The Next Passport
Portuguese Citizenship by Descent
Research hub for Portuguese citizenship by descent. An estimated 1.5–2 million Americans have Portuguese ancestry — many may qualify through the IRN (Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado) as children or grandchildren of Portuguese citizens.
The Next Passport is not affiliated with the Portuguese government, IRN, or any Portuguese consulate. Content is informational only and is not legal advice.
Not sure if you may qualify?
Our free eligibility check walks through the Portuguese citizenship rules — the parent path, grandchild path, A2 language requirement, and the 1981 dual-citizenship rule. Takes about 3 minutes.
Check your eligibility →Processing
18–42 mo
Grandparent path; consulate route 2–4 years
Gov fee
~€175
IRN registration fee (~$205 USD)
Dual citizenship
Yes
No renunciation required
US consulates
6 locations
No jurisdiction split
April 2026 Nationality Law Changes
Recent changes to Portuguese nationality law affect the naturalization pathway (non-EU residents applying via long-term residency). They do not change citizenship by descent rules for children or grandchildren of Portuguese citizens. If your claim is based on descent, the rules described on this page continue to apply.
Who may qualify for Portuguese citizenship by descent
Portugal operates on jus sanguinis — citizenship passes by blood. The rules differ substantially by generation.
Children of a Portuguese parent
Citizenship transmits automatically at birth if either parent held Portuguese citizenship at the time of the child's birth. No language test. No effective connection test. No generational limit applies to this path — registration is administrative. Submit at any Portuguese consulate.
Grandchildren of a Portuguese citizen
Under Law 43/2013, grandchildren may claim directly without the intermediate generation (your parent) needing to hold Portuguese citizenship. Three requirements must all be met: (1) your grandparent held Portuguese citizenship without breaking the chain, (2) you demonstrate A2 Portuguese proficiency via the CIPLE A2 exam, and (3) you demonstrate ligação efetiva (effective connection) to Portugal.
Great-grandchildren and beyond
There is no direct path for great-grandchildren. However, a two-step approach may be available: your grandparent establishes citizenship (meeting A2 and ligação efetiva requirements), your parent then claims through your grandparent, and you claim through your parent. This multi-step path can take many years and requires each ancestor to meet their generation's requirements.
The A2 Language Requirement (grandchild path only)
Grandchildren must pass the CIPLE A2 exam — the Certificate of Initial Portuguese Language Proficiency — to demonstrate the A2 proficiency level required by Portuguese nationality law. The exam is administered by the Camões Institute approximately three times per year (May, July, and November) at US locations including Berkeley, Boston, Newark, and Washington DC.
- Fee: €72–€85 (paper exam); €95–€105 (computer-based)
- Sessions per year: Three times per year: May, July, November
- US locations: Berkeley (UC Berkeley), Boston, Newark, and Washington DC
- Registration tip: Slots fill quickly — monitor ciple-alert.com for availability notifications before registration opens
- Alternative: A two-year university degree that included Portuguese language study may be accepted in lieu of the CIPLE exam — confirm with IRN or a Portuguese attorney
Dual citizenship & the 1981 chain-breaker rule
Portugal has allowed full dual citizenship since October 1981. A grandparent who became a US citizen after that date did NOT lose their Portuguese citizenship — the chain remains unbroken for you to claim.
Pre-1981 naturalization requires a more careful analysis. If your grandparent naturalized as a US citizen before October 1981, they may have lost Portuguese citizenship at that time. Article 30 of the Portuguese Nationality Act provides a restoration mechanism for some cases — a Portuguese civil registry check is required. Consult a licensed Portuguese attorney for pre-1981 cases.
Documents you'll need
- Birth certificates for every link in the chain — apostilled and with certified Portuguese translation for US-issued documents
- Marriage certificates — apostilled and translated if US-issued
- Death certificates for deceased ancestors — apostilled and translated if US-issued
- Grandparent's Portuguese birth record (certidão de nascimento) — from the Civil Registry of the birth municipality
- A2 certificate (grandchild path only) — from the Camões Institute after passing the CIPLE A2 exam
- Proof of effective connection (grandchild path only) — A2 certificate is the primary evidence; supplement with NIF documentation, visit records, or cultural organization membership
- Criminal record certificate — FBI background check plus all states lived in after age 16. ORDER LAST — expires 3 months from issuance
Where to apply
IRN (Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado)
IRN is the Portuguese government body that adjudicates all citizenship-by-descent applications. Since October 2024, IRN operates a digital submission platform for attorney-submitted applications — the faster route at 18–42 months. Applications submitted directly through a Portuguese consulate are forwarded to the Conservatória dos Registos Centrais (CRC) in Lisbon and typically take 2–4 years.
US Portuguese consulates — no jurisdiction restriction
Unlike the Italian consular system, Portugal imposes no jurisdiction restriction. You may submit your application at any of the 6 US Portuguese consulates: Boston, New York, Newark, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. Verify the current list and contact information at irn.justica.gov.pt before booking an appointment.
Application guides
Detailed guides for each Portuguese citizenship by descent path.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Portuguese citizenship by descent take?
Processing time depends on the path. For children of a Portuguese parent, expect 9–18 months. For grandchildren, the attorney-submitted route via the IRN digital platform typically takes 18–42 months; applying directly through a Portuguese consulate can take 2–4 years due to CRC Lisbon backlog. Always confirm current wait times with the consulate or a licensed attorney.
Do I need to speak Portuguese to claim citizenship?
Only if you are claiming through a grandparent. The grandchild pathway requires A2 Portuguese proficiency, demonstrated by passing the CIPLE A2 exam administered by the Camões Institute. Children of a Portuguese parent have no language requirement — citizenship transmits automatically at birth regardless of language ability.
Can I keep my US citizenship if I become Portuguese?
Yes. Portugal has allowed full dual citizenship since October 1981 — you are not required to renounce US citizenship at any point in the process. There are no renunciation requirements on either the US or Portuguese side for most applicants.
Can I claim through my great-grandparent?
Not directly. Portuguese law allows direct claims for children and grandchildren of Portuguese citizens but does not provide a direct path for great-grandchildren. However, a two-step approach may be available: if your grandparent can first establish Portuguese citizenship (by meeting the A2 and ligação efetiva requirements), and then your parent establishes citizenship through your grandparent, you could claim through your parent. This two-step path can take many years.
What is ligação efetiva (effective connection)?
Effective connection to Portugal is one of three mandatory requirements for grandchild claims under Law 43/2013. The A2 Portuguese language certificate is the statutory presumption of effective connection under Portaria 1403-A/2006. Other accepted evidence includes an NIF with documented use, documented visits to Portugal, active membership in a Portuguese cultural organization, or property in Portugal. The NIF alone, without documented use, is generally not sufficient.
Can I apply at any Portuguese consulate in the US?
Yes. Unlike the Italian consular system, Portugal has no jurisdiction restriction for overseas citizenship applications. You may apply at any of the 6 US Portuguese consulates — Boston, Newark, New York, Washington DC, San Francisco, or Los Angeles — regardless of your state of residence. For the attorney-submitted route via the IRN digital platform, no consulate visit is required at the submission stage.
Tools & Calculators
Other Countries We Support
The Next Passport also helps with citizenship by descent for other countries.
Italian Citizenship by Descent
Canadian Citizenship by Descent
Irish Citizenship by Descent
German Citizenship by Descent
Polish Citizenship by DescentThe Next Passport is not affiliated with the Portuguese government, IRN, any Portuguese consulate, or any immigration attorney. Content is informational only and is not legal advice. Verify all details with the official Portuguese government sources at irn.justica.gov.pt before submitting documents.