Types of Portuguese Cizenship

Cristiano Ronaldo (left) is a Portuguese footballer with original citizenship and Deco (right) is a Portuguese footballer with derivative citizenship (he is naturalised)

Now that we already know who is entitled to the Portuguese citizenship, the next step is to establish the types of citizenship these people are entitled to.

This is important to know because each type of citizenship determines which procedures the applicants must follow to submit the application and, consequently, which effects his/her citizenship will have on the future generations of his/her family.

There are two types of Portuguese citizenship:

•          Original Citizenship; and
•           Derivative Citizenship

The Original Citizenship is the citizenship of those who are considered native Portuguese citizens by the Portuguese law, who, according to the article 1 of the Nationality Act, are:

• Children of either Portuguese parents;
• Children of foreign citizens, born in the Portuguese territory, as long as:

1. At least one of the parents was also born in the Portuguese territory and was living in    Portugal on the birth date of the child; or
2. Neither of his/her parents was in Portugal to serve to their own country, at least one of the parents was legally settled in Portugal for at least five years on the birth date of the child and the child also officially declare he/she wants to be a Portuguese citizen.

• People born in the Portuguese territory who does not hold any other citizenship.

The Derivative Citizenship is the citizenship of those who are not native Portuguese citizens but have obtained the Portuguese citizenship due to other requirements than the mentioned above. This is the case of:

•           Adopted children of Portuguese citizens;
•           Grandchildren of Portuguese citizens;
•           Great grandchildren of Portuguese citizens;
•           Spouses and civil partners of Portuguese citizens;
•           Children of foreign citizens, born in the Portuguese territory, that do not meet the requirements of the article 1 of the nationality law;
•           Those who had lost the Portuguese citizenship;
•           Foreign citizens who are legally settled down in Portugal for at least 6 years.

Despite of being special cases not brought by the article 1 of the Portuguese Nationality Act, those citizens born in the former Portuguese territories in India, Africa, Macau, East Timor are entitled to the original citizenship.

Larissa Bona

Places of Portugal: Lisbon

Centre of Lisbon from the top of Santa Justa Lift by Larissa Bona

Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and its largest city with a population of almost 3 million people (Metropolitan Area of Lisbon). Placed at the mouth of the Tagus River, it is the westernmost capital of continental Europe.

Although there is a legend saying that Lisbon was founded by Ulysses, Lisbon was founded by the Phoenicians. In 711, the city was taken by the Moors, who ruled the city for 450 years until the 12^th Century, when the Christians recovered the city. Yet, the Arabic influence is still seen nowadays on the architecture of the city.

With the Age of Discovery, Portugal has become one of the most powerful nations of that time; consequently, Lisbon has become one of the most important cities in Europe.

In 1755, an earthquake destroyed the city centre and the city was rebuilt by the 1^st Marques of Pombal, who demolished everything that was left and reconstructed the area according to the modern urban style, creating an area called the “Baixa Pombalina”, which still remains much of its original layout.

Actually, the architecture of Lisbon is one of its best assets, since there you can find several styles as Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, Baroque, Traditional Portuguese, Modern and Post-Modern coexisting.

The city also hosts several museums that are worthy to visit as Museum of the Portuguese Style-Tile, Calouste Gulbekian Museum, and Lisbon Oceanarium.

Besides this, there are several monuments as Padrão do Descobrimento (a monument built to honour the sailors who faced challenged the oceans), Torre de Belém, Jeronimos Monastery, all placed in the neighbourhood of Belem, in which you can also eat the famous Pastel de Belem.

In 1998, Lisbon hosted the Expo ´98, hence, built a brand new and modern space called Parque das Nações that, after the event finished, has become a multipurpose space. As you can see, there is a lot to do in Lisbon during the day.

In the Historic Centre of Lisbon, you can find the famous neighbourhoods of Alfama, Baixa, Chiado, Bairro Alto, where the best of the nightlife of Lisbon is placed, including the famous "Casas de Fado", which are restaurants where you can eat a proper Portuguese cod-fish, drinking a genuine Portuguese wine, whilst seeing a Fado show. (I’ve already done this and I guarantee that it’s an excellent experience).

My advice is: visit Lisbon, you won’t be disappointed.

Larissa Bona

Why Should Someone Obtain the Portuguese Citizenship? - Part III: To Not Let the Chain Break

Contacts: 

E-mail: larissa.bona@lawrei.com

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Larissa Bona

Why Should Someone Obtain the Portuguese Citizenship? - Part II: The European Citizenship

Contacts: 

E-mail: larissa.bona@lawrei.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/larissa.bona

Twitter: www.twitter.com/larissa_bona

Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/lmbona

Larissa Bona

Portugal & Qatar - A Re-New Beginning

Source: nuqataropen.wordpress.com

Qatar, a small peninsula in the Gulf, has now become a major international player in the World Market, setting new bench marks in fields of lnnovation, Infrastructure development, LNG, Education and Sports.

With Qatar bidding for the prestigious World Cup 2022, it becomes imperative that this jewel in the pearl of the Gulf has reached new governments to invest in Qatar as the destination of the world.

On a maiden visit to Lisbon in the summers of April 2009, HH Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani and Her Royal Consort Sheikha Mozah with the accompanying delegation held official round talks with the Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates and accompanying delegation Minister of State and Foreign Minister Luis Amado, Minister of State and Finance Minister Fernando Teixeira dos Santos and Minister of Economy and lnnovation Manuel Pinho.

A joint statement, agreement and the MoU were signed for Qatar by Minister of Business and Trade H.E. Sheikh Fahad bin Jassem Bin Mohammad Al-Abdurrahman AL-Thani and for Portugal, the Minister of State and Foreign Minister Luis Amado.

A major boost of co-operations signed between the two friendly countries in May 2010 with HE the Premier of Qatar and Portugal Foreign Minister Luis Amado signed an agreement between both the governments on the cancellation of entry visa for holder of diplomatic and special passports. A protocol of co-operation and joint news exchange was also signed.

Recently on 24 October 2010 Qatar welcomed the arrival of Portuguese Minister of Economy and Innovation Jose Vieira da Silva led by a 15 member delegation held bilateral co-operation in sectors as Banking and Finance, Tourism, Telecommunication and Energy. Portugal famed for its historical tourism is also on the anvil which chips in 11% of Portugal's GDP.

It's hoped Qatar takes this promotion in investing in resorts and hotels in Portugal, adding to economic co-operation including Protection of investment and other instruments to be finalized before end of 2010.

According to Mr. da Silva, the time is right for both countries to move beyond government-level relationship to – where company to company partnership can be created.

Portugal is also interested in importing Qatari LNG and a deep sea harbour is currently being developed to receive supplies.

No links can be possible without flight services and therefore, Qatar Airways, currently ruling the skies in being of the most prestigious airline in the world, is also in negotiating to have direct flight between Doha and Lisbon, once all technical issues are completed.

On a closing note, the former deputy PM of Portugal and chairman of Friendship Association Portugal-Qatar Jose Luis Arnaut said, "any relationship between Qatar and Portugal will be a win-win opportunity for both countries.

With the Portuguese Goan community increasing in Middle East, its hoped that the Portuguese authorities may setup a permanent Cultural office in Qatar with facilities of issuing Passports and legal support making it a one stop destination barring restrictions and simple efficient single window system.

Bonding a partnership with Miguel Reis Associados, the proximity between Europe and the Middle East is as close to a mouse click away to help fellow Goan brethren to claim their right of Portuguese Citizenship.

Anthony Peter D'Souza¹

Doha - Qatar

[1] Mr. Anthony Peter D'Souza is a Portuguese citizen of Goan descent, member of the Portuguese community in Qatar and our partner in that country.

Who Is Entitled to the Portuguese Citizenship?

Source: arrastao.org

Every day I receive several e-mails with a very similar content. The person usually begins telling his/her case and then ends up with the "golden question": Am I entitled to the Portuguese citizenship?

Therefore, in today’s post I will answer the “golden question” of most of my clients. Below, those who are entitled to the Portuguese citizenship:

• Children of either Portuguese parents;
• Grandchildren of at least one Portuguese citizen;
• Great grandchildren of at least one Portuguese citizen;
• Spouses of Portuguese citizens, married to them for over 3 years;
•  Women that got married to Portuguese citizens before 1981;
• Civil partners of Portuguese citizens, whose civil union has over 3 years;
• Persons born in the Old Portuguese State of India;
• Persons born in the former Portuguese colonies in Africa, before their independence;
• Persons born in Macau during the Portuguese administration;
• Persons born in East Timor until 1981;
• Stateless persons born in Portugal;
• Those who had lost the Portuguese citizenship;
• Children of foreign citizens, born in the Portuguese territory, whose at least one of the foreign parents is settled in Portugal;
• Children of foreign citizens, born in the Portuguese territory, who lived permanently for 10 years prior to the submission of the application;
• Foreign citizens who are legally settled down in Portugal for at least 6 years.

Remember that the information above is summed up and not sufficient to establish if someone is really entitled to the Portuguese citizenship, because there are some legal requirements that must be met in addition to what is mentioned above.

Consequently, I warn you that the situations above-listed must be faced as just a hint of who may be entitled to the citizenship.

But you should not be worried because I will discuss every single case further on.

Larissa Bona

Portugal: a Country that Has Changed the World

Source: Video posted on Youtube by user jocamar15 (click here to access his page)

I saw this video on Youtube and thought it would be perfect to introduce our new series: History of Portugal.

The Portuguese history has over 2000 years and it is impossible to tell it in a very detailed manner here. Yet, I think it would be nice for the readers to know a little bit more about the history of their ancestors, because Portugal, indeed, was a country that has changed the world, as the title of the video says.

Therefore, I will try to tell a summed up history of Portugal in this blog, not through a deep approach, but listing all relevant events, every 15 days (I do similar thing at Olhar Direito blog, in which I write about the History of Brazil, but in Portuguese and in a more detailed way).

Larissa Bona