There are two ways to get residency in Portugal through family ties. You can apply by marrying a Portuguese citizen or if one of your parents is Portuguese you can get citizenship.

Your path depends on who in your family you are related to. If you marry a Portuguese citizen, you can become a citizen after three years. If your parents are citizens, you are already a citizen by birthright.

Citizenship Through Marriage or Civil Union

If you are married to or in a relationship with a Portuguese citizen, you can skip the residency wait. After three years of marriage, you can apply for citizenship. Portugal also recognizes de facto unions for couples who are not married but are committed to each other.

Eligibility Requirements

• Married couples: Must have been married to a Portuguese citizen for three years
• De facto unions: Must show that they have lived together for three years and shared documents
• Language skills: All applicants must know basic Portuguese at the A2 level
• Criminal record: You need to have a clean record with no major crimes
• Community ties: Show how you are connected to Portuguese culture and society

Key Benefits

• Live in Portugal right away: Start your life there before you get your citizenship
• Skip the 5-year wait: Marriage takes the place of the usual residency time requirement
• EU citizenship: Get a Portuguese passport that lets you travel to more than 190 countries without a visa
• Work rights: You can work in Portugal as soon as you move there

Required Documents

• A valid passport and a government-issued ID are needed to prove your identity
• Before you apply, you need to register your marriage certificate with the Portuguese government
• Birth certificates for you and your spouse
• Criminal record certificates from all the countries where you have lived
• An official test that shows you can speak Portuguese at the A2 level
• Proof that you are connected to the Portuguese community

Citizenship Through Portuguese Parents

If one of your parents is Portuguese, you are already a citizen by birth. This is called jus sanguinis or right of blood in legal terms. You only need to tell the Portuguese government what your current nationality is.

Eligibility Requirements

• Portuguese parent: One of your parents had to be a citizen when you were born
• Born abroad: It is necessary to register your birth with the Portuguese government
• Parent's documents: You need proof of your parent's Portuguese citizenship or birth certificate
• Unmarried parents: If it applies, you need an official document that says you are the father

Key Benefits

• Automatic citizenship: You are claiming a nationality that you were born with
• No residency needed: You can live anywhere in the world and still be a citizen
• Permanent status: This citizenship never runs out and doesn't need to be renewed
• Pass it down: Your kids will automatically be able to get Portuguese citizenship
• EU passport: Enjoy full rights in all 27 EU member states

Required Documents

• Completed citizenship registration form from the civil registry office
• A valid passport or other government-issued ID is needed for identification
• Your full birth certificate, translated into Portuguese and apostilled
• The civil registry has your parent's Portuguese birth certificate
• If your parents were married when you were born, you need their marriage certificate
• Criminal record certificates from every country you've lived in since you were 16

Application Process

• Where to apply: IRN in Portugal, online with a lawyer, or at a consulate
• Processing time: Claims made through parents usually take between six and twelve months to finish
• Document rules: Apostilles and certified Portuguese translations are required for all foreign documents

Key Law Changes (Law No. 61/2025 – Effective October 23, 2025)

‎ 

→ Schedule Your Free Initial Immigration Consultation