Portuguese Passport—Last Chance to Apply (Important Legal Update as of June 2022)
A last chance for many Israelis to apply for a Portuguese passport? The Portuguese authorities have recently announced a new legislation that is expected to make it very difficult to obtain a Portuguese passport based on Sephardic ancestry and family connections with expellees from Spain, in contrast with the previous legislative situation. The delay in the new legislation’s entry into force, a legislation that will ban tens of thousands of Israelis from being entitled to the sought-after passport, leaves them with a narrow window of opportunity (which may never return) to apply for a Portuguese passport under lenient conditions via the previous process. Those who wish to start the process of obtaining Portuguese citizenship and a Portuguese passport will have to take action as soon as possible so as to not miss their chance. In this article, lawyer Michael Decker, a partner of our firm who specializes in immigration law, explains about the process.
Interested In a Portuguese Passport? Now Is the Time to Act!
A Portuguese passport has recently become very sought after for those with Sephardi roots. The reason for this is the 2013 legislation that granted the eligibility for this passport to hundreds of thousands of Israelis and Jews, under very lenient conditions compared to other European Union (EU) citizenships. The change in the legal situation in this matter, which we recently published on our website, starts the end of a period regarding Portuguese citizenship. The Portuguese authorities have decided to substantially limit the possibility of Israelis and Jews who are connected to expellees from Spain and Portugal to receive a Portuguese passport for themselves or for their close family.
This strict move by the Portuguese government, which was performed by changing the regulations in the matter (in contrast with having the law changed by the parliament), received protests by many Israelis who were eligible for a passport, as well as by the Jewish communities in Portugal. Although the decision to make this change took place almost overnight, final dates when the strict regulations will enter into force have not yet been set. The Portuguese government may have noticed the protests, since it has now been decided to allow a last chance to obtain a Portuguese passport according to the previous, more lenient, regulations. This is important news for tens of thousands of Israelis and Jews who are eligible for a Portuguese passport and citizenship. The process is explained in detail below.
What Are the New Regulations On the Matter?
To tighten the eligibility conditions for a Portuguese passport, the Portuguese authorities added several requirements that applicants must meet to successfully complete the process and be eligible for a passport. The main requirement is to prove the applicant’s connection to Portugal. This may be done, for example, by presenting proof of Portuguese asset ownership (such as ownership of real estate or of a commercial company or cooperative that are registered in Portugal) or evidence showing that the applicant frequently visits Portugal. Due to the fact that many Israelis who are interested in a Portuguese passport do not own assets there and do not visit Portugal frequently (or at all), this move is expected to ban most Israeli applicants from acquiring a Portuguese passport and citizenship. As of the time of writing, the new regulations are expected to enter into force on September 1, 2022. Therefore, it is very important for interested Israelis to take advantage of the narrow window of opportunities that they have now received and thoroughly investigate their eligibility and begin the process.
A Last Chance to Apply for a Portuguese Passport By the Old Regulations—How Is This Done?
In short, the process of obtaining a Portuguese passport and citizenship by the old regulations (which remain in force for the next two months) consists of two stages. In the first stage, the applicant must prove their Sephardic origins. This may be done by presenting a recommendation letter from the Jewish community in Portugal attesting to the applicant’s Sephardic origins. In the second stage, the applicant must submit a formal request to naturalize before the Portuguese authorities, and must attach the letter of recommendation mentioned above, as well as other documents. This is a lengthy process that requires much bureaucracy. We recommend anyone interested in obtaining a Portuguese passport to act without delay and issue their passport as soon as possible. As mentioned above, this is a last chance to acquire a Portuguese passport and, for many applicants, the chance may not return. If you do not want to miss it, you should contact an immigration lawyer who has experience and thorough knowledge in obtaining Portuguese citizenship, who can assist you throughout the process and help you maximize the chance that your application will be approved.
Last Chance to Apply for a Portuguese Passport—Contact an Immigration Lawyer
As explained in detail above, Israelis and Jews who are interested in receiving a Portuguese passport and citizenship based on their Sephardic origins must act quickly if they wish to apply according to the previous lenient procedure. When the new legislation enters into force, many applicants will be banned from eligibility for a passport. To examine your eligibility for a passport, or for any advice or assistance in the matter, our lawyers are available to help you. We have extensive proven experience in providing assistance and comprehensive legal support during the process of applying for a Portuguese passport and citizenship. You can contact us via the phone numbers and email address listed below and schedule a meeting in which you will receive advice from an immigration lawyer at our offices in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv.
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