The demand of Brazilians in search of Portuguese citizenship increases every day and those who have a process in the queue complain about delays.
But what is the deadline for completing the processes? And what is the fastest channel to apply: Portuguese consulates in Brazil or conservatories (registries) in Portugal?
At the request of the Portugal Giro, Isabel Grillo Comte, a Portuguese jurist who is part of the Martins Castro consulting team, answers questions about the procedures.
Citizenship: How to take? Are grandchildren entitled? Experts answer legal questions
Where can I apply for citizenship?
Article 32 of the Nationality Regulation:
a) Central Registry Office (Lisbon)
b) Civil Registry Office (Several cities)
c) Portuguese Consular Services (In Brazil)
What's the fastest way?
The decision will always be shorter if the application is submitted to the registry office, because the consulates do not have decision-making power and send the processes to Portugal.
What are the normal deadlines for completing the processes?
It depends on the volume of requests, the human resources of each registry office and each specific request. For example: the process time for a grandson of Portuguese who is 80 years old or older will be shorter than the nationality process through the Sephardic route. In any case, taking processes already under way as a parameter, the average time is two years.
Are the different types of processes accepted in all agencies?
Conservatories accept all forms of citizenship. And the consulates can receive and forward to Portugal the documents referring to any request. With regard to children of Portuguese parents, consulates can only register birth certificates in writing, but the document will only be valid when it is integrated into the Central Registry Office.
But who is outside Portugal?
You can apply to the consulate and the registry office (by sending documents by post or appointing a representative).
Which essential document, which serves as a starting point?
It varies according to how you obtain citizenship, but the birth certificate is the basic document for all applications.
By Gian Amato