Portugal Citizenship For Citizens of Qatar

Overview

• Stay in Portugal for a minimum of 5 years.
• Be at least 18 years old.
• Prove that you have integrated into the Portuguese community.
• Have no criminal record.
• Have no tax obligation in the country.
• Pass the Portuguese language test.

Documents Required for Portugal Citizenship

After you have met the above eligibility criteria, you are required to provide some supporting documents for your Portuguese citizenship application. The documents include:

Criminal Record Certificate

The criminal record certificate also called the Police Clearance Certificate, is issued to Qatari residents who have stayed in the State of Qatar for a minimum of 6 months.

You must obtain the criminal certificate from the Criminal Evidence and Information Department (CEID) attesting that you do not have any criminal charges against you.

Before you receive this certificate, relevant authorities will conduct a background check to know if you have been involved in any criminal activity in Qatar. Once you receive the criminal record certificate, ensure that it is translated into Portuguese.

Proof of Exceptional Service to Qatar

Your request for Portuguese citizenship may be granted if you can provide evidence of your service to Portugal if you served the country or a community there.

Evidence of Your Ties to Portugal

You must provide proof that you have a connection to Portugal if you want to apply for Portuguese citizenship. You may not be required to provide this if you are taking the birth route to Portuguese citizenship.

To show ties to Portugal, Qatari nationals may need to provide the following:

• Letter of admission to an educational institution in Portugal.
• Your address in Portugal.
• Evidence of Portuguese proficiency (A2 level in CIPLE test).
• Your deed of agreement (proof of purchase of property).

Letter of Request for Portuguese Citizenship

You need to write a letter requesting to be conferred Portuguese citizenship status. The letter must be addressed to the Portuguese Justice Minister.

Include the following in the letter:

• Date of Birth.
• Nationality
• Full Name.
• Parents’ Names
• Residence Address.
• Occupation.
• Residence History.
• Civil Status.
• Lawyer’s Name and Address.

The letter has to be written in Portuguese and must be notarised before you send it by post. Also, ensure that the letter is signed at the Registry and provide additional documents if you are required to do so.

Birth Certificate

Children born in Portugal must be registered and obtain a birth certificate regardless of whether all the parents are Portuguese nationals. You need to provide your birth certificate to apply for Portuguese citizenship. It is important for the Portuguese authorities to know where you were born and the names of your parents.

Your Qatari Passport

You must present your valid Qatari passport as it is one of the important identification documents needed for your Portuguese citizenship application. Your Qatari passport has to be valid for 6 months beyond the day you intend to leave Portugal.

Proof of Lawful Residence in Portugal

You must prove that you have met the 5 years stay requirement and that you are a legal resident in Portugal. Also, provide the address of your residence where you have lived for that period in Portugal.

The Portuguese authorities need to know the current visa you hold. You must also show them the previous visas you have held in Portugal that have helped you meet the minimum 5-year stay in Portugal to qualify for citizenship.

Proof You Have Paid Visa Fees

To have your application considered and to avoid refusal, you must include a receipt as evidence for all the visa fees you paid.

Birth Certificates of Parents and Grandparents

When applying for citizenship by descent, you may need to include the birth certificates of your parents or even your grandparents to solidify your claim of being their descendant.

Marriage Certificate

You may need to prove that you are legally married to your spouse by presenting your marriage certificate. You must have lived together for at least 3 years without separation.

Online

You are not allowed to apply for citizenship online by yourself. Your immigration lawyer will take care of this application on your behalf.

Our immigration lawyers can help you apply for your Portuguese citizenship through the online platform the government of Portugal created for this purpose. Let us make your Portuguese citizenship application hassle-free. This is what we have done for so many Qatari nationals over the years with a massive success rate.

We know that you want to be a part of this journey and leverage our years of experience in handling Portuguese citizenship applications. All you need to do is get in touch with us at Total Law by calling us on +1 844 290 6312 or contacting us online for immediate assistance.

At the Counter

Visit your nearest Visa Application Centre (VAC) to apply for your Portuguese citizenship in person. Ensure you go with all the documents required of you and present them to be assessed.

The following are the visa application centres in Portugal you may visit. At the:

• Registry Spaces in Lisbon, on the Campus da Justiça, on Avenida Fontes Pereira de Melo, and in Benfica.
• Lisbon’s Central Registry Office.
• Nationality Desk.
• Civil Registry Offices.
• Odivelas Citizens’ Shop.
• Consulate of Portugal in your locality.
• Institute of Registration and Notary Affairs’ counter at the National Support Centre for the Integration of Migrants (CNAIM) located at Oporto or Lisbon.

By Mail

This is the third alternative for Portugal citizenship application submission. Before you mail your citizenship application, ensure you complete your application form and attach all supporting documents.

Follow the instructions provided by the Central Registry Office to complete your application form correctly. Your individual situation and the route to citizenship will determine the type of citizenship form that will be issued to you. Mail your application to Conservatória dos Registos Centrais, Rua Rodrigo da Fonseca, 202,1099-033 Lisbon.

By Marriage

If you want to apply for citizenship by marriage, you must have lived with your spouse for 3 years. Remember that you will be disqualified if you break up or are separated from your spouse.

You must prove that both of you live together by presenting utility bills paid by both of you if you are in a relationship. Alternatively, you may be required to provide a government-issued marriage certificate as proof of your union if you are married.

Show that you have a connection to the Portuguese community such as the property you own, the time you have spent in the country, your proficiency in Portuguese, etc.

By Descent

If you have Portuguese parents or grandparents you may automatically become eligible for Portuguese citizenship without living in Portugal or proving any ties to the country.

Sometimes, this route is also taken as Portugal citizenship by birth because you may also qualify for Portuguese citizenship even if you were born outside Portugal but still have a Portuguese parent or grandparent.

Generally, you would only need to prove your ancestry connection to your parents through your birth certificate and those of your parents. But the only problem you may face is if you cannot contact your parents, or if their birth certificates can no longer be found.

By Investment

Qatari citizens who want to enter Portugal for investment purposes can choose this route. This route is also called the Portugal Golden visa programme.

This citizenship by investment allows you to invest in Portugal and maintain the investment for a minimum of 5 years. You are expected to stay in Portugal for at least 35 days (7 days yearly), within the 5-year period of your investment.

You may invest €500,000 to purchase an already existing business in Portugal to create about 5 full-time jobs and other employment opportunities to boost the Portuguese economy. You may also choose to donate to both private and government research organisations.

You must prove that you have invested in Portugal for 5 years to qualify for Portuguese citizenship. After the 5 years, you may liquidate the investment if you wish to do so.

By Sephardic Jewish Ancestry

As a reparation to the Jewish people who vacated the Iberian Peninsula during the Inquisition era, Portugal offers citizenship to the Jewish people of Sephardic ancestry.

The Inquisition era took place in the 15th century; it does not mean that you must trace your ancestry down to that century to be granted Portuguese citizenship. You just have to trace it down enough to prove your Sephardic Jewish heritage.

By Exceptional Service

As a Qatari citizen, if you have served the country of Portugal in the military or have made a mark in contributing immensely to the national security and well-being of the country, you may be granted citizenship. You just need to prove that you have carried out exceptional services in the country for you to be issued citizenship.

By Adoption 

The only people qualified for this route to Portuguese citizenship are Qatari citizens who are below the age of 18 years. If you were legally adopted by Portuguese parents, then you may apply for citizenship through this route.

You must prove your ties to Portugal by providing proof of your admission into an educational institution in Portugal, your ties to the Portuguese community, or your proficiency in Portuguese.

Pleasant Weather

The weather in Portugal is more pleasant than those of many European countries. Many expats continue to come to Portugal yearly, mostly because of the weather and beautiful environments in Portugal.

The northern part of Portugal is colder whereas the southern part of Portugal is warm and soothing for people who come from a country that has warm weather.

Good Healthcare Services

Qatari citizens who hold Portuguese citizenship are entitled to all the public services in Portugal, including Public healthcare services.

You can rely on the National Health System (NHS) of Portugal, if you wish, rather than obtaining private health insurance. Some of the health services in Portugal are totally free, while others are affordable.

For example, the medical examinations conducted by doctors at public healthcare centres are free of charge and the Portuguese government reduces the cost of prescribed medications.

Live in Other European Countries

With your Portuguese citizenship, you may live in any of the other 26 countries in the European Union without being restricted. You will be allowed to carry out your activities in those countries for the first 3 months without any hindrance.

Thereafter, you will be required to obtain a Certificate of Registration if you wish to stay in any of the EU countries beyond the 3 months in order to live, work, or study. The process of getting the certificate of registration is simple.

While holding your Portuguese passport and other valid identification documents, you may be required to present the following to obtain your certificate of registration:

• Your employment contract (if you are employed).
• Your documents proving that you are self-employed (if you are self-employed).
• Certificate of enrollment into a Portuguese educational institution (if you are a student).
• Proof of sufficient funds.

Right to Pass on Nationality to Descendants

When you obtain Portuguese citizenship, you will be able to confer your nationality on your children. If you intend to have children in Portugal, they will become Portuguese citizens automatically when they are born because their parent is already a Portuguese citizen.

Citizens Rights in Portugal

You will be entitled to several rights Portuguese and European Union locals have. You will have the right to pensions, social security benefits, the right to vote and be voted for, etc.

You will be entitled to all the rights that the European Convention on Human Rights set out for its citizens, such as employment rights, security, freedom of thought, etc. Ultimately, Portugal citizenship will let you enjoy several human rights that you may not fully access in Qatar.

Affordable Education

Some of the world’s renowned Universities are located in Portugal and this has lured numerous international students into the country yearly. When you become a Portuguese citizen, you and your family will have to pay lower fees compared to what foreign nationals must pay for the same education.

Tax Exemption

As a foreign national who just obtained Portuguese citizenship, you will not be taxed twice by Portugal and your home country on the same income and at the same time. In Portugal, you will not be taxed on income you make abroad. Whereas, you will be taxed on income you make in Portugal but not as much as tax residents in the country.