Sephardic Jews


Discover the Customer Portal: intelligent online service channel

The Customer Portal is an evolution of Martins Castro's communication systems with its customers.

on August 2, 2022
Updates to the Customer Portal are reinforced at a decisive moment

Our teams are working hard to ensure that all our customers have ensured the protocol of their processes.

on July 29, 2022
New Change in Nationality Law for Sephardic Descendants

Assembly of the Republic resumes debate on Portuguese nationality for Sephardic descendants and signals with positive changes

on June 27, 2022
Doubts about changes in the regulation of Portuguese nationality for Sephardim

Deadlines, validity, certificates, CIL, CIP... We have selected some of the main doubts about the recent changes in the regulation.

on March 25, 2022
Changes in the regulation of Portuguese nationality law for Sephardic descendants

Follow here all the updates on the recent changes to the regulation

on March 19, 2022
Note of clarification: Portuguese nationality by the Sephardim

If the text amending the regulation has not undergone major changes, there will be a standardization of the certification process, which will bring more clarity and transparency.

on March 16, 2022
The urgent request in the process of Portuguese nationality

In this text, our lawyers have listed some of the reasons that could justify these requests.

on November 9, 2021
8 benefits of Portuguese citizenship

In a super connected world and in constant change, more and more people are able to achieve double citizenship and a second passport.

on October 7, 2021
Portuguese citizenship is the most sought after in Brazil

In 2020 alone, even with the pandemic, the total number of favorable opinions to Brazilians seeking Portuguese citizenship was over 20,000.

on September 9, 2021
Attention! Special operation of CIL and CIP en septiembre

Following the Jewish tradition, the Israeli communities of Lisbon and Porto have changed their functioning, respecting the days of celebration.

on August 19, 2021
Anita Garibaldi: the revolutionary descendant of the Sephardim

Anita Garibaldi was born in Brazil and died in Italy fighting for her ideas. She had in her genealogy 3 Sephardic Ascendants.

on May 27, 2021
Portuguese citizenship by the Sephardim and the genealogical study

Sites such as Family Search and MyHeritage may make searching easier, but they do not guarantee the veracity of all data.

on May 19, 2021
White Castle

It is believed that, for a long period, since the 13th century, the surname was linked to tradition and nobility. 

on April 28, 2021
Branca Dias, a story of resistance and faith

The trajectory of the Portuguese Branca Dias inspired books, plays, films, comic books and documentaries.

on April 19, 2021
eBook: Portuguese citizenship through the Sephardim

Portugal, through Decree-Law 30-A/2015, grants Portuguese nationality, by naturalization, to the descendants of Sephardic Jews.

on April 12, 2021
Paula Leite Barros' family

The history of Paula Leite de Barros' family in Brazil begins with Pedro Vaz de Barros, a New Christian from Lisbon who migrated to Brazil at the end of the 16th century.

on April 9, 2021
Luciano Dias Cardoso Vargas: Abraham of Jaguaribe

Luciano Dias Cardoso Vargas, known as Abraão do Jaguaribe, has his Sephardic connection through the New Christian Dinis Bravo.

on March 24, 2021
Nogueira da Gama family

The Nogueira da Gama are descendants of a large and prominent family that, in colonial times in Brazil, received honors and titles of nobility.

on March 10, 2021
Who are Sephardic Jews and New Christians

Do New Christians and Sephardic Christians have the same meaning or have nothing to do with each other?

on March 3, 2021
Joaquina do Pompéu and her Sephardic descent in Minas Gerais

In addition to being a farmer and a businesswoman, Dona Joaquina de Pompéu is the matriarch of thousands of Sephardic descendants who are entitled to Portuguese citizenship.

on February 24, 2021
3 tips to begin your search for a Sephardic ancestor

More and more people have turned to genealogical research to document ties to Jewish ancestors in order to secure approval of the process.

on February 17, 2021
Sephardic descent in Minas Gerais

These descendants saw in the region's development an opportunity to settle down and develop their economic activities.

on February 15, 2021
Antunes Maciel family

The Antunes Maciel family, quite numerous in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, has its origins on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.

on February 10, 2021
Interview: Written by Lira Neto, biography of Sephardic Jews should hit bookstores soon

The work will be dedicated to all the disinherited, exiles and refugees, people essentially marked by intolerance.

on February 3, 2021
Genealogical study reveals surprises on the biggest scorer in world football history

A Brazilian researcher found that Cristiano Ronaldo, Portuguese star and greatest scorer in world football history, has Sephardic ancestry.

on January 28, 2021
5 common mistakes when designing a genealogical study

The process begins with a genealogical study that aims to prove the parental connection with some Sephardic Jew.

on January 18, 2021
“Ten days of thousands of Sephardic Argentineans could gain access to Portuguese nationality”

In Argentina it is estimated that there are more than 50 thousand people who can access this benefit.

on December 28, 2020
Founding partner and lawyer of Martins Castro will be in Argentina

With the aim of reporting on this issue and narrowing down the local community, Renato Martins travels to Buenos Aires between 8 and 11 December

on December 9, 2020
Myths about Portuguese citizenship through the Sephardic way

Portuguese citizenship through the Sephardic way is one of those topics that arouse curiosity, but also a lot of mistrust and misinformation.

on December 3, 2020
Teixeira Family

The first members of the Teixeira family arrived in Brazil at the end of the 18th century in different places.

on November 3, 2020
Portuguese nationality via Sephardic: the Conservatory approved, what now?

You become Portuguese from the signing of this document, and not from your birth.

on October 21, 2020
Castro e Silva Family

The Castro and Silva left their mark on political history and vast descent, spread throughout Brazil, especially in Ceará.

on October 12, 2020
The 4 main requirements for Portuguese nationality by Sephardim

Contrary to what some people still believe, it takes more than having Sephardic surnames or Jewish customs in the family.

on October 8, 2020
Israeli certification for Portuguese nationality by Sephardic

The certificate is an indispensable document for all people who want to achieve this type of Portuguese citizenship.

on September 22, 2020
5 types of important documents to prove the Sephardic bond

There are a number of important historical documents to prove Sephardic descent that are available for research.

on September 21, 2020
Family Medeiros

Many believe that the Medeiros brothers fled to Brazil due to the persecution imposed by the Inquisition.

on September 18, 2020
5 reasons why people seek Portuguese nationality by Sephardic

Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, United States Turkey and Israel are just a few examples of countries that seek this type of nationality.

on September 18, 2020
The Bicudos, members of the Portuguese court

The history of the Bicudo family begins on the beautiful São Miguel Island, the largest in the Azores archipelago, Portugal.

on September 16, 2020
Know where to start your genealogical study

Read this post carefully and at the end of the reading you can start your study immediately.

on September 8, 2020
Almeida Coelho Family

The Sephardic bond occurs with the marriage of Ambrósio de Almeida Coelho with Maria Augusta do Sacramento, descendant of the Azorean Antonio Fernandes.

on September 2, 2020
Oliveira Ledo Family: from brick making to the colonization of Paraíba

The family gave rise to one of the most traditional families in the Northeast, especially in Cariri in Paraíba.

on August 21, 2020
Changes in Portuguese nationality law

We separated the 4 main aspects of these changes: descendants of Sephardic Jews, children of foreigners, grandchildren and spouses.

on August 4, 2020
Ribeiro do Vale Family

Many descendants of Portuguese noble families were attracted by the promise of wealth in Brazilian lands during the colonial period.

on July 23, 2020
Victory of the world Sephardic community: law change proposal retreats

PS withdraws proposal and sends the nationality regulation to the Executive Branch by Sephardic way

on July 20, 2020
Portuguese law paves the way for Brazilian families to discover their Jewish origins

Since 2015 the Portuguese government started to grant Portuguese nationality to the descendants of Sephardic Jews.

on July 14, 2020
Aguiar Family: Northeast and South Brazil

Evidence points that the Aguiar family would have arisen from the Guedes and D. Pedro Mendes de Aguiar would have been their patriarch.

on July 13, 2020
Carneiro da Fontoura, military by tradition

The surname is inscribed in the history of the conquest of the territory that today makes up the state of Rio Grande do Sul.

on July 2, 2020
Timeline: proposal to change the “Law of Nationality through Sephardic way”

Follow the updates of the proposal that wants to change the Portuguese law that grants citizenship to Sephardic descendants.

on June 26, 2020
The Linhares, from the Portuguese mountains to the northeastern heat

The first inhabitants of the Serra da Estrela region, in the upper Minho, in Portugal, gave rise to this Sephardic family.

on June 25, 2020
Resende Costa Family, the inconfidentes

The Resende Costa family recorded its name in the history of Brazil, especially after the participation of some of its members in Inconfidência Mineira.

on June 25, 2020
Homonyms: how to overcome this challenge of genealogy

Homonyms are a great challenge for those who are in genealogical research, whether professional or not.

Private: Jerfson Lins Per Private: Jerfson Lins on June 22, 2020
Toledo Pizza, centuries of history

One of the most traditional families present in southeastern Brazil, the Toledo Piza's history goes back centuries.

on June 16, 2020
Israeli Community of Lisbon launches new procedures

CIL started to make a new system available on its website for filling out an online form to submit the entire process.

on June 16, 2020
The Inquisition and the persecution of the Sephardim: a moving summary

Created in the Middle Ages, in the 13th century, the Inquisition was an institution composed of several courts run by the Catholic Church.

on June 16, 2020
Find out how to find documents for your grandparents and great-grandparents

Here we have prepared some guidelines on the most important documents of your grandparents and great-grandparents and where you can find them.

on June 11, 2020
Portugal, Camões and Portuguese Communities Day

The date started to have the current symbolism and be considered a holiday, called the Day of Portugal, Camões and the Portuguese Communities.

Private: Jerfson Lins Per Private: Jerfson Lins on June 22, 2020
Three precautions to avoid delays in naturalization by the Sephardic route

The process of Portuguese naturalization through the Sephardic way, depending on the care with the documentation presented, can be more or less agile.

Private: Jerfson Lins Per Private: Jerfson Lins on June 22, 2020
Leão family, Sephardic people spread throughout Brazil

Studies show that descendants of one of the branches of the family spread across southeastern Brazil, especially Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais.

Private: Jerfson Lins Per Private: Jerfson Lins on June 22, 2020
Proença Coelho Family

It is possible that, in order to be able to embark for Brazil fleeing the persecutions of the Inquisition, members of the Cohen family would have adopted the surname Coelho.

on May 29, 2020
Portuguese nationality for minor children of Sephardic descendants

This type of naturalization serves children who are minors, whose father or mother has become Portuguese after their birth.

on May 19, 2020
Vaz de Barros, high positions in the colony

One of the most traditional families to settle in São Paulo, the Vaz de Barros have a considerable participation in Brazilian history.

on May 18, 2020
Aspects of the proposed amendment to the “Law of Nationality through the Sephardic way”

A proposal to change the so-called “Portuguese Nationality Law by the Sephardic way” was recently made public

on May 15, 2020
Leme Family

The family originated in the city of Bruges, currently the capital of the province of West Flanders, Belgium.

on May 8, 2020
The revival of genealogy and its new horizons

The ease of access to the collections thanks to digitalization allowed anyone to search the origins of the families.

Private: Jerfson Lins Per Private: Jerfson Lins on June 22, 2020
The massacre of New Christians and the Law of Naturalization of Sephardic descendants

In 2020, five years will pass since the approval of Decree-Law no. 30-A-2015, which allows Portuguese citizenship to Sephardic descendants.

Private: Jerfson Lins Per Private: Jerfson Lins on June 22, 2020
Family Days

More than one million Brazilians currently sign with the surname Dias, however, not all of them necessarily have the same origin.

on April 8, 2020
Henrique de Carvalho family, the heritage of southern Brazil

The small village of Penamacor, in Portugal, was where the surnames Henriques and Carvalho joined.

on April 3, 2020
The Bezerras, survivors of the Inquisition

The first Bezerra known in the Portuguese court was D. Afonso de Melo Bezerra, the loyal squire of Queen Izabel.

on March 24, 2020
The Holandas, a strong presence in Brazil

It is one of the most traditional families in Brazil and many of its members are well known: Sérgio Buarque de Holanda and his musician children, for example.

on March 3, 2020
Why more and more Brazilians seek Portuguese citizenship through the Sephardic way

From the dream of migrating to the desire to study and work in the European Union, thousands of Brazilians have discovered that they are descendants of Sephardic people.

on February 27, 2020
The Pereiras, numerous Sephardic descendants

A common surname in Brazil, as well as quite traditional in Ceará, present in practically all regions of the state.

on February 16, 2020
The Ximenes, from the Iberian Peninsula to the world

The Spanish city of Segovia was the birthplace of the Sephardic patriarch Abrahan Senior, who gave birth to the large Ximenes family.

on February 14, 2020
The Fernandes, born in the Douro

The Fernandes Family, from Rio Grande do Norte, was one of those that already managed to prove Sephardic descent.

on January 24, 2020
Martins Castro holds event in Mexico

The city of Monterrey, Mexico, will host another edition of the Sefardí Meeting, an event that clarifies doubts about the Portuguese citizenship process through the Sephardic way.

on January 13, 2020
5 tips for choosing a consultancy to take care of Portuguese citizenship

We have selected 5 tips that will help in your decision to hire a consultancy to take care of your Portuguese citizenship process.

on December 10, 2019
Why hire a genealogical study?

The starting point for Portuguese citizenship through the Sephardic way is the genealogical study. It is through this study that the genealogist identifies the Sephardic ancestor.

on November 27, 2019
Brazilians can help Portugal in the problem of demographic reduction

In view of the population decrease, the European country has adopted measures that favor Brazilians.

on November 26, 2019
Citizen Card: what it is and how to apply

This is the face-to-face identification document of the Portuguese citizen, by birth or by assignment, and replaces the identity card since 2010.

on November 12, 2019
Know the difference between tree and genealogical study

The whole process of Portuguese citizenship through Sephardic Jews is based on documentary evidence of genealogical ties.

on November 4, 2019
4 common mistakes in Portuguese citizenship processes at CIL

This process can be rejected by the institution. Knowing this, we have listed some of the most common mistakes at this stage.

on October 28, 2019
Brazilians prove Sephardic descent and obtain Portuguese citizenship

Direct is provided for in art. 6th, nº. 7 of the Nationality Law (Law 37/81).

on October 18, 2019
Step by step to find your Sephardic ancestor: the Torre do Tombo archive

The Torre do Tombo archive is one of the main ways to elaborate your genealogy and to find your Sephardic ancestor.

on October 12, 2019