All ways to become a Portuguese citizenship
The Portuguese nationality law outlines several ways to acquire Portugal citizenship.
1. Birth. Children born to Portuguese parents residing in Portugal or adopted by them can obtain citizenship.
2. Descent. Children and grandchildren of Portuguese nationals born abroad can acquire citizenship. A more specific path is offered to Sephardic Jews, who can apply for a Portuguese passport if they are descendants of Sephardic Jews expelled from Portugal.
3. Marriage. Citizenship by marriage is available to spouses of Portuguese citizens.
4. Naturalisation. This route applies to foreign citizens who have lived in Portugal for at least 5 years. First, they must obtain a residence permit. Residency can be gained through employment, studying at a Portuguese university, founding a startup, or making an investment.
5 benefits of Portugal citizenship
1. Freedom of travel. A Portugal passport allows travelling visa-free to 172 countries, including all the Schengen states, the USA, Canada, and Australia.
Some countries require Portuguese nationals to obtain a visa on arrival or an Electronic Travel Authorization, eTA, in advance, which usually takes only a few minutes.
2. Quality of life. While being a relatively affordable place to live, Portugal offers a high quality of life: it is ranked in the top 30 most prosperous countries in the Prosperity Index by the Legatum Institute.
The index evaluates various aspects of living in 160 nations, including infrastructure, market access, and safety and security. In Portugal, the personal life and living conditions pillars were ranked high.
3. Education. Portugal nationals can study at local universities without tuition fees, including the eight Portuguese universities from the QS World University Ranking.
Aside from that, they can choose to study at any EU university without having to take exams for international students.
4. Work and business. Portugal citizens can freely work and start or expand their business in any EU state. They won’t have to obtain work permits or long-term visas to move to another EU country.
5. Laid-back lifestyle. Portugal is one of the top choices for expats from all over the world — and one of the reasons is its tranquil and calm setting. After moving here, people quickly set aside their work-centric attitude to enjoy their lives under the refreshing ocean breeze.
Portugal citizenship by naturalisation
According to the Portugal Nationality Law, citizenship by naturalisation is granted to foreigners who have been lawfully living in Portugal with a valid residence permit for at least five years.
There are five main ways to obtain residency in Portugal for foreigners:
- By investment.
- By obtaining a visa for financially independent people.
- By founding a startup.
- By working for a Portuguese employer.
- By committing to study or scientific research at a Portuguese university.
Other requirements include proving a substantial link with the national community, sufficient knowledge of Portuguese, and availability of means to provide for their livelihood. Also, the applicant needs to prove that have never been convicted of a crime that, under Portuguese law, carries a sentence of three years or more in jail.
To prove their skills in the Portuguese language and ties to the local community, applicants also take a culture and language exam called “Certificado Inicial de Português Língua Estrangeira”. It consists of reading, writing, listening and speaking parts.
The timeframe for obtaining residency depends on the chosen way to apply. For instance, financially independent people can obtain residence permits within
Portugal citizenship by naturalisation after making an investment
The investment path to Portugal citizenship takes 6+ years. An investor first obtains residency by joining the Golden Visa Program. Then, provided that they kept the investment for at least 5 years, they can become a citizen of Portugal by naturalisation. Besides meeting residency requirements, they must provide a Portuguese language certificate at the A2 level or higher.
There are five investment options, starting at €250,000 for supporting local arts and restoring cultural heritage. Most Golden Visa applicants tend to choose the returnable options, such as acquiring shares in local fund units of at least €500,000.
Close family members of the main applicant can get residency permits under the same investment. This applies to:
- spouses;
- children under 18;
- children from 18 to 26, fully financially dependent on the main applicant and are students or live with the investor;
- financially dependent parent of the investor or their spouse.
For investors, obtaining a residency permit takes at least 12 months. After that, they are required to renew it every two years. To do so, they must maintain the investment and visit Portugal at least 7 days a year.
How to get Portugal citizenship by naturalisation after investment: a step‑by‑step guide
According to Immigrant Invest’s experience, it takes at least 6.5 years to get a Portuguese passport. This period includes five years of maintaining resident status, around a year to obtain the residence permit by investment, and the consideration of the citizenship application.
The process of acquiring Portugal citizenship is relatively easy compared to citizenship in other EU countries. For instance, applicants for Portugal passports do not need to pass a citizenship test or continuously live in the country.
The Golden Visa is issued by the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum, AIMA, which reviews the investor’s application for a residence permit.
Residence permits are issued for two years each. To renew the document, investors must maintain the investment.
Investors seeking Portugal citizenship do not need to live continuously in the country. Spending 7 days a year in Portugal is enough. However, they need to pass a language proficiency test at the A2 level or higher.
The application is filed in person at a Civil Registry Office, Nationality Desk, Residency Spaces, the National Support Centre for the Integration of Migrants, or a Portuguese consulate in the area of residence.
The applicant pays a fee of €250.
The time required to consider the application depends on the queue for citizenship. The Portuguese authorities verify fulfilment of residency requirements and a criminal record.
After approval, the foreigner files an application for a passport at a Civil Registry service in an appropriate city. The passport is received at the same office.
All passports received by Portugal citizens are electronic and contain biometric information to help identify the person.
The Portugal passport is valid for five years for all persons over 4 years old. For children under 4, the validity is two years. In 2024, the Portuguese government announced that passport validity would be extended from five to ten years.
At Immigrant Invest, we help investors obtain Portuguese residency through the Golden Visa. This type of residence permit is granted in exchange for investment in funds, businesses, research, or culture. The minimum sum is €250,000.
After five years, Golden Visa holders can apply for Portuguese citizenship without needing permanent residence, provided they meet legal requirements, including basic Portuguese proficiency. With our expertise, clients transition seamlessly from residency to an EU passport.
Lawyer, AML Compliance officer, certified CAMS specialist
Portugal citizenship by marriage
Spouses of Portuguese nationals can get a Portugal passport after 3 years of marriage. This also applies to registered partners if they can prove they were in relationships for over 3 years.
Aside from that, the applicant provides documents proving their ties to the Portuguese community: salary receipts, utility bills, personal income tax declarations, Portuguese language certificates, etc.
Timeframe. The process of obtaining Portuguese nationality by marriage can take 1 to 2 years, depending on the applicant’s circumstances.
Fees. To request citizenship, applicants pay an application fee of €250. They also need to pay the exam fee of €75.
Portugal citizenship by birth and by descent
By birth. Children born on Portuguese territory to a family of Portuguese nationals automatically become citizens of the country.
A child born in Portugal can acquire citizenship by birth even if their parents are not citizens. It is the case only when at least one of the parents had resided in Portugal for at least a year before the child's birth.
If a child was born to a Portuguese family living abroad and has citizenship of another state, they still can request a Portugal passport. This also applies in cases when only one of the parents is Portuguese.
To apply, children of Portugal citizens need to provide their birth certificates and the birth certificates of their parents.
By descent. In Portugal, citizenship by descent is granted only to direct grandchildren of Portuguese nationals. It is required that that grandparent hasn’t lost their citizenship.
Descendants will be granted citizenship if they prove their ties to the Portuguese community. The connection can be reasoned by:
- knowledge of the Portuguese language;
- documented frequent visits to the country;
- residency in Portugal;
- rented or owned property in Portugal for more than 3 years;
- regular participation in activities of Portuguese communities abroad within the last 5 years.
The application fee for descendants and children of Portuguese nationals is €250.
Portugal citizenship for Sephardic Jews
Sephardic Jews can obtain Portugal citizenship if their ancestors were expelled from Portugal during the 15th century. To prove the ancestry, the applicant must present genealogical evidence and other documentation demonstrating a connection to a Sephardic Jewish family originally from Portugal.
Applicants must live in the county for at least three years, instead of the five years required for the naturalisation route. Alternatively, they can prove their connection to Portugal, such as owning real estate or running a business there. They must also not be convicted of a crime punishable by a prison sentence of three years or more under Portuguese law.
The application fee for Sephardic Jews seeking citizenship is €250.
Dual citizenship in Portugal
Portugal allows dual and multiple citizenship, meaning foreigners do not need to renounce their nationality when obtaining a Portugal passport. However, if the person’s country of origin does not permit holding more than one passport, they must choose between the two citizenships.
Some countries that do not allow dual citizenship are China, Ethiopia, Singapore, Spain, and Japan. There are also countries that permit dual citizenship under certain circumstances. For instance, in the Netherlands, only spouses of Dutch citizens are allowed to retain their other nationality.
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Frequently asked questions
How to get a Portugal passport?
Foreigners can get a passport by birth, descent, marriage, or naturalisation. Each path has its own requirements, such as being married to a Portugal national for citizenship by marriage, or having Portuguese grandparents for citizenship by descent.
The most common path is naturalisation, under which one must live in Portugal for at least five years and pass a language proficiency test. To legally reside in the country, it is required to obtain a residence permit, issued for such purposes as studies or employment. The easiest way to do it is to get the Golden Visa, also leading to citizenship by naturalisation.
What is the easiest way to get citizenship in Portugal?
The easiest way to get Portugal citizenship highly depends on the given circumstances.
Generally, it takes foreigners 5+ years to obtain Portuguese nationality by naturalisation. The one exception is the case of marriage to a Portugal citizen: in this case, it is required to be married or in a registered partnership for at least 3 years.
Before applying for citizenship by naturalisation, a foreigner has to reside in Portugal. There are multiple ways to do so. For instance, investors can get residency permits by purchasing local fund units.
Other ways include working for a Portuguese company, studying in a local university, or providing sufficient passive or remote income.
How many years does it take to get Portugal citizenship?
Generally, it takes foreigners 5+ years to obtain citizenship by naturalisation.
People marrying a Portuguese national will be able to get their passport after 3 years of marriage.
Is the Portuguese passport powerful?
The Portugal passport allows its holder to travel visa-free to 172 countries, making it the 5th strongest passport in the world.
Can a foreigner get citizenship in Portugal?
Yes, foreigners who don’t have relatives in Portugal can obtain citizenship by naturalisation. It’s available to those who have been lawfully residing in the country for at least five years.
There are different ways to move to Portugal and obtain a residency permit, including the investment path, working, or studying there.
How long does the Portugal citizenship obtaining process take?
It takes five years of residency in Portugal for a foreigner to become eligible for citizenship by naturalisation. Once they file their application, the processing of it will take from 6 to 12 months.
Faster naturalisation is available only to life partners of Portuguese nationals. For them, the requirement is at least 3 years of marriage or registered partnership with a citizen. However, the application processing can take up to 2 years.
Does Portugal allow dual citizenship or having three citizenships?
Yes, Portugal allows its citizens to hold passports of other countries. A person acquiring a Portugal passport won’t have to give up any other passports, even if they already have more than one citizenship.
Celia Castilho, Head of the Portuguese office
