The first Brazilian to obtain Portuguese nationality through the Sephardim was Nertan Ribeiro, 69, from Ceará. He learned about the law from a genealogist, who was willing to draw up his family tree down to his Sephardic ancestors Branca Dias and Belchior da Rosa. “My nationality process at the Conservatory (the body responsible for granting it on the Portuguese birth certificate) took about eight months, but it was worth it. This was a way I found to honor my late father and also a way to settle in Portugal”, he explains.
Renato Martins is a partner and lawyer at the Portuguese firm Martins Castro, specializing in nationality processes through Sephardic Jews. He explains that the law was a form of historical reparation. “In Brazil, although this possibility is still almost unknown, there are countless families with Sephardic origins and, therefore, can apply for dual citizenship. The process, in Portugal, is carried out entirely through documentary evidence and takes about 12 to 18 months. Without a doubt, it is one of the fastest ways to obtain Portuguese nationality, if the applicant has the correct guidelines”, highlights the lawyer.
Who are the Sephardic Jews?
The Sephardic Jews are the Jews who lived in the Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Spain) at the end of the 15th century and were persecuted by the State and, later, by the Holy Inquisition, being forced to convert to Catholicism, under penalty of being expelled. of the Iberian territory. This fact led to the flight and expulsion of thousands of Jews to several other countries, including Brazil.
the step by step
The entire process for acquiring nationality through Sephardic Jews takes three steps:
1st step: is the genealogical study based on information on surnames and birthplaces. From this, the genealogist can identify whether or not there are chances of offspring. If there is one, he prepares the family tree and a study that proves the Sephardic Jewish origin;
2nd step: it is necessary for the Israeli Community to prove the veracity of the previous study and issue an official certificate;
3rd step: with all the necessary documents gathered, the process is initiated before the Portuguese authorities, nationality being granted by the Minister of Justice.
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