Portugal | Nationality: Acquisition by Children of Portuguese Citizen

ACQUISITION OF PORTUGUESE NATIONALITY BY CHILDREN OF PORTUGUESE CITIZENS

Children born abroad to Portuguese parents (one or both) are entitled to Portuguese nationality.

Applications for nationality must be submitted to the nearest Portuguese Consulate, to be processed and forwarded to the Conservatória dos Registos Centrais in Lisbon, for registration. Portuguese documents cannot be issued until registration is completed by the Conservatória, a process which may take up to six months to be confirmed by the Registrar in Lisbon.

REGISTRATION OF CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO 14 YEARS OF AGE

Both parents (even if one is not a Portuguese national) must appear in person at the Consulate to apply for nationality on behalf of their children, and to sign the birth registration. The parent(s) holding Portuguese nationality must be registered at the Consulate and if married, the marriage needs to be registered in Portugal before applying for the child’s Portuguese nationality. The following documents must be presented:

Child’s birth certificate (long form containing all pertaining information about the birth);
Portuguese passport and identification card of Portuguese parent(s);
Birth Certificate of non-Portuguese parent (legalized by apostille by the Government of the country of birth).
All documents that are in a language besides French, Spanish and English must be officially translated into Portuguese.
Registrations after 14 years of age must include birth certificate translation and legalization fee ($22.00) and a notarized copy of passport.
REGISTRATION OF APPLICANTS 18 AND OVER

Applicants must appear in person at the nearest Portuguese Consulate, with the following documents:

Certified copy of the long form of his/her birth certificate, legalized by Appostille or by the Consulate of Portugal if born outside of the US, as per attached instructions;
Identification documents with photo/signature such as passport, I.D. cards, etc.);
Marriage certificate (if applicable);
For fees please visit the following link.
The following documents pertaining to the Portuguese parent(s) must also be submitted:

Parents’ marriage must be endorsed on the birth certificate. If married abroad and marriage has not yet been registered in Portugal, registration must be done by the Consulate before the child may apply for nationality.
If parents were not married at the time of applicant’s birth, parents must sign a statement for confirming paternity while the applicant was still a minor.
Birth certificate of both parents (parent born outside USA, the birth certificate must be authenticated by Apostille or Consulate of Portugal in the respective country).
Fill out the application form.

By Embassy of Portugal The United States of America | Washington DC

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