portuguese citizenship
I am
Portuguese
Our office has a vast experience in processes for attributing and acquiring Portuguese nationality.
About Us
The Monica Braga & Carolina Portugal office was born from a partnership between two lawyers with experience in all aspects related to Portuguese nationality and European immigration law, who decided to join their efforts to provide a personalised, agile, complete and, above all, quality service, with no intermediaries.
We know that time is one of the most valuable assets in the world today, and that’s why we do our best to ensure that our customers have their needs met quickly and easily.
Monica Braga
Lawyer registered with the Portuguese Bar Association and the Brazilian Bar Association, authorised to practise her own right throughout the European Union using the European Lawyer’s identity card.
She has experience in Portuguese nationality processes, with emphasis on descendants of Sephardic Jews and nationality by marriage.
She also has extensive experience in the process of acquiring residence visas, especially the Golden visa, a visa for holders of own income (D7), a visa for expatriates and a study visa.
She works in the areas of Commercial Law, Corporate Law, Business Law, tax representation, marriage transcription, and standardisation of foreign sentence.
Carolina Soares Portugal
Lawyer registered with the Portuguese Bar Association and the Brazilian Bar Association.
She has experience in Portuguese nationality processes by attribution to grandchildren and children of Portuguese and by length of residence. He carried out several transcriptions of marriages and deaths that took place abroad in Portuguese registries.
With more than 20 years of experience, she worked as an assistant judge, presided over hearings and drafted sentences.
She has consolidated experience in litigation, especially in the ratification of a foreign divorce, donation, guardianship and trusteeship, as well as in de facto union recognition action in Portugal.
Oscar Morelos
He is our commercial partner in North America, responsible for providing a personalised service to each one of our customers.
He is trilingual, he speaks Portuguese, English and Spanish perfectly, so your service can be done in the language that makes you more comfortable.
Our Services
Portuguese citizenship
Marriage and death transcripts
Standardisation of foreign sentence
Step-by-step process to obtain the Portuguese citizenship:
Verify the right to obtain the Portuguese nationality;
Assist in gathering all necessary documentation in Portugal and in the country of origin;
Thoroughly analyse the paperwork and notify of possible corrections;
Fill in the form correctly, as there are several types of them and they are written in Portuguese;
Formulate requirements and comply with administrative requests whenever deemed necessary;
Analyse the best administrative entity to initiate the process;
Monitor the process online;
Appeal administratively if required;
Schedule a meeting for clarification when necessary;
Living in Portugal
The quality of life, the safety and the people, make Portugal a great place to live.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Como saber se sou candidato à obtenção da cidadania portuguesa?
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec sed finibus nisi, sed dictum eros. Quisque aliquet velit sit amet sem interdum faucibus. In feugiat aliquet mollis. Etiam tincidunt ligula ut hendrerit semper. Quisque luctus lectus non turpis bibendum posuere. Morbi tortor nibh, fringilla sed pretium sit amet, pharetra non ex. Fusce vel egestas nisl.
Quais são os requisitos?
Curabitur non bibendum ligula. In non pulvinar purus. Curabitur nisi odio, blandit et elit at, suscipit pharetra elit. Fusce ut mauris quam. Quisque lacinia quam eu commodo mollis. Praesent nisl massa, ultrices vitae ornare sit amet, ultricies eget orci. Sed vitae nulla et justo pellentesque congue nec eu risus. Morbi ac feugiat ante.
Qual é a documentação que deve ser providenciada?
Etiam quis blandit erat. Donec laoreet libero non metus volutpat consequat in vel metus. Sed non augue id felis pellentesque congue et vitae tellus. Donec ullamcorper libero nisl, nec blandit dolor tempus feugiat. Aenean neque felis, fringilla nec placerat eget, sollicitudin a sapien. Cras ut auctor elit.
Os meus filhos ou netos têm direito à cidadania?
Curabitur fermentum nulla non justo aliquet, quis vehicula quam consequat. Duis ut hendrerit tellus, elementum lacinia elit. Maecenas at consectetur ex, vitae consequat augue. Vivamus eget dolor vel quam condimentum sodales. In bibendum odio urna, sit amet fermentum purus venenatis amet.
Quanto tempo demora o trâmite?
Curabitur fermentum nulla non justo aliquet, quis vehicula quam consequat. Duis ut hendrerit tellus, elementum lacinia elit. Maecenas at consectetur ex, vitae consequat augue. Vivamus eget dolor vel quam condimentum sodales. In bibendum odio urna, sit amet fermentum purus venenatis amet.
Não sei por onde começar, qual seria o primeiro passo?
Curabitur fermentum nulla non justo aliquet, quis vehicula quam consequat. Duis ut hendrerit tellus, elementum lacinia elit. Maecenas at consectetur ex, vitae consequat augue. Vivamus eget dolor vel quam condimentum sodales. In bibendum odio urna, sit amet fermentum purus venenatis amet.
Por que devo contratar os serviços de um advogado de imigração?
Curabitur fermentum nulla non justo aliquet, quis vehicula quam consequat. Duis ut hendrerit tellus, elementum lacinia elit. Maecenas at consectetur ex, vitae consequat augue. Vivamus eget dolor vel quam condimentum sodales. In bibendum odio urna, sit amet fermentum purus venenatis amet.
Quais são os benefícios de ser cidadão português?
Curabitur fermentum nulla non justo aliquet, quis vehicula quam consequat. Duis ut hendrerit tellus, elementum lacinia elit. Maecenas at consectetur ex, vitae consequat augue. Vivamus eget dolor vel quam condimentum sodales. In bibendum odio urna, sit amet fermentum purus venenatis amet.
Os candidatos devem falar português? Se sim, qual é o nível solicitado?
Curabitur fermentum nulla non justo aliquet, quis vehicula quam consequat. Duis ut hendrerit tellus, elementum lacinia elit. Maecenas at consectetur ex, vitae consequat augue. Vivamus eget dolor vel quam condimentum sodales. In bibendum odio urna, sit amet fermentum purus venenatis amet.
O meu cônjuge pode solicitar a cidadania?
Curabitur fermentum nulla non justo aliquet, quis vehicula quam consequat. Duis ut hendrerit tellus, elementum lacinia elit. Maecenas at consectetur ex, vitae consequat augue. Vivamus eget dolor vel quam condimentum sodales. In bibendum odio urna, sit amet fermentum purus venenatis amet.
Posso adquirir a nacionalidade sendo maior de idade?
Curabitur fermentum nulla non justo aliquet, quis vehicula quam consequat. Duis ut hendrerit tellus, elementum lacinia elit. Maecenas at consectetur ex, vitae consequat augue. Vivamus eget dolor vel quam condimentum sodales. In bibendum odio urna, sit amet fermentum purus venenatis amet.
Posso adquirir a nacionalidade sendo maior de idade?
Curabitur fermentum nulla non justo aliquet, quis vehicula quam consequat. Duis ut hendrerit tellus, elementum lacinia elit. Maecenas at consectetur ex, vitae consequat augue. Vivamus eget dolor vel quam condimentum sodales. In bibendum odio urna, sit amet fermentum purus venenatis amet.
How do I know if I am eligible for Portuguese citizenship?
First, it is important to clarify that obtaining the Portuguese nationality can occur through attribution or acquisition:
In the case of obtaining nationality by attribution, we must know if the candidate has Portuguese ancestry (father, mother, grandmother, grandfather, great-grandmother, great-grandfather, etc).
Obtaining the Portuguese nationality by acquisition, however, is not related to ancestry, it derives from a factual situation, such as marriage, residence in Portugal, among others, and depends on an analysis of that specific case.
How long does the process take?
It is difficult to accurately predict the time of the process, as it can vary due to the moment when the process was initiated, as it happened during the pandemic.
However, it is not uncommon to see cases in which the usual deadlines are carried out in less time Therefore, we suggest an overall average for the main types of requests:
— Children of legal age – from 8 to 12 months
— Minors – from 3 to 5 months
— Portuguese grandchildren – from 25 to 30 months
— Nationality by marriage or common law – 25 to 30 months
What documentation must be provided?
In order to obtain nationality by attribution, in which case the candidate has Portuguese ancestry, the following paperwork is required: Birth certificate of the Portuguese ancestor and their descendants, in some cases the marriage certificate of one or more persons in the line of succession, criminal records of the countries where the applicant lived after the age of 16, copy of identity card or copy of passport, power of attorney (if represented by a lawyer). All documents must be translated and authenticated.
Do my children or grandchildren have the right to citizenship?
The children and grandchildren of Portuguese citizens are entitled to Portuguese nationality, without the need to reside in the country, it is necessary, in the case of a grandchild of Portuguese, to demonstrate very basic knowledge of the Portuguese language. Children of a Portuguese citizen do not require to demonstrate knowledge of the language and must only prove that one of their parents is a Portuguese citizen and that they were recognised by the Portuguese parent at a minor age. In this case, the Portuguese birth record will retroact to the date of birth, that is, and as if the applicant had been born Portuguese.
I don't know where to start, what would be the first step?
To obtain the Portuguese nationality by attribution, in cases where there are Portuguese ancestors, the first step is to find their birth certificate.
Why should I hire the services of a specialised lawyer?
A correct guidance in the process is very important for it to be successful. Specialised lawyers have more clarity on the necessary paperwork and if they comply with the required way. They know what can go wrong, plan the whole process better and have a close contact with the administrative authorities, so they can initiate the process in person and fulfil any requirements more quickly.
Do I need to live in Portugal?
It is not necessary to live in Portugal in cases where the applicant is a child or grandchild of a Portuguese citizen.
Must applicants speak Portuguese? If yes, what is the required level?
Children of a Portuguese citizen do not need to speak Portuguese to obtain the Portuguese nationality, whilst the grandchildren need to demonstrate knowledge of the basic level of the language.
Can my spouse apply for citizenship?
Obtaining the nationality through marriage is one of the possibilities for acquiring nationality, not needing to have a Portuguese ancestor.
With the amendment of the Nationality Law in 2020, there are two different rules that are to follow, both for marriage and for common law.
• For proven relationships of over 3 years, the applicant is entitled to the Portuguese nationality, but they still need to prove ties with the Portuguese community, which may be of the couple’s Portuguese children.
• After 6 years of proven relationship with a Portuguese citizen, the applicant has the right to get the nationality, and proof of connection to the Portuguese community is no longer required.
Can I acquire the Portuguese nationality when I am of legal age?
Both adults and minors can acquire the Portuguese nationality, and the minor must be represented.
Lisbon is a global and vibrant city, considered one of the main economic centres in Europe. The financial, commercial, artistic, educational, and tourist aspects make the Portuguese capital one of the most popular destinations for people to live.
