On the 1st of March entered into force Decree-law 30-A/2015, involving substantial modification of Portuguese Regulation on Citizenship. According to new legislation, when meeting all requirements, the descendants of Portuguese Sephardic Jews with Portuguese origin can obtain Portuguese nationality.
Although numerous Sephardic Jews were expelled from Portugal and Spain during the 15th and 16th centuries, many of them kept using the Portuguese language, the rites of the ancient Jewish cult in Portugal, and family names. This resulted in strong connections with the national community, and shows an interest in keeping close to their origins.
With the demonstration of compliance with legal requirements, Sephardic Jews can obtain the Portuguese nationality, integrating the Portuguese community, with all the rights and obligations that derive from citizenship.
The requirements are:
• To be of age or emancipated in the light of Portuguese legislation;
• Not to have been convicted of a crime punishable under Portuguese legislation with a sentence of imprisonment of 3 years or more;
• State and prove in the application the circumstances that establish the tradition of belonging to the Sephardic community of Portuguese origin.
The documents that should follow the application for the acquisition of the Portuguese nationality are:
• Birth certificate;
• Official record of criminal conviction issued by the Portuguese authorities, by the country of
birth and nationality, and by all the countries of residence;
• A document issued by the Jewish community established in Portugal, which certifies that the
applicant belongs to the tradition of the Sephardic community of Portuguese origin.
• As an alternative, the Jewish community to which the applicant belongs to, can certify that the
applicant uses Portuguese or Ladino expressions at the Jewish rites, or prove the ties of the applicant’s family to the Jewish community with the synagogue and Jewish cemetery records, residency certificates, property deeds and wills.
The present document was created to be distributed amongst clients and colleagues, and therefore of a general and abstract character. The herein information should not be used for any concrete application, meaning that candidates should be accompanied by a qualified professional.
The herein content should not be reproduced either in its whole or in its parts.
If you require any further information about this topic, please contact: law@bsgg.pt