Can the grandchildren of Portuguese citizens obtain citizenship?

When it comes to acquiring a country's nationality, the most frequently invoked legal principles are jus soli, or right of soil, and jus sanguinis, or right of blood. The question of the nationality of the grandchildren of Portuguese citizens relates to this latter concept.

According to jus sanguinis, nationality is attributed to a person based on the nationality of their parents, regardless of the place of birth. In the case we are considering, the children of a Portuguese father or mother are Portuguese.

In 2015, Portugal approved a legal reform that allows grandchildren of Portuguese citizens to also have the right to nationality, provided that the person concerned has a Portuguese grandparent of origin, who has not lost their Portuguese status.

Furthermore, the applicant must demonstrate a connection to the Portuguese community; this connection is presumed to exist if they possess knowledge of the Portuguese language . It is important to note that fluency in Portuguese is not required; simply demonstrating an adequate level of proficiency is sufficient. According to current legislation, level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages ​​(CEFR) of the Council of Europe is the minimum level required to obtain Portuguese nationality. This is a basic level, sufficient for interacting in certain common everyday communication situations.

There are also negative conditions: the applicant must not have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment, meaning three or more years, for a crime punishable in Portugal. Nor can they be linked to terrorist activities.

To prove all of this, including criminal records, a series of legalized documents must be submitted (birth certificate, birth certificate of the parent who is the child of the Portuguese grandparent, among others). A comprehensive list is available on the website of the Embassy of Portugal in Chile.

Remember that you must also take a language exam to prove your connection to the Portuguese community. This exam must be taken by an institution accredited by the Centro de Avaliação do Português Língua Estrangeira (CAPLE) in your country of residence.

Why obtain Portuguese nationality?

Portugal's passport is among the top 5 in the Henley Passport Index 2024, allowing visa-free entry to 191 countries, including all Schengen Area countries (European Union), the United Kingdom, and Japan. 

Furthermore, Portugal is considered the 7th safest country in the world, according to the 2023 Global Peace Index ranking. This study includes the presence of internal and external conflicts, citizen security, and also the stability of society.

According to the European Economic Forecast, Portugal is the second country in the European Union with the least vulnerability to the effects of the war in Ukraine.

If you have a Portuguese grandparent and are interested in obtaining Portuguese nationality, don't hesitate to schedule a meeting with us . We are experts in international mobility, and our mission is to help you achieve your goals.

Don't delay that meeting any longer, request it now! We help you become a citizen of the world.