Portuguese Citizenship

Born before independence in the former colony

Portuguese Citizenship
Overseas (Africa)
Born before independence in the former colony

For whom it is intended:

Citizens who were born in Angola, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe until independence in 1974 and 1975.

After independence many citizens lost their Portuguese nationality because they acquired the nationality of the newly created country.

There are two ways for these citizens to become Portuguese citizens – these are two different types of processes, with different outcomes.

First method – Transcription of birth

If the applicant fulfils one of the two requirements still in force of Decree-Law 308-A/75

the applicant has an ascendant up to the third degree (parent, grandparent or great-grandparent) born in mainland Portugal or Madeira and Azores Islands; or
if the applicant had been resident in Portugal for five years on 25 April 1974

It is possible to retain the original nationality under Decree-Law 308-A/75, which is specific to the overseas territories.

Retained nationality is original and can be passed on to family members without limitation.

Second method – Naturalisation

If the applicant is unable to meet the requirements to retain its nationality, the latter may choose to apply for naturalisation which is reserved for those who “have had Portuguese nationality”.

The applicant can acquire nationality by naturalisation. Nationality is derived and can be passed on to spouses and children as minors.

Requirements:

has been born in Angola, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde or São Tomé and Príncipe
has been born before the independence of said country (between 1974 and 1975).
The remainder depend on the type of Process that can be followed.

If possible, we advise citizens to have their birth transcribed and only resort to naturalisation when they do not meet the requirements to retain their original nationality.

We will analyse and compare the documents to determine the most suitable process and compliance with the requirements, taking the opportunity to detect any inconsistencies in the documents that may be hindering the process.

Many documents have been lost through independence and wars in some countries, so it is necessary to assess whether the process is feasible with the documents available.

Process:

Framing the entitlement and determining the best strategy for the client and their family.
Guidance on the issue and legalisation of foreign documents by the client.
Submission of the file to the competent registry/court/sector in Portugal and regular monitoring of progress.
Sending the final document to the client – be it the judgement, the civil registration certificate (birth, marriage, death), etc.

* In the citizenship process the client receives a certificate of the Portuguese birth certificate and has the obligation to request the issuance of the ->Citizen Card-> and in possession of the latter, if desired, it can also request the issuance of the ->Portuguese Passport->. Both documents can be issued at the Portuguese Embassy and/or Consulate or directly in Portugal. Ask us how.

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Portuguese Citizenship

Born before independence in the former colony

For whom it is intended:

Requirements:

Process:

Get in touch with us for further information.

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Lisbon, Portugal

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