How To Get A Portuguese Passport in 2025

Portugal’s passport is one of the most attractive in the world, offering its holders remarkable global mobility, access to a strong economy, and a high quality of life. According to our Global Passport Index, it ranks highly among the most powerful passports, granting visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 190 destinations.

As a European Union member state, holders of a Portuguese passport have the right to live, work, and study throughout the European Union, making this passport highly desirable. In this article, we will explore why the Portuguese passport is considered one of the best in the world.

To obtain a Portuguese passport, one must first become a Portuguese citizen. Citizenship can be acquired through birth, descent, marriage, or naturalization, which requires residency in Portugal for at least five years. Once you become a Portuguese citizen, you can apply for a passport.

You’ll also learn more about:

• Portuguese passport power
• Portuguese passport requirements
• How to apply for a passport
• Portuguese passport processing time

Portuguese Passport Benefits

A Portuguese passport is a travel document issued to citizens of Portugal for international travel and signifies their citizenship in the European Union and enables free movement within the EU. A Portuguese passport offers a variety of valuable benefits – both within Portugal itself and across the European Union.

• Right to live, study, and work in the EU: Portuguese passport holders can legally live and work anywhere in the European Union.
• Free access to quality schooling: Holders of Portuguese identity documents enjoy free education in some of the world’s best institutions and government-sponsored healthcare programs offering coverage across Europe.
• Excellent quality of life: Portugal is a wonderful place to live, with a warm climate, a safe environment, and excellent Mediterranean cuisine.
• Employment opportunities: Those with a valid residency permit enjoy full-time employment without the need to apply for additional visas, as stipulated in Portugal’s visa entry requirements.
• Low living costs: Portugal is relatively affordable compared to its European Union neighbors. Portugal passport holders can benefit from the country’s considerably lower price tags, and stretch their currency value more efficiently.
• Schengen Area privileges: Portuguese citizens benefit from visa-free travel across the Schengen Area, which includes 29 European countries.

Portuguese Passport Power

Portugal’s passport is highly valuable when traveling abroad. Passport holders and citizens have visa-free access to 29 countries in the EU and 120 countries outside the EU. Additionally, a visa is granted on arrival in 30 countries, and an electronic visa is required in 12 countries.

Portugal passport holders do, however, require a visa to enter about 17 destinations in the world, such as China, Afghanistan, Algeria, Ghana, Mali, Nauru, and the Syrian Arab Republic.

Portugal ranks 24th in Global Citizen Solutions’ Global Passport Index. This makes it one of the most powerful passports in the world for mobility and quality of life, ranking 13th in the Enhanced Mobility Index and 6th in the Quality of Life Index. Portugal also ranks high in several of our Global Intelligence Unit‘s reports.

How to Get a Portuguese Passport

Before you apply for a passport, you must first acquire Portuguese nationality. The most common routes to Portuguese citizenship are:

Passport through marriage: Marriage is a standard route to obtaining Portuguese citizenship. To qualify, you must be married to a Portuguese citizen or someone who holds a Portugal passport for at least three years or currently cohabiting with them. While previous residency in Portugal is not required, you must provide valid identity documents proving your marital relationship and connection to the Portuguese community.

Citizenship by descent: If you have a Portuguese parent or grandparent, you are eligible for a Portugal citizenship by descent. To apply for citizenship through this route, you must provide identity documents proving your parental lineage, such as an original birth certificate or a certified copy.

Citizenship by naturalization: To qualify for naturalization, you must be a legal resident with a valid residency permit in Portugal for at least five years. After these five years, you can obtain a permanent residency permit and acquire nationality, whereby you can apply for a passport.

Sephardic Jewish heritage: If you have Jewish heritage, you might be able to claim Portuguese citizenship for Sephardic Jews and apply for a passport as a member of the community. In 2024, changes to this legislation are under discussion in parliament, which may affect the regulations for descendants of Portuguese Sephardic Jews.

Citizenship by investment: The Portugal Golden Visa provides foreign investors and their immediate family members with a temporary residency permit and the opportunity to apply for Portuguese citizenship after five years. To qualify for the Portugal Golden Visa, investors need to significantly contribute to Portugal’s economy.

Portugal Passport Requirements

After living legally in Portugal for five years, you can apply for citizenship and a regular passport, which is only issued to Portuguese citizens. You must have Portuguese nationality confirmed with a valid Citizen Card to apply for a passport. If your Citizen Card or ID is expired, you must renew it first.

If you haven’t applied for citizenship yet, you’ll need to provide the authorities with the following documents:

• Proof of a clean criminal record in Portugal
• Proof of a clean health record
• Proficient in the Portuguese language on an A2 level
• Provide proof of legally living in Portugal for five years

When applying for your Portuguese electronic passport, you will need to present the following documents:

Application form: completed and signed

Valid identification document: A current Cartão de Cidadão (Citizen Card) or Bilhete de Identidade (old identity card). This must be valid; if it has expired, you must renew it before applying for a passport.

No passport photos are required as your biometric data (photo, fingerprints, signature) will be captured at the passport office during the application. For minors (under 18) or legally incapacitated adults, the Citizen Card or ID card must be valid and the application must be accompanies by identification document of a parent or legal guardian.

How to Get a Portuguese Passport

All Portuguese passports must be applied for in person, as fingerprints and a digital photo are taken as part of the process. Because of the biometric data requirements, there is no online-only application for a first-time passport or renewal. However, you can schedule your visit online or by phone in advance, or walk in to request service on the same day.

You can submit your passport application at any Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado (IRN) passport issuance location across Portugal, including:

• Conservatórias/Registos (Civil Registry Offices)
• Lojas do Cidadão (Citizen Shops)
• Passport offices at major airports (Lisbon, Porto) for expedited services
• Autonomous regional governments of Madeira and the Azores
• A Portuguese Embassy or Consulate if you are residing outside Portugal

On the scheduled day (or as a walk-in), go to the chosen office with your required documents. You will fill out a short application form, provide your fingerprints and digital photograph, and sign the application.

You’ll also pay the applicable fee and receive a pickup slip or receipt. At some offices, you might receive an SMS text message when your passport is ready for pickup, or the office will give you an estimated date. You can choose to collect it in person or have it delivered by mail. If you opted for mail delivery, it will be sent by registered mail to your address.

If applying from outside Portugal, you must provide the following documents to the local authorities:

• Your previous passport
• A valid identity document
• Your contact details

Portugal passport renewal

Your passport is valid for five years and can be renewed. However, starting in early 2026, new passports will be valid for 10 years. If your passport is set to expire within the next six months, you can apply for renewal for €100. An additional fee applies for early renewals, such as in cases of a lost or stolen passport. For the Portugal passport renewal, you’ll need to provide the following documents:

• Citizen card
• When renewing, you should bring the most recent passport, even if it is expired. If the previous passport was lost or stolen, you will need to report that and sign a declaration of loss during the application.

If your passport has already expired, you will need to reapply for a new passport and complete the full application process again.

Portuguese Passport Processing Time

The processing time when applying for a Portuguese passport depends on the service speed requested. Once you submit the required paperwork and opt for standard processing, your passport will be available in approximately five business days.

However, if you need it sooner, there are a few options:

• Express Processing: Pay €20 more and get it in approximately two working days
• Urgent Processing: Pay €30 extra for faster processing, with next working day availability
• Same-Day Service: Available at the Lisbon Airport passport office for urgent travel
• Temporary Passport (Passaporte Temporário): Issued in emergency situations when even same-day issuance is not feasible.

Portugal Passport Costs

The Portuguese passport’s price depends on the delivery term and on the location where you submit the request. The application fee for a Portuguese electronic or regular passport is €65 if you apply within Portugal and €100 if you apply for a passport abroad. This fee does not cover the renewal of an expired citizen card.

Here’s a breakdown of the processing costs if you don’t choose the standard waiting time:

Express Service: €85
Urgent Service: €95
Emergency/Same Day: €100

If you applied for a frequent traveler passport, which has 48 pages instead of the usual 24, higher fees apply. Expect to pay €100 for standard, €120 express, €130 urgent, and €135 same-day service.

Payment is made at the time of application at the office where you apply, and at most offices, accepted payment methods include cash and Multibanco debit card, while some locations also accept credit cards. If you choose to have the new passport mailed to your address, there is an additional postage fee of €10 for deliveries within Portugal.

Dual Citizenship in Portugal

The Portuguese government allows dual citizenship, so you can keep your previous passport while obtaining a Portuguese passport. If you were born abroad, verify with your country of origin whether dual citizenship is allowed. If not, you may need to renounce your original passport to receive a Portuguese passport.

However, if your home country allows dual citizenship, you can retain your previous passport and acquire a regular one in Portugal.

Why choose Global Citizen Solutions for your Immigration Visa?

GLOBAL APPROACH BY LOCAL EXPERTS

• GCS has offices located across Portugal.
• Members of the US-Portugal and UK-Portugal Chambers of Commerce in Portugal, and the Investment Migration Council (IMC).
• Our expert team can help you throughout your journey to secure your Visa.

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• Our successful track record in applications provides reassurance to applicants.
• We have helped clients from more than 35 countries secure residency in Portugal.

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• With a single channel of communication, our approach ensures that you have complete clarity on your application.
• Our BeGlobal® Onboarding System allows for a total flow of information.

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