This opportunity is not just restricted to Jewish people, Portuguese speakers, or residents of Portugal. Any descendant of Portuguese Sephardic ancestry may apply, regardless of nationality.

Under the law you can apply for Portuguese citizenship as a person of Sephardic descent if you comply with the following conditions:

• You are over 18 years old or emancipated according to Portuguese law
• You are of Portuguese Sephardic descent
• You belong to a Sephardic community of Portuguese origin

The applicant for Portuguese Nationality must first obtain a Certificate from the Portuguese Jewish Community which attests to his/her ties to a Sephardic Jewish Community of Portuguese origin. In order to obtain this certificate, one must proof his condition of Sephardic Jew or his/her lineage.

There are various means of proof, amongst others:

1. Personal Documentation – family name, records and documents (including image, video and audio) of family ceremonies, weddings, burials, registration at Jewish communities, birth certificates, property deeds, bibliography and book quotes, copies of inquisition archives, DNA testing and alike.

2. Genealogical/Family Tree – as complete as possible accompanied with all the documents on which the family tree is based.

3. Testimonial Evidence – reputable witnesses who can attest to a family’s oral tradition. Testimony must be in the form of written depositions, signed by the witnesses andcertifiedbyaNotaryPublic (languages: Hebrew, English Spanish or Portuguese).

4. Expert Evidence – support of an expert on Portuguese Jewish diaspora. Expert evidence must be submitted in writing. The reports of experts in Portuguese diaspora must be in writing and signed by the expert.

5. Use of Ladino Language- If needed, we will work with our worldwide local genealogist teams to locate and obtain the different evidence needed to proof Sephardic Jewish lineage.

Application requirements for Portuguese citizenship for Sephardic Jews

Any application for citizenship must be accompanied by the following documents:

• A birth registration certificate
• A criminal record certificate issued by the relevant Portuguese authorities, the country of residence, or the country of origin
• A Jewish community certificate proving Sephardic Jewish lineage of Portuguese origin. This can be through surname, language, genealogy, or family memory

Jewish community certificate for Sephardic Jews in Portugal

This is a certificate issued by officials of a Sephardic Jewish community which is recognized under Portuguese law. In order to obtain a certificate, the following documents may be requested:

• Evidence of the applicants’ family history in connection to the Sephardic Jewish community by means of name or genealogy
• Proof of use of Ladino as a family language
• Evidence of Portuguese Jewish ancestry through other documentation:
  • Family records
  • Family tree
  • Birth certificates
  • Marriage certificates
  • Death certificate
  • Cemetery registries
  • Brit Milah records
  • Government archives which show arrivals and departures from Portugal

The certificate must include the following information:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Location of birth
• Nationality
• Applicants residence
• Description of applicant’s Sephardic origin
• Evidence supporting each of these elements

In the absence of a certificate, other evidence may be submitted:

• A document issued by your local Jewish community supporting the application for Portuguese nationality
• Documentation which proves direct descent, such as records from synagogues, residence permits, property deeds, and wills

If there is any doubt as to the authenticity of the contents of the documents sourced abroad, the relevant Jewish authorities in Portugal may provide judgment on the evidence.

A step-by-step guide to obtaining Portuguese citizenship for Sephardic Jews

There are just 5 steps to the process of applying for Portuguese citizenship for Sephardic Jews:

1. Obtain the necessary documents
2. Documents are sent to Portugal
3. The application is then submitted for approval
4. The government analyzes the documents
5. Portuguese citizenship is then given

After Portuguese citizenship is granted

After Portuguese citizenship has been granted, you can then obtain a Portuguese ID card or request a Portuguese passport. A Portuguese passport will give you freedom of movement throughout the Schengen zone and the UK, with no need for a visa. You can also travel visa-free to 183 countries around the world.