Changes in the law increase the race for Portuguese citizenship via Sephardic means
The imminent vote on a proposal that could restrict or abolish Portuguese nationality based on Sephardic ancestry has led to a significant increase in applications. According to Economic Capital Magazine, there has been a 70% increase in requests in recent months alone, driven by legislative uncertainty.
According to Martins Castro, the expectation of a change in the law has sparked a rush to file cases ahead of the potential change. Currently, more than 500,000 applications are being analyzed by the Institute of Registries and Notaries (IRN), putting further pressure on an already overburdened system.
Even with digitalization and the use of artificial intelligence, waiting times can exceed three years — even for simple requests.
"The real possibility of changes in legal criteria makes it essential that interested parties begin the process as soon as possible. Waiting could mean missing out on the opportunity under the current rules," he states. Renato Martins, CEO of Martins Castro.
The proposal will be voted on in Parliament in September. Until then, access to citizenship based on Sephardic origin remains in effect, but time is short.
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