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Nationality law · Citizenship through your parents

Portuguese citizenship through your parents

A person with a Portuguese mother or father may have a route to Portuguese nationality by descent, subject to the parent's nationality status, filiation, civil registration and the applicable legal requirements.

NoResidency required
NoLanguage test (Portuguese parent)
TimingVaries by case
DualCitizenship OK

Initial assessment

Complete this form to request an initial assessment. We will respond as soon as reasonably possible.

Having trouble with the form? Email support@defesalegal.pt or call +351 222 084 267.

  • iNo residency required
  • iiNo language test (Portuguese parent)
  • iiiProcessing time varies
  • ivDual citizenship OK
  • vApply from USA/Canada

Qualify

Do you qualify?

Answer this one question:

Is your mother or father a Portuguese citizen?

If YES — you may qualify for Portuguese nationality by descent, regardless of:

  • iWhere you were born
  • iiWhere you currently live
  • iiiYour age
  • ivWhether you speak Portuguese
  • vWhether your parent is still alive
Start my application →

Compare

The simplest path to Portuguese citizenship.

Citizenship through parents is faster and easier than other routes.

i

Through Parents

Your situation.

  • No residency required
  • No language test
  • Simpler documentation
  • Processing time varies
  • Apply from anywhere
ii

Through Grandparents

  • No residency required
  • Language, culture and civic requirements (2026 law)
  • More documents needed
  • Processing time varies
  • Apply from anywhere
iii

By Naturalization

  • 7 or 10 years of residency required
  • Language, culture and civic requirements (2026 law)
  • Complex documentation
  • 7 or 10 years of residence, plus processing time
  • Must live in Portugal

Documents

Documents you'll need.

We guide you through every document — here's what to expect.

1. Your documents

  • iYour birth certificate — Must show your parent's name. Apostilled if issued outside Portugal.
  • iiYour passport or ID — Current and valid identification document.
  • iiiCriminal record certificates — Must be issued by the competent services of the country of birth, the country of nationality and any country where the applicant has resided after reaching the age of criminal responsibility, in accordance with article 6(11) of the Nationality Law. The form, translation and authentication required depend on the issuing country.

2. Your parent's documents

  • iPortuguese birth certificate — We obtain this from Portuguese archives if needed.
  • iiPortuguese passport or citizen card — Proof of their Portuguese citizenship.
  • iiiMarriage certificate (if applicable) — If names changed or to establish family connection.

Don't have all documents? Don't worry. We focus on obtaining Portuguese records from civil registries, parish archives, and government databases. Many clients start with incomplete documentation — we help fill in the gaps.

Our process

How we handle your citizenship application.

  1. Initial assessment. We review the parent's Portuguese documentation and the applicant's civil records and explain the applicable route, the documents needed and any issues identified.
  2. Document collection. We create your personalized document checklist and help obtain any missing Portuguese records from archives.
  3. Application preparation. Our legal team prepares your complete dossier, ensuring all documents are properly apostilled and translated.
  4. Submission to authorities. We submit your application to the Conservatória dos Registos Centrais and handle all communications.
  5. Portuguese birth certificate. Once approved, we obtain your Portuguese birth certificate — you are now officially Portuguese!
  6. Passport & citizen card. We guide you through obtaining your Portuguese passport and Cartão de Cidadão (citizen card).

Want to understand exactly how Portuguese citizenship applications are processed? Read our detailed step-by-step guide →

Eligibility

Check your eligibility in 2 minutes.

Answer a few questions to discover your likely path to Portuguese citizenship.

Benefits

What Portuguese citizenship gives you.

i

EU freedom of movement

Live, work, and study in any of 27 European Union countries without visas or work permits.

ii

Visa-free travel

A Portuguese passport allows visa-free or simplified entry to a wide range of destinations. Conditions depend on each destination's rules at the time of travel.

iii

Keep your current citizenship

Portugal allows dual and multiple citizenship. No need to give up your American, Canadian, or other passport.

iv

Nationality for your children

Children may have their own nationality route depending on their date of birth, the parent's status and the applicable law. Later generations must be assessed separately.

v

EU healthcare & education

Access to public healthcare and higher education in other EU countries depends on residence and each country's own rules.

vi

No tax impact until you move

Citizenship alone doesn't create tax obligations. Only Portuguese tax residents (183+ days/year) pay taxes.

FAQ

Common questions about citizenship through parents.

If your mother or father was Portuguese at the legally relevant time, you may qualify by descent, subject to filiation and registration requirements. Processing time depends on the registry and the state of the records.
You will need: your parent's Portuguese birth certificate, your own birth certificate showing your parent's name, your current passport, and criminal record certificates from the country of birth, the country of nationality and any country where you have resided after reaching the age of criminal responsibility. We can help obtain Portuguese documents from archives.
The parent route does not generally require a Portuguese language test. Naturalisation by residence now requires seven or ten years, and the grandparent route has its own material language and civic requirements under the 2026 law.
Much of the preparation and, depending on the parties' circumstances and the available procedure, parts of the formal process may be handled remotely or through legal representatives. Specific attendance or authentication requirements must be confirmed for each case. Applications may be submitted through Portuguese consulates or to the Civil Registry in Portugal.
Processing time depends on the registry, the state of the records and current processing volumes at the Conservatória dos Registos Centrais.
Children may have their own nationality route depending on their date of birth, the parent's status and the applicable law. Later generations must be assessed separately.
In most cases, Portuguese citizenship is not lost when someone naturalizes in another country. Even if your parent became American/Canadian, they likely retained Portuguese citizenship, which you can claim.
Government fees are approximately €250. Legal fees are quoted in writing after the initial assessment, based on the scope and complexity of the work. Official fees and third-party costs are separate.
Yes. Both the USA and Canada allow dual citizenship with Portugal. You do not need to renounce your current citizenship. You will have two passports.
Portuguese nationality provides EU citizenship rights, subject to EU and national rules. Travel access, healthcare, education and transmission to later generations each depend on their own legal conditions.

Trusted legal representation

Selected professional affiliations.

  • iOrdem dos Advogados — the professional regulator of the firm's lawyers
  • iiAmerican Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) — International Associate
  • iiiAmerican Bar Association (ABA) — International Associate
  • ivAssociation of European Attorneys (AEA) — Member

Contact us

Ready to claim your Portuguese citizenship?

Complete the form above to request an initial assessment. We will respond as soon as reasonably possible.

Our Offices

Porto
Edifício Scala, Rua de Vilar, 235, 2.º Esq.
4050-626 Porto, Portugal
+351 222 084 267

Lisboa
Praça Marquês de Pombal, 14
1250-162 Lisboa, Portugal
+351 210 204 586

What happens next?

  1. We review your submission as soon as reasonably possible
  2. A member of our team contacts you
  3. You receive a personalized eligibility assessment
  4. If eligible, we provide a clear proposal and timeline

All our lawyers are enrolled in the Portuguese Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados). We are international associates of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the American Bar Association (ABA). This website provides general information about Portuguese nationality law and does not constitute legal advice for your specific situation. Non-Portuguese tax and security clearance matters should be discussed with appropriate local professionals. © 2026 DefesaLegal.PT. All rights reserved.

Book

Ready to claim your Portuguese citizenship?

Complete the form to request an initial assessment. We will respond as soon as reasonably possible.

Check my eligibility →
or call (833) 569-0737

International legal associations

Selected professional affiliations

Ordem dos Advogados

American Bar Association (International Associate)

Association of European Attorneys (Member)

American Immigration Lawyers Association (International Associate)

Jorge Ferraz, attorney

Your Portuguese lawyer

Led by Jorge Ferraz.

Your case is led by Jorge Ferraz, admitted to the Portuguese Bar since 2002, working with a dedicated team of Portuguese lawyers — handled directly by qualified lawyers, in Portuguese and English.

More than two decades focused on Portuguese immigration and nationality law, with the seriousness each case deserves.

Book a consultation →