Children, grandchildren and now great-grandchildren of Portuguese nationals have a path — but the new law raised the requirements for effective ties and language. We structure your application under the rules in force since May 2026.
Portuguese citizenship by descent remains the route most used by Brazilians. The new Nationality Law (Organic Law No. 1/2026), in force since May 19, 2026, preserved access for children and grandchildren and now also covers great-grandchildren — but it significantly strengthened the requirement of effective ties to the Portuguese community.
For grandchildren and great-grandchildren, proof of knowledge of the Portuguese language and culture and documentary evidence of a genuine connection to Portugal are now mandatory. Preparing the dossier is no longer mere paperwork but strategy — it is what determines approval.
Every lineage is unique. The profiles below cover the main scenarios — an eligibility assessment confirms your specific case.
Attribution of original nationality to the child of a Portuguese father or mother, with transcription of the birth record.
Right preserved by the new law, upon declaration, proof of effective ties and knowledge of the language and culture.
Route extended by Organic Law No. 1/2026, with stricter effective-tie requirements — assessed case by case.
Acquisition by the spouse or de facto partner of a Portuguese citizen, once the time period and ties requirements are met.
Since May 19, 2026, grandchildren and great-grandchildren must prove language, culture and effective ties to Portugal, and the Sephardic regime has been abolished for new applications. The presumption that Brazilians are proficient in Portuguese may be set aside by the registry service itself. Well-built documentation and proof of ties are decisive.
The list varies by route and lineage. We handle record searches, corrections, sworn translation and apostille — end to end.
A structured process, led by our in-house legal team and sworn translators.
We review your lineage and existing documents to confirm your right and the safest route — at no initial cost.
We locate old records in Brazil and abroad, correcting inconsistent names, dates and spellings.
Our own sworn translators and the Hague Convention apostille give your file international legal validity.
We assemble the dossier in the required format, file it through the correct route and follow it through to your passport.
Yes. The grandchild route was preserved, but it now requires a declaration, proof of effective ties to Portugal and knowledge of the Portuguese language and culture. Correct document preparation is what secures approval.
Organic Law No. 1/2026 now covers great-grandchildren, with stricter effective-tie requirements. It is a more complex route, assessed case by case — we evaluate the feasibility of your lineage.
For children, generally not. For grandchildren and great-grandchildren, the new law requires proof of language and culture, and the presumption that Brazilians are proficient in Portuguese may be set aside. We advise on the best way to provide proof.
Not for new applications. The special regime for descendants of Sephardic Jews was abolished by the new Nationality Law.
It varies depending on the conservatória (Portuguese civil registry office), the type of application and any corrections needed. Applications by children tend to be faster than those by grandchildren or great-grandchildren.
Talk to a Santy specialist. We assess your lineage, recommend the safest route and map out a realistic plan — no obligation.
A quick reply from a specialist consultant.
Your data is handled under LGPD and GDPR, in strict confidence.
Each country has its own rules, deadlines and requirements. See which path could be yours.