Portugal Citizenship

Overview

When applying for Portuguese citizenship, you can make your application online, in-person, or by mail. Note that, if you choose the online option, your application must be completed through either a lawyer or a solicitor.

If you choose to apply in-person, there are a number of possible location options, including:

• the Institute of Registration and Notary Affairs at the National Support Centre for the Integration of Migrants (CNAIM) (there is one in Lisbon and Porto)
• the Central Registry Office in Lisbon
• the Central Registry Office (in Lisbon)
• The Portuguese Consulate in the country where you live. In Turkey specifically, there is an Embassy and Consular Section in Ankara. There are also Honorary Consulates in Istanbul, Antalya, and Izmir. Additionally, there are also Honorary Consulates in both Georgia and Azerbaijan.

If you choose to apply by mail, the form you use will vary depending on your particular circumstances.

The documents you need to have when applying for Portuguese citizenship vary based on the nature of your application. Generally speaking, you will require a birth certificate, a letter to the Portuguese Ministry of Justice in which you request Portuguese citizenship, and proof of your language ability.

But the specifics vary according to the type of application. For example, if you are pursuing one of the routes for applicants who were born in Portugal, you will need to provide proof that you were born in Portugal and that you have sufficient connections with the Portuguese community.

If you are applying for an investment-based residence permit, you will need to provide proof of your investments.

How to apply for Citizenship by Naturalisation for Turkish Citizens

If you are a Turkish citizen who has 5 years of residence in Portugal, you need to provide the following documents when applying for citizenship by naturalisation.

• Proof that you reside in Portugal
• Birth certificate (and marriage certificate, if applicable)
• Criminal record
• Proof that you speak Portuguese. Note that, in order to satisfy this condition, your Portuguese language ability will need to be to the A2 standard.

For more information on the documents needed for your specific application type, contact Total Law today either online or on +44 (0)333 305 9375.

Being of Portuguese Descent 

For the purposes of citizenship, you are considered of Portuguese descent if either of the following two circumstances apply:

• You have at least one Portuguese parent. Note that this parent must have been a Portuguese national at the time of your birth, regardless of the country in which you were born.
• You have a Portuguese grandparent who still has their Portuguese nationality. Note that, to be eligible for this route to citizenship, you must have been living in Portugal for at least three years at the time of your application and must also have connections with the Portuguese community, including sufficient knowledge of Portuguese.

Born in Portugal 

If you were born in Portugal but are not of Portuguese descent, there are a number of routes to citizenship which you can take. These are:

• You were born in Portugal whilst your parents lived in there, and you have been habitually living in Portugal over the last ten years
• You were born in Portugal either in or after 1981, to foreign parents, and one of them has resided in Portugal for at least 10 years
• You are either under 18 years of age or have a serious disability, with at least one of your parents having become a Portuguese citizen after you were born. Note that this only applies if you have been living in Portugal for at least 5 years

Born in a Portuguese overseas territory which was previously a colony of Portugal 

If you were born in any of the following Portuguese overseas territories, you may be eligible for Portuguese citizenship. These overseas territories are:

• Angola
• Cabo Verde
• East Timor
• Guinea-Bissau
• Macao
• Mozambique
• Portuguese India
• São Tomé and Príncipe

Note that you will need to be a resident of a Portuguese community within that territory.

In a relationship with a Portuguese Citizen 

If you have been married to or in a non-marital partnership with a Portuguese citizen for 3 or more years, you may also be eligible to apply for Portuguese citizenship.

Note that you will be asked to provide either a copy of your marriage certification or non-marital relationship registration when applying for Portuguese citizenship on this basis. Your marriage or non-marital relationship must have been registered in Portugal.

Citizenship through Naturalisation

If you have lived legally in Portugal for at least 5 years, you may be eligible to apply for Portuguese citizenship through naturalisation. In order to be eligible, the following conditions must be met:

• You must be at least 18 years old
• You must have sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language, specifically an A2 level of language proficiency
• You must not have been convicted of a crime which carries a penalty of 3 or more laws, as stated in Portuguese law

Note that you will be asked to provide evidence that you have been legally living in Portugal for at least 5 years.

Previously had Portuguese Citizenship

If you have previously had Portuguese citizenship, you may be eligible to regain it if any of the following circumstances apply:

• After losing your Portuguese citizenship, you never obtained citizenship of a new country
• Your Portuguese citizenship was lost due to obtaining citizenship of a new country (e.g. if the new country does not allow dual citizenship)
• Your Portuguese citizenship was lost when you were either a minor or deemed legally incapable, and the decision was made by your legal representative
• Your Portuguese citizenship was lost due to marrying a man who was not a citizen of Portugal, prior to 1981

Citizenship by Investment

Portugal’s Golden Residence Permit Program is increasingly popular with Turkish citizens. The Golden Visa program provides a 5-year residence permit, after which point you may be eligible to naturalise and apply for full citizenship.

In the meantime, the residence permit itself will provide you with visa-free travel in the Schengen Zone, which includes 26 European countries in total, and you will only be required to spend a minimum of 7 days a year residing in Portugal.

This is therefore an especially good option for applicants who wish to remain primarily based in Turkey.

With sufficient investment in Portugal, you may still be eligible to apply for this residence permit, though it is worth noting that this program is likely to be discontinued sometime during 2023.

In the meantime, there are a number of potential investment options from which you can choose:

• Acquiring real estate which is worth at least €280,000 (note that this figure includes renovation work). The real estate must be in a low-density urban rehabilitation area and be at least 30 years old
• Acquiring real estate which is worth at least €350,000 (note that this figure includes renovation work). The real estate must be in an urban rehabilitation area and be over 30 years old
• Acquiring residential property which is worth at least €500,000. The real estate must be in either the Algarve coastal region or in a rural or inland part of the country.
• Acquiring commercial or time-share property which is worth at least  €500,000. The property must be in an area of high-density tourism
• Transferring to Portugal an amount of at least €500,000. This amount must be invested in one of the following ways: units in an investment, scientific research, or the creation of 5 jobs.
• Transferring capital to Portugal which is worth at least €1.5 million fund
• Creating at least 10 new jobs. Note that these jobs need to be registered with the social security department.

Once you have held this residence permit for 5 or more years, you can then apply for Portuguese citizenship.

Other Routes to Citizenship

There are also some special circumstances in which you may be eligible for Portuguese citizenship. These are:

• You have provided relevant services to either the Portuguese State or the Portuguese community
• You are descended from Portuguese Sephardic Jews

If either of the above circumstances apply to you, you may also be eligible for Portuguese citizenship.

If you would like further information on any of the above routes, or specialist advice on which route is best suited to your particular circumstances, Total Law’s immigration advisors are able to help.

Contact Total Law today either online or at +44 (0)333 305 9375.