Portuguese Citizenship by Descent: Joao's Story

"Portuguese citizenship by descent" refers to the ability to obtain Portuguese citizenship for individuals born outside Portugal who have at least one Portuguese parent or grandparent who maintained their citizenship. This means you can apply for Portuguese citizenship through your ancestral connections, even if you weren't born in Portugal, as long as you can trace your Portuguese lineage to a parent or a grandparent.

Expat Fever is delighted to interview João, who recently completed the process of acquiring Portuguese citizenship by descent. Today, we’re exploring João’s journey from start to finish.

Expat Fever: You’ve just received your Portuguese passport. Can you walk us through the process?

João: Certainly—it took me a little over three years to finally obtain it.

Interviewer: How would you rate your proficiency in Portuguese?

João: I can speak and understand it quite well, although I do have an accent, because both my parents were from the Azores, specifically Terceira Island. Reading and writing are still a bit challenging for me. Luckily, since both my parents were Portuguese, and born in Terceira, I didn’t need to take a language exam.

Interviewer: Could you tell us a bit about your background?

João: Of course. Both of my parents were born in Portugal and immigrated to the United States over 50 years ago in the early 1960s. They met and married there. I’m not sure why they never registered my birth in Portugal while they were alive, but they simply didn’t do it. With both parents now deceased, I had to figure this process out on my own.

Interviewer: What steps did you have to follow?

João: I did research online and discovered that the first step was to register my parents’ marriage at the nearest Portuguese consulate, which, at that time, was luckily only about an hour away. That process took about a year—so I had to wait until it was completed before moving forward. Then, I submitted my application for Portuguese citizenship, which was approved two years later. For the last step in the process, I chose to go to Portugal in person to obtain my Cartão de Cidadão and passport. I felt like it was time. I connected with some cousins in Lisbon through Facebook, and they kindly offered their help. I also wanted to reconnect with that side of my family, as my parents had only visited Portugal once after my birth.

Interviewer: What occurred once you arrived in Portugal?

João: My cousins met me at the airport and took me to the registry office. There, I was informed that I needed to obtain the Cartão first. They digitally captured my fingerprints, took my photo, and collected my signature. After about six days, the citizenship card was ready. I then went back to pick it up and request my passport, opting for rush service for around 100 Euros.

Interviewer: How did you feel when you finally received your Portuguese passport?

João: It was a very emotional moment. A few days later, I left Portugal with both my passport and Cartão in hand.

Interviewer: Do you have any advice for others going through this process?

João: Yes, make sure you have some cash on hand for the registry office fees. My american bank card (through Chase Bank) did not work there. I'm not saying that anyone else will have the same difficulty, but it's prudent to have cash on hand when you go to the office. ATMs are widely available, just be mindful of any bank fees when withdrawing euros. Above all, don’t give up. If you really want it, you can do it—it’s not an overly difficult process, just one that requires patience.

​​Key points about Portuguese citizenship by descent

Eligibility:
To qualify, you must be able to prove your direct lineage to a Portuguese ancestor, typically through birth certificates and other official documents. 

Grandparent requirement:
You can apply for Portuguese citizenship even if your Portuguese ancestor is a grandparent, meaning you can claim citizenship through your grandparents. If applying through grandparents, a language proficiency exam is required, so it is advisable to request citizenship through a living parent, if possible. 

Proof of ancestry:
You will need to provide documentation to establish your connection to your Portuguese ancestor, including birth certificates and possibly passports if available. 

Application process:
Applications are usually made through a Portuguese consulate in your country of residence. 

Portuguese Consulate San Francisco (Wikepedia)

​Portuguese Consulates in the United States

Portugal has several consulates in the United States, including consulate generals and honorary consulates. 

Consulate generals 

• Consulate General of Portugal in Boston: Located in Boston, MA
• Consulate General of Portugal in Newark: Located in Newark, NJ
• Consulate General of Portugal in New York: Located in New York, NY
• Consulate General of Portugal in San Francisco, CA 

Other diplomatic representative offices 

• Embassy of Portugal in Washington, DC
• Portuguese General in New Bedford, MA
• Diplomatic representative offices in Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, New Orleans, San Diego, and San Francisco

To make an appointment at a Portuguese consulate, you can email [email protected]. The email should include your name, citizen card number, the consular act you need, and the location of the appointment.