Portugal Citizenship Requirements, Do You Qualify?
REQUIREMENTS FOR PORTUGUESE CITIZENSHIP & HOW TO APPLY FOR CITIZENSHIP WITH PORTUGAL
The requirements for Portuguese citizenship are fairly lenient compared to many of the other European countries that offer dual citizenship. That’s especially true for its naturalization policy.
However, there are many other requirements for Portuguese citizenship, and we will review each of them in detail below.
If you need to learn more about different requirements for Portuguese citizenship, please see other guides to deepen your understanding even further:
- Our guide to Portugal citizenship documentation.
- Learn the different pathways available for getting Portuguese citizenship.
- Find out how to apply for citizenship with Portugal.
Portugal Citizenship Requirements - 5 Pathways
Portugal offers 5 potential pathways for obtaining Portuguese citizenship. Each of these paths have different sets of requirements to apply:
- By descent (through ancestors)
- Golden Visa
- Sephardic Jewish connection
- Through marriage or long-term relationship with a Portuguese citizen.
- By naturalization
To learn more about each of these, check out this guide on getting Portuguese citizenship.
Core Portuguese Citizenship Requirements Across All Pathways
The following requirements stand for everyone except those who were born to a parent with Portuguese citizenship. Otherwise, these will apply:
- Clean Criminal Record
This is a way for Portugal to keep its country safe. Even if you can provide a record free from serious convictions, if the authorities still consider you a danger to the country for any reason, they will deny your application. - Clean Health Certificate
Being free of communicable diseases that might endanger others is required. The rationale here is easy enough to understand. - Language proficiency
You’ll need to show some proficiency in Portuguese, but here, the country is much more open than others. While other European countries often require B1 level (an intermediate level), Portugal only requires the A2 level (an elementary level).
That means you are only expected to understand sentences and frequently used expressions. You’ll also be able to communicate simple information over common, routine matters. And you’ll be able to use simple terms to describe your life, where you are, and urgent matters. - Community ties
Portugal requirements a lot more connection to the community than many other countries.
Portugal Naturalization Requirements
The most common path to Portuguese citizenship is through naturalization. As of 2024, the Portugal citizenship requirements for naturalization start counting from the moment you submit your residency permit application. Key Portugal citizenship requirements include:
- Legal residence in Portugal for 5 continuous years
- Being at least 18 years old
- Valid residency documentation
- Birth certificate
- Proof of integration into Portuguese society
For those interested in minimizing their physical presence while still qualifying, the Golden Visa program requires only about one week per year in Portugal while still counting toward naturalization requirements. Other visas, however, have other requirements. Learn about the different visa’s Portugal offers here.
Requirements for Portuguese Citizenship by Descent
Portuguese citizenship requirements vary significantly based on your ancestral connection. If you’re claiming citizenship through a parent, the process is streamlined with fewer requirements. In fact, the government considers this merely making official what is already a fact—because you were technically granted citizenship automatically at your birth.
For that reason, you only need to register your birth with the country, and they will grant you Portuguese dual citizenship. So all you need are:
- Your birth certificate
- Documentation proving your parent’s Portuguese citizenship
You will not need any language tests or community ties which makes this process more efficient than some others.
However, if you’re claiming through a grandparent or great grandparent, you will need:
- Complete documentation showing the chain of Portuguese ancestry
- Birth and marriage certificates for each generation
- Language proficiency certification
- Proof of community ties
- Clean criminal record
As you can see, the further separation means you’ll need to show a special connection to the country.
See our full guide on Portugal citizenship by descent here.
Sephardic Jewish Heritage Requirements
For those with Sephardic Jewish ancestry, Portuguese citizenship requirements focus on a real connection to those roots and an uninterrupted connection to your heritage.
- Documentation showing lineage to Portuguese Sephardic Jewish communities
- A certificate from a recognized Portuguese Jewish community confirming Sephardic descent
- Evidence of ongoing connection to Sephardic heritage, such as Ladino language use
Marriage-Based Requirements
Unlike many countries, citizenship is made easier for both spouses and long-term partners of Portuguese citizens. Typically, this pathway (a form of naturalization) has official marriage as an eligibility requirement—but not here!
You will need:
- Proof of marriage or documentation showing a stable relationship for at least 3 years
- Evidence of integration into Portuguese society
See our full guide on citizenship by marriage here.
Next Steps
Once you’ve gathered all required documentation and confirmed you meet the Portuguese citizenship requirements for your chosen pathway, the application process typically follows these steps:
- Submit your application through CNAIM in Lisbon or Porto, online via a legal representative, or at a Portuguese Consulate if outside Portugal
- Wait for processing, which typically takes 6 months to 2 years
- Receive your citizenship confirmation
Need Expert Guidance?
Navigating Portuguese citizenship requirements can be complex, but you don’t have to do it alone. Book a free consultation call with our citizenship experts, who can guide you through the process and ensure you meet all requirements for your chosen pathway.
This page was last updated with help by Marco Permunian
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