You can apply for Portugal citizenship by descent if you have at least one parent, grandparent or great-grandparent who holds/held Portuguese citizenship. But it’s a bit more complex than just tracing an ancestral lineage.
To avoid rejections or delays, it’s important to know how Portuguese citizenship by descent is attributed, which documents you need, and what you need to do before lodging an application.
In this article, we’ll explore eligibility, how to prove effective ties to Portugal, and the application process, so that you’ll have a better understanding of how it works.
Portugal Citizenship by Descent: Key Takeaways
What is Portuguese citizenship by descent?
Portuguese citizenship by descent, also known as citizenship by ancestry or by origin, and in legal terms as jus sanguinis, is granted when you become a Portuguese national because at least one of your parents or grandparents is or was a Portuguese citizen.
However, Portugal’s nationality law changed significantly in May 2026 where it removed several citizenship by descent routes and added another.
In terms of Portuguese citizenship by descent, the amended Nationality Law added a direct legal route to citizenship for great-grandchildren under specific conditions.
However, the process is not automatic. You must prove your family connection and apply to have your Portuguese citizenship recognized.
It is possible to do this without living in Portugal, though the requirements vary depending on which generation you are applying through, and the great-grandchild route does require five years of legal residence in Portugal.
Previously, great-grandchildren could only pursue citizenship by first having a parent or grandparent register their own citizenship. Both options now exist.
The amended law also removed the Sephardic Jewish descent route and is no longer open to new applicants. Applications filed with the IRN before May 19, 2026 continue to be assessed under the previous rules.
Criteria for Portugal Citizenship by Descent
Portuguese nationality law sets out three recognized routes for citizenship by descent. Which one applies to you depends on your generational connection to a Portuguese citizen.
Child of a Portuguese parent
If you are born in Portugal to a Portuguese citizen, you acquire citizenship at birth automatically.
If you are born outside Portugal to a Portuguese citizen, you are eligible for citizenship by descent, but your birth must first be registered with the Portuguese civil registry.
If your Portuguese parent was serving the Portuguese state abroad, for example, as a diplomat or military personnel, citizenship is also automatic.
There is no language requirement, no criminal record certificate required, and no age limit to formalizing your citizenship later in life.
Grandchild of a Portuguese citizen
If you have at least one Portuguese grandparent, you can apply for citizenship by descent, provided the grandparent did not lose their Portuguese nationality. To qualify, you must:
- Declare your intention to be Portuguese
- Demonstrate an effective connection to Portugal
- Register your birth in the Portuguese civil registry
- Hold an A2-level Portuguese language certificate
There is no age restriction for grandchildren applying. However, you can’t apply for citizenship by descent if you have been sentenced to three years or more in prison for a crime that is punishable in Portugal, or are involved in terrorist activities.
Great-grandchild of a Portuguese citizen
As of May 2026, Portugal introduced a direct citizenship route for great-grandchildren (bisnetos) of Portuguese nationals for the first time. Through Organic Law n.1/2026 of 18 May, to be eligible, you must:
- Have legally resided in Portugal for at least five years
- Hold a B1-level Portuguese language certificate
- Demonstrate an effective connection to the Portuguese community
This route requires physical residence in Portugal under a valid residence permit, which makes it fundamentally different from the parent and grandchild routes. It is not a pathway for someone living abroad with no connection to Portugal.
The older “chain” method, where a parent or grandparent first registers their own Portuguese citizenship, and you apply through them, remains available and may suit families where an intermediate generation is willing to go through their own process first.
Proving Effective Ties to Portugal
The effective-connection requirement applies to grandchildren and great-grandchildren applying by descent, and the government has set out several ways to prove this genuine link to Portugal:
- Portuguese language proficiency: Showing the ability to speak and understand Portuguese at an A2-level. For great-grandchildren applying under the new route, the threshold is B1.
- Cultural and community involvement: Participation in Portuguese cultural associations, frequent visits to Portugal, or engagement in Portuguese traditions can support an application but does not replace the language requirement.
You can prove your Portuguese language skills through one of the following:
- Certificate of proficiency obtained from a Portuguese private school or public school.
- Certificate of proficiency issued by the Portuguese Consulate during residency abroad, provided the Portuguese proficiency exam was taken through the Center of Evaluation of
- Portuguese Language (CIPLE) in Portugal or in other designated exam centers worldwide.
- Certification of proficiency in Standard European Portuguese as a second language from any authorized Portuguese Evaluation Centre.
- A diploma from a recognized Portuguese public or private educational institution.
- School diploma from an educational institution in a Portuguese-speaking country
If you are unable to provide formal documentation, alternative evidence demonstrating your proficiency in Portuguese may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
Required Documents for Portugal’s Citizenship by Descent
The documents required vary depending on which generational route you are applying through. All documents must be properly certified, officially translated into Portuguese, and legalized, either with the Apostille of the Hague Convention or by the Portuguese Consulate and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the country where the document was issued.
If you are applying as a child of a Portuguese parent:
- Official declaration that you want to acquire Portuguese citizenship
- Your full narrative birth certificate
- A certified copy of your passport
- Copy of the Portuguese parent’s identity document or passport
If you are applying as a grandchild of a Portuguese citizen:
- Official declaration
- Your full narrative birth certificate
- The birth certificate of your parent (as the child of a Portuguese citizen)
- The birth certificate of your Portuguese grandparent
- Certified copy of the grandparents’ marriage certificate, if applicable
- A certified copy of your passport
- Copy of the Portuguese grandparent’s identity document or passport
- A2-level Portuguese language certificate
- A clean criminal record for all countries you have lived in after the age of 16
- Proof of your ties to Portugal
If you are applying as a great-grandchild (new route of as May 2026):
- Official declaration
- Full narrative birth certificate
- Birth certificate of your parent and grandparent establishing the generational chain to the original Portuguese national
- B1-level Portuguese language certificate
- Evidence of five years of legal residence in Portugal (valid residence permit documentation)
- Proof of effective connection to the Portuguese community
- A clean criminal record for all countries you have lived in after the age of 16
You must ensure that all your documents are properly certified, officially translated into Portuguese, and legalized beforehand, either with the Apostille of the Hague Convention or by the Portuguese Consulate and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the country where the document was issued.
How to Get a Portuguese Passport
After successfully obtaining Portuguese citizenship by descent, the next step is to apply for your Portuguese passport. This gives you the freedom to move within the European Union and visit 187 countries visa-free.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the process of obtaining a Portuguese passport:
- Eligibility: Ensure you have your Portuguese Citizenship Card as proof of your Portuguese citizenship.
- Schedule appointment: Book an appointment at the nearest Portuguese consulate, a Portuguese civil registry office, or a citizen’s shop (Loja do Cidadão).
- Prepare documents: Gather all the necessary documents, including your Portuguese Citizen Card, proof of payment for passport fees, and a completed passport application form.
- Attend appointment: Attend the appointment in person, as you may also need to have biometric data taken.
- Pay fees: Pay the required passport application fee.
- Collection or delivery: After your application is processed and approved, you’ll receive your Portuguese passport.
The Portuguese passport needs to be renewed every 10 years for adults and every two years for children under the age of five. Always check the expiry date and start the renewal process well in advance of any planned travel.
