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Portugal answers, legal matters

How to get Portuguese citizenship through parents or grandparents

By DigiTao editorial.

Descent gives nationality by origin, which is stronger than naturalisation: you are treated as Portuguese from birth, and you do not need to live in Portugal first. The rules below are those of Lei 37/81 as amended by Lei Orgânica 1/2026, in force since 19 May 2026.

Parent or grandparent: what the law asks

Your linkLegal basisWhat you must do
Portuguese mother or father, you were born abroadArticle 1(1)(c)Register your birth in the Portuguese civil registry, or declare that you want to be Portuguese
Portuguese grandparentArticle 1(1)(d)Declare that you want to be Portuguese, show effective ties to the national community, and meet article 6(1)(c) to (h)
Portuguese great grandparentArticle 6(8)Naturalisation at the government's discretion, after five years of legal residence in Portugal

Through a parent

This is the simple case. The parent must have been Portuguese when you were born, and the link must be legally established. Article 14 adds a condition people miss: parentage only counts for nationality if it was established while you were a minor. If it was established when you were already an adult, it counts only after a court ruling, and you must apply within three years of that ruling becoming final.

Through a grandparent

The grandparent must have held Portuguese nationality by origin and must not have lost it. Article 1(3) then sends you to the conditions in article 6(1)(c) to (h):

  1. Sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language and culture, history and national symbols, proved by test or certificate.
  2. Sufficient knowledge of the fundamental rights and duties of citizens and of the political organisation of the state.
  3. A solemn declaration of adherence to the principles of the democratic rule of law.
  4. No final prison sentence of more than three years for the serious crimes the article lists, no threat to national security, and no UN or EU restrictive measures against you.

Nationals of Portuguese speaking countries are presumed to meet the language part. The article sets no period of residence in Portugal for this route.

How you apply

The gov.pt service page, updated on 21 May 2026, lists both situations. Requests go to the Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado, online through a lawyer or solicitor, or by the applicant in person or by post. You will need civil records for each generation, and the government was given 90 days to adapt the nationality regulation to the new law, so confirm the current document list with the registry or a Portuguese consulate before you order certificates. For a family tree with gaps, adoptions or late recognised parentage, pay for a lawyer.

For the residence route, see how many years you need for citizenship and our permanent residence and citizenship guide.

Sources

  1. Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa, Lei 37/81 (Nationality Law), thirteenth version, as amended by Lei Orgânica 1/2026 of 18 May (article 1(1)(c) and (d), article 1(3), article 6(1), 6(8) and 6(10), article 11: effects from birth, article 14), accessed .
  2. Diário da República, Lei Orgânica 1/2026 of 18 May 2026 (article 4: regulation to be adapted within 90 days; article 7: pending procedures keep the previous wording; article 8: in force the day after publication), accessed .
  3. gov.pt, Pedir a nacionalidade portuguesa, updated 21 May 2026 (children born abroad to a Portuguese parent, grandchildren with effective ties, channels: online by lawyer or solicitor, counter, post; Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado), accessed .

Facts in this answer last verified .

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