Obtaining the Portuguese citizenship is one of the 27 formulas to grant the European citizen status.

Being Portuguese is trendy since Portugal joined the EEC, now European Union.

It is great to be a European Union citizen, once it is the biggest market in the world and the populated area in which the Human Rights have reached the highest standards.

Thousands of Portuguese descendents coming from the European rectangle, the old colonies and from the emigration countries are currently applying for the Portuguese citizenship.

There are not only emotional reasons that motivate those people. There is also a craving for freedom of circulation and dignity, when Europe threats to become a fort, creating more obstacles for immigration.
This European Union is aged and needs new blood. And this is seen by many as an undelayable opportunity. Being a citizen from an EU country means being an European citizen – which is something far and away more different than being an immigrant in Europe.

This site intends to provide information to those who are entitled to obtain the Portuguese citizenship.

Being a Portuguese citizen – therefore an European Union citizen – is a privilege that cannot be wasted by those who have the opportunity to obtain the Portuguese citizenship, not only due to the benefits of the EU, but also because it is advantageous to be a Portuguese nowadays.

After the Empire cycle, despite of its small territory, Portugal has gained respect from the rest of world. Being a holder of a Portuguese passport is no longer a trouble as it was during the dictatorship period.

The territories of Goa, Daman, Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, incorporated by the Republic of India in December 1961, were lawfully Portuguese territories until 3^rd June 1975.

According to the Portuguese laws, the citizens born in those territories are Portuguese citizens.

Our lawyers have studied the matter of the citizens born in the former State of India and provide legal assistance to those citizens and their descendents, aiming to regularise their records in the Portuguese Civil Register Office.

Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde and Sao Tome and Principe were Portuguese territories until 1975.

Many of the citizens born in those countries have kept the Portuguese citizenship, being their descendents entitled to apply for the Portuguese citizenship and, therefore, become European citizens.

Macau used to be considered as a Portuguese territory until the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic came into force on 25^th April 1976.

Under the terms of the article 5^th of the Constitution, Macau started to be qualified as a “territory under the Portuguese administration which shall be ruled by a statute adjusted to its new special situation”. The Act 37/81 of 3^rd October, which has come into force in Macau on 21^st November 1981. Until that date, everyone that was born there was considered Portuguese citizens, no matter whether their parents were Portuguese citizens or not.

After the new Nationality Act came into force, only the children of either Portuguese parent were considered Portuguese.

The territory of Macau was integrated to China on 20^th December 1999.

Under the terms of the joint Chinese-Portuguese declaration, from 19^th December 1999 on, nobody shall obtain the Portuguese citizenship due to their territorial link to Macau. Notwithstanding, the same declaration states that “according to the Portuguese legislation, the inhabitants of Macau who, on 19^th December 1999, were Portuguese citizens may also hold a Portuguese passport, being authorised to continue to use it after this date.”

Differently from Portugal, China does not admit dual citizenship, yet maintain a tolerant position towards their nationals who maintain or obtain the Portuguese citizenship, as long as it is not due to link with the territory.

Cooperating with a law firm from Verona, we prepare and follow applications for the Italian citizenship directly in Italy.

Soon we will bring further information about this subject.

The Kingdom of Spain has recently made some important amendments on its Nationality Act, allowing the Spanish descendents born abroad to obtain the Spanish citizenship.

MRA has a Spanish lawyer on its Citizenship Department who provides legal assistance on the preparation of the applications for the Spanish citizenship by Spanish descendents born abroad.

MRA has a long time of experience on assisting the Portuguese communities of the Diaspora, always recognising the importance of the associative life. Due to this reason, it has established cooperation programme with the Portuguese associations to contribute to the valorisation of the associative work and the provision of services to improve the life quality of their members.

The agreement foresees the following cooperation areas:

I – Support the associations in order to organise the candidacies to incentives from the Portuguese government and public entities.

II – Provision of legal services to the members of the associations, under privileged conditions, according to what has been established in the agreement, especially in the following areas:

a)     Portuguese Nationality and Civil Registration law;

b)     Immigration Law;

c)      Regularisation of real estate and inheritances in Portugal;

d)     Family law, especially with regard to the recognition of foreign judgments in Portugal.

The first advice we give to those who intend to migrate to any of the European Union countries is that he should not do it without a Work or Residence permit.

The risk of repatriation is high. Under certain circumstances, this turns the simple entry in any of the European Union countries unfeasible for several years.

MRA provides legal assistance on Immigration to persons and companies.

Soon, this website will contain further information about the foreigner’s rights in Brazil and Portugal.

Legal advice about real situations implies the examination, even if summarised, of the cases by our lawyers.

Guidance concerning the general aspects of the procedures and the cost of the services are provided through e-mail.

Legal opinions about real cases may also be given on appointments booked at our offices or online.

The online appointment oblige us to produce a short report, yet technically strict and with a flat rate, that shall be paid through credit card or PayPal.

If you have any queries about procedures and costs, please, send an e-mail to  legaladvice@lawrei.eu .
If you intend to book an appointment, please, fill in the form below.

Here we have gathered some studies made about these matters and related legislation.