31 de October, 2025
Wondering how to get Portuguese citizenship? This complete 2026 guide explains every legal path to becoming a Portuguese citizen — whether by descent, marriage, residence, or investment. Many US citizens are now applying for Portuguese citizenship to enjoy dual nationality, visa-free travel in Europe, and the right to live and work across the EU.
Here you’ll learn how to apply, which documents are required, how long the process takes, and the costs involved — all updated with the latest 2025 amendments to Portugal’s Nationality Law.
Recall the history of changes to the Portuguese Nationality Law, and find out what may still change in 2026!
UPDATE: The amendments to the Nationality Law, approved by the Portuguese Parliament on April 1, 2026, are now awaiting promulgation by the new President of the Republic, António José Seguro — which is expected to take place later this April. Following this step, the law must be published in the Official Gazette (Diário da República) in order to formally enter into force.
Realizing your goal of living in Europe or obtaining European citizenship can be simpler than you think. We offer personalized support to make the immigration process more accessible and uncomplicated.
Not everyone can obtain Portuguese citizenship. The process is regulated by specific laws and requires a genuine connection to the country, whether by ancestry, marriage, residence, or other legally recognized connections.
According to Portuguese nationality law, the following individuals may qualify for citizenship:
Not eligible for citizenship yet? Explore our exclusive visa and residence programs in Portugal, designed for retirees, digital nomads, investors, and families who want to live legally in the country while preparing for future citizenship.
Portugal allows citizenship by descent up to the third generation, so children or grandchildren of Portuguese citizens can apply for Portuguese citizenship, even if they were born abroad.
For children of a Portuguese citizen by origin, the process is straightforward, requiring only documents such as birth and marriage certificates, with no need to prove ties with the Portuguese community or language proficiency.
For children of naturalized Portuguese citizens (acquired nationality), it is necessary to verify whether the birth occurred before or after the parent’s naturalization. If the child was born after the parent became Portuguese, they are eligible for citizenship by origin as a child.
If the child was born before the naturalization, the application can only be submitted while the applicant is still a minor and requires proof of effective ties to Portugal.
In the case of grandchildren, proving ties is necessary, and applicants must also demonstrate knowledge of the Portuguese language. Check here how the Portuguese language test for citizenship works.
| Degree of kinship | Main requirements | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Child of a Portuguese | Birth certificate of the Portuguese parent | Automatic right |
| Grandchild of a Portuguese | Birth certificate of the Portuguese ancestor and proof of effective ties to Portugal | Requires proof of language proficiency |
| Great-grandchild | Only if the parent or grandparent has already obtained citizenship | Step-by-step process |
| Adopted child of a Portuguese | Adoption by a Portuguese citizen before the age of 18 and recognition of the foreign adoption sentence in Portugal | Previously the limit was 15 years old; now extended to 18 due to changes in the Portuguese Civil Code |
🔗 Read more: Portuguese citizenship for children | Portuguese citizenship for grandchildren | Portuguese citizenship for great-grandchildren
To be eligible for Portuguese citizenship, an adopted child must have been adopted by the age of 18. There has been a change in the law; previously, the limit was until 15 years old. The change occurred because the process of Recognizing Foreign Sentence (RSE) for adoption required the adoptee to be up to 15 years old at the time of the application, excluding cases of adoption with older adoptees. The Portuguese Civil Code was amended to allow the recognition of sentences in which the adoptee is under 18 years old at the time of the adoption application.
The law does not provide for direct attribution. In other words, to obtain Portuguese citizenship as a great-grandchild, one of your parents or grandparents (child or grandchild of the Portuguese citizen) must obtain it first. This will establish a direct line of descent, allowing you to apply for your own citizenship. However, the citizenship applicant must be alive; it is not possible to request citizenship for a deceased relative.
🔗 Read more: Portuguese citizenship for great-grandchildren
Spouses or partners of Portuguese citizens may apply for citizenship, provided they meet the following basic requirements:
| Length of union | Main requirements | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 3 years (with or without Portuguese children) | Proof of effective ties with the Portuguese community: having a child with Portuguese citizenship, owning property in Portugal, frequent travel to the country, legal residence, or basic knowledge of Portuguese (level A2 or higher. | The more ties you can prove, the higher the chances of approval. |
| 6 years (without Portuguese children) | No need to prove language skills or present additional ties with Portugal. | Can also be granted to spouses of Portuguese citizens with derived nationality (naturalization). |
🔗 Read more: Portuguese citizenship through marriage
Until 03/10/1981, a foreign woman married to a Portuguese citizen automatically acquired nationality, even if it was not registered in the Civil Registry. In such cases, it is necessary to open a process to carry out the missing registration and recognize the nationality acquired on the date of marriage.
The application will be denied if the applicant has performed non-technical public functions or served in the non-compulsory military service of another country.
Currently, foreigners who live legally in Portugal may apply for citizenship after 5 years of residence. However, with the proposed changes under discussion in 2025, these terms are expected to become more restrictive. Under the draft law, citizens of non-CPLP countries — including the United States — would need to complete 10 years of legal residence before applying. Citizens from CPLP countries may benefit from shorter residence requirements.
Residency does not need to be continuous; it can be accumulated over a period of 15 years. Applicants must be legally residing in Portugal to submit their request, and the time is calculated from the issuance of the residence permit or visa.
🔗 Read more: Portuguese citizenship by residency.
See also: The main residence visa options in Portugal – and who they are most suitable for.
The granting of Portuguese nationality to descendants of Sephardic Jews — expelled from Portugal and Spain between the 15th and 18th centuries — was once a relatively common path. However, with changes in the law in 2022, the process became more restrictive. Now, in addition to proving Sephardic origin, it is mandatory to demonstrate an effective connection with Portugal, which must be shown through:
🔗 Read more: Portuguese nationality for descendants of Sephardic Jews.
For those with financial resources, the easiest route to acquiring Portuguese citizenship may be the Golden Visa, a residence permit program for those who make qualified investments in the country. This program is extendable to family members.
The following requirements must be met:
Find out all about the Golden Visa Portugal
Portugal provides for some chances of obtaining Portuguese citizenship for children born in the country, however it is necessary to fulfill some requirements. The main legal hypotheses for obtaining Portuguese citizenship for children born in Portugal are the following:
Upcoming Change in Law (2025)
According to the changes proposed in the 2025 Portuguese Nationality Law, still pending the President’s approval, children of foreign parents born in Portugal will only be eligible for Portuguese citizenship if their parents have been legally residing in Portugal for at least five years.
🔗 Read more: Portuguese citizenship for children born in Portugal.
Does having a child in Portugal grant citizenship? In some cases, yes.
Foreign parents of minor children who obtained Portuguese nationality by attribution may apply for citizenship by naturalization, as provided for in Article 6, No. 8 of the Portuguese Nationality Law. This is a simplified route for families who have already built their lives in Portugal.
To qualify, the following requirements must be met:
In cases where a Portuguese language test is required to prove local language proficiency, the proposed 2025 nationality law also introduces a test on Portuguese culture, history and politics, similar to requirements in other countries, such as Spain. Make sure to check with your consultant whether this new rule is already being applied before submitting your Portuguese citizenship.
The first step is to confirm if you qualify under the Portuguese Nationality Law.
At this stage, gather detailed information about your Portuguese ancestor, including:
If locating old records is difficult, consider hiring a document researcher or genealogist in Portugal — they can help find missing parish or registry certificates essential to your citizenship process. Discover how Atlantic Bridge can simplify genealogy research in Portugal.
The list of documents depends on the type of citizenship you’re applying for — by descent, marriage, residence, or other legal grounds.
You can apply for Portuguese citizenship:
After submission, you can check your nationality process in Portugal online at nacionalidade.justica.gov.pt.
This official government portal allows you to track the progress of your citizenship application using your process number — a useful step often searched as “nationality process check Portugal”.
If you do not have this number, you can obtain it through the Portugal Registry Hotline (+351) 211 950 500, or at Civil Registries that have a nationality service desk. It is necessary to present an identification document (for the applicant) or through a power of attorney.
The timeframe varies depending on the type of application and the registry office responsible. The government sets a maximum period of up to 29 months for adult applications; however, due to the growing number of requests, these deadlines have gradually increased over the years.
Currently, based on our experience, average processing times range from 6 months (in the case of minor children) to up to 48 months (for grandchildren and spouses).
Learn more in our article, which explains in detail how long it takes to obtain Portuguese citizenship.
The costs also vary depending on the type of citizenship application. In addition to the official fees charged in euros, applicants should consider extra expenses such as locating and issuing certificates, obtaining certified copies, apostilling documents, and possibly hiring legal assistance.
As for the official application fees, the amounts currently charged in Portugal are as follows:
For a detailed breakdown, we recommend reading our full article on the cost of Portuguese citizenship.
Yes, it is possible to request an accelerated Portuguese citizenship application in urgent cases. You must provide strong evidence showing how a delay in the Portugal nationality process could negatively affect you.
The decision to expedite the process is discretionary, depending on the responsible conservatory. Common reasons include:
However, it is increasingly difficult to speed up the Portugal citizenship process, so thorough preparation and documentation are essential.
If you are not a descendant of a Portuguese citizen and not married to one, you can still obtain Portuguese citizenship through the legal residence route. To do so, you will need a visa that allows you to stay in Portugal and eventually obtain a residence permit.
There are several types of Portuguese visas available, depending on your profile:
Yes — a U.S. citizen can have dual citizenship with Portugal. Both the United States and Portugal permit dual citizenship.
Hiring a consultancy to apply for nationality is a personal decision. Many people choose to carry out the process on their own. However, support from experienced consultants not only adds convenience but also represents a higher chance of success for your application. This is because a consultancy will analyze your case personally and provide guidance on the required documents, ensuring that all requirements are properly met. This avoids rework, delays, and unnecessary stress. Finally, a consultancy keeps you updated on your process, giving you peace of mind.
Atlantic Bridge is a consultancy company specializing in obtaining visas and citizenship in Portugal and Spain. Since 2018, we have helped over 5,000 clients with a competent team of consultants and a 99% success rate in their processes. We have a 4.9 rating on Google and offer personalized service.
Author:
Atlantic Bridge
