Portugal launches new platform for citizenship: see how to request and follow the process

The articles written by the PÚBLICO Brasil team are written in the variant of the Portuguese language used in Brazil.

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The Portuguese government, through the Institute of Records and Notaries (IRN)launched this Tuesday (01/10) a new version of the Nationality Platform. With the new system, Portugal promises to speed up the processes for obtaining citizenship by foreigners, from the entry of the application and the respective documents to the analysis and final decision. “Everything electronically, transparently and securely. This, within a principle called Digital-first. The forecast is that this new feature will make the system 50% more efficient”, says the IRN statement.

The new platform aims to reduce bureaucratic obstacles that made the process slow, due to manual document checking. The new system is available at the registry office Central Records in Lisbon and no Porto Central Archive and, from November 4th, at nationality counters operating in civil registration services.

From now on, when approaching the service counters, anyone applying for Portuguese citizenship will have their documents scanned as soon as the application is entered, with the identification data automatically inserted into the system and with the classification of the type of application.

According to the IRN statement, this automation will increase service capacity, reducing bureaucracy and the risk of fraud. The entire process can be followed by the applicant online, as was already done, but now with fewer steps, which fall from seven to four phases.

For lawyer Fernando Santiago, the changes made by the IRN are very welcome: “There is a notable lack of employees to deal with the many citizenship requests. Allied to this, there is a culture of bureaucratization in the administration, which, fortunately, is little little by little being broken. It’s a step forward”, he emphasizes.

Order volume

In 2022, the IRN received 230 thousand applications for Portuguese nationality. National law allows foreign citizens to obtain Portuguese citizenship in a variety of situations: number of years of legal residence in Portugal, nationality of family members, place of birth, marriage or existing relationship with the Portuguese community, among others.

Last year, the IRN had already made available an exclusive online channel for lawyers and solicitors, registered with the respective professional order in Portugal, to file nationality requests. Since it came into operation, more than 53 thousand requests have been made through this system. According to the Ministry of Justice of Portugalbetween 2010 and 2021, at least 400 thousand Brazilians received Portuguese citizenship.

How to obtain citizenship

International rules allow the same person to have access to different nationalities, as long as they meet the legal requirements. Therefore, Brazilians who wish to have Portuguese citizenship should be careful. Data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) indicate that around 25 million Brazilians meet the requirements to have Portuguese nationality.

However, it is necessary to check all the criteria to avoid frustrations along the way. Brazilians can apply for Portuguese citizenship by descent (children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren); through marriage or stable union; by naturalization (time of residence in Portugal of at least five years, being a Sephardic Jew, making investments in the country and military service).

There are several benefits to having Portuguese citizenship, such as, for example, free movement within the European Union. With Portuguese nationality, a Brazilian can live, work and study in any of the 27 countries of the European bloc, without the need for visas or additional authorizations. This opens up a range of opportunities in terms of employment and education.

Citizenship also allows access to public services both in Portugal and in other European Union countries. This includes access to the health system, education and Social Security, often with superior quality and at reduced costs.

Politics and work

Portuguese citizens have access to universities and other higher education institutions in Portugal and Europe with preferential conditions, often paying reduced tuition fees compared to international students. Additionally, there are more opportunities for scholarships and exchange programs.

It is also easier to travel. Those who have Portuguese citizenship can travel to 186 countries and territories without the need for a visa or with a visa on arrival, according to the Henley & Partners Visa Restriction Index2022. Brazilian passport holders can travel to around 170 countries and territories without a visa or with a visa on arrival.

The rights inherent to nationality extend to politics, as citizens can actively participate in elections, voting in local, regional, national and European elections. Furthermore, they are authorized to run for political and public positions;

Portuguese citizenship also allows access to job opportunities in Portugal and throughout the European Union. This often includes more favorable working conditions and stronger labor protections than those offered in other parts of the world.

According to experts, the quality of life in Portugal should also be highlighted, which includes safety, a mild climate, an efficient healthcare system and a rich cultural life. Furthermore: Portuguese nationality makes opening a business and investing in Portugal and Europe easier. There are tax incentives and specific programs for entrepreneurs and investors, which makes the business environment more favorable.