens who have lived legally in Portugal for at least 7 years under a valid visa, residence permit or residence title may be entitled to Portuguese nationality, provided other requirements under Portuguese law are met. For citizens of countries where Portuguese is not an official language, the minimum period of legal residence currently required is 10 years.
Recognition of foreign judgments
Recognition of foreign judgments
Recognition of a foreign judgment It is a judicial process for recognising a Brazilian (or foreign) court decision in a Portuguese court, and may only be conducted by a lawyer registered with the Portuguese Bar Association. Main types of recognition: a) Divorce recognition Recommended for those who divorced in Brazil and have a marriage recognised in Portugal. The application must be filed after marriage transcription and, in some cases, is required by Portuguese Consulates to issue a Portuguese electronic passport and Citizen Card. b) Adoption recognition\nAims to recognise in Portugal a full adoption judgment granted in Brazil, enabling a subsequent Portuguese nationality process for the adoptee. c) Paternity recognition\nSeeks to recognise in Portugal a paternity judgment issued by a Brazilian (or foreign) court, allowing the child to apply for Portuguese nationality. Recognition of stable union (or de facto union) in Portugal Recognition of a stable union in Portugal is a judicial process that formalises, under Portuguese law, cohabitation in a stable union between two people living as a couple outside Portugal, such as in Brazil. The process requires evidence of a public, continuous and lasting relationship, as required by Portuguese authorities. Once recognised in Portugal, the stable union may support an application for Portuguese nationality by the foreign partner, under applicable law.
Family and succession law
Family and succession law
Family law Family law varies from country to country, reflecting cultural and social factors in each jurisdiction. Divorce; Parental responsibility; Maintenance obligations; Property effects of marriage and de facto union. Succession If a Portuguese citizen dies in Brazil, it is important to open probate proceedings in the Brazilian courts if they left assets there. Article 89 of the Brazilian Code of Civil Procedure expressly grants exclusive jurisdiction to Brazilian authorities for inventories and division of assets located in Brazil, even if the deceased was foreign and lived outside Brazil. Under the Introductory Law to the Civil Code, Article 12: “Brazilian courts have jurisdiction when the defendant is domiciled in Brazil or the obligation is to be performed there.” If the deceased left assets in both Brazil and Portugal, two probate processes will generally be required — one in Portugal and one in Brazil — to complete succession of the estate. We therefore advise citizens living abroad and Luso-descendants with inheritance rights in Portugal to keep civil status records up to date to avoid future complications.
Is your case more specific or do you have questions?
Talk to our teamFind out what the required documents
According to Portuguese legislation, the documentation for a nationality process varies according to the basis of the application, that is, each case is different.
Therefore, if you are interested in knowing what documentation is required by the Portuguese body for your process, we recommend that you contact us.
Contact usHow we work?
Our clients' Portuguese nationality applications are filed directly in Portugal, with the Central Registry Offices and Civil Registry Offices.
Stage 5
Portuguese nationality application protocol
Once the documentation has been received in Portugal, we begin the application for Portuguese nationality with the competent authorities. After this, we inform our clients of the respective process number.
Stage 6
Procedural monitoring
Once the interested party’s nationality process number has been generated in the CRC system, we begin the procedural monitoring phase. During this phase, we allow the interested party to check the procedural progress of their process through our website – customer area. The Portuguese nationality process must comply with the seven phases: Data verification, Numbering, Consultations, Documentation verification, Analysis, Dispatch and Registration.
Stage 7
Registration
Once the process is complete and Portuguese nationality is granted, the applicant receives a Portuguese birth certificate issued by the competent authority. In order for the Portuguese national to apply for the respective documents (citizen card and Portuguese electronic passport), he or she must present the birth certificate in person, as representation by third parties is not possible. The documents can be requested in Brazil, at one of the Portuguese consulates, or in Portugal, at one of the Civil Registry Offices or at one of the citizen's offices.
Timeline of the Portuguese Nationality Process at the Registry Office
Click the numbers to read more
Receipt at the Registry Office
Receipt of the application for Portuguese Nationality
Click the numbers to read more
Assignment of case number
A number has been assigned to the Portuguese Nationality process
Click the numbers to read more
General enquiries
Consultations with external entities (Foreigners and Borders Service, Judicial Police, Portuguese Criminal Registry, consulates and registry offices)
Click the numbers to read more
Verification of documentation
Analysis of documents attached to the process
Click the numbers to read more
Case analysis
Analysis that all legally required conditions are met for granting Portuguese Nationality
Click the numbers to read more
Registrar’s decision
Decision on whether or not to grant the Portuguese Nationality application
Click the numbers to read more
Completion of the process
Registration of the new Portuguese citizen in the Civil Registry of Portugal or archiving of the process
Timelines for Portuguese Nationality proceedings
Timelines for obtaining Portuguese nationality may vary according to the type of proceeding, review by the competent authorities in Portugal and the completeness of the documentation submitted. In general, this is a procedure that requires attention at each stage and may change over time. That is why our firm works strategically and proactively, monitoring the entire process to provide greater security and efficiency.
Would you like to understand the timeframe for your case?
Talk to our team Talk to our teamExclusive access to the Client Area
Access the client area
Through the client area you can
Follow the full progress of the case in Portugal, from filing through each stage.
See when documents arrive at the firm and how they are handled.
Upload and download documents securely.
Message our departments directly for fast responses.
Follow updates from our team in real time. More autonomy, transparency and control for you.
Proud to be a Portuguese Citizen
There are countless reasons to become a Portuguese citizen.
I want to become Portuguese