Almost a year has passed since the granting of Portuguese citizenship was revealed – within a record six months – to the Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich. Last Friday, the Portuguese government published a decree that amends the law and now requires proof of “effective and lasting connection with Portugal”.
The Executive tightened the rules for proving candidates for citizenship by descent from Sephardic Jews, expelled from the Iberian Peninsula in the Inquisition.
It was through the Sephardic route, provided for in the Nationality Law, that the oligarch linked to Vladimir Putin obtained Portuguese citizenship, in a concession that became public in April 2021.
As they are not retroactive, the new measures allow Abramovich to keep his citizenship, whose attainment is investigated in two parallel investigations.
The new rules were considered an insult by the president of Associação Judaica Over The Rainbow Portugal and founder of Clube do Passaporte, Itay Mor.
— They ask for something impossible to show in the short term. It is an insult to the community and potential applicants. In many countries, it's not even legal, because it doesn't allow you to make adjustments in a short time - Mor told the Portugal Giro.
Specialized in immigration, lawyer Renato Martins explains that, as of September, registration of property ownership or corporate and cooperative participation will be required. Or lifelong regular trips to the country.
The certification of processes by Israeli communities becomes standardized, preventing separate analyzes in Lisbon and Porto. Martins adds that the test used to prove the candidate should be indicated and points out that the processes will be faster.
— There is also the introduction of an application. The State argues that this will reduce the decision period - said Martins.
Even with the promise of digital agility, Mor explains why the requirements wouldn't make sense to him.
— It doesn't make sense because Jews haven't lived in Portugal for 500 years. Asking for this (call) practically cancels the law, because no one will be able to prove something like that. How will anyone prove visits throughout their lives if the majority only had a connection (with the country) since the creation of the Nationality Law? Mor asked.
The law came into effect in 2015 and benefited 56,000 descendants of Sephardic Jews, including thousands of Brazilians, say immigration experts.
Hundreds of Brazilians are in line for the processes and the deadline for completion, which for Abramovich was six months, could drag on for more than two years.
By Gian Amato
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