Nationality – Former Portuguese territories (India, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, Macau and Timor)
Specific rules apply to obtaining Portuguese nationality in the case of former Portuguese territories such as India, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, Macau and Timor.
India
Citizens born until December 20, 1961 in the so-called Portuguese India (Goa, Damião, Diu, Dadrá and Nagar-Aveli) are Portuguese, as are those born there until June 3, 1975, provided they can prove that they were not domiciled in any former colony.
These Portuguese citizens must transcribe/integrate their birth records in Portugal, either themselves or their descendants.
After that, of course, descendants and spouses can also obtain Portuguese nationality.
Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau and São Tomé and Príncipe
The citizens of these countries were Portuguese until the date of their independence. After independence, many lost their Portuguese nationality, but in some cases they kept it:
- Those born in Portugal; those nationalized; those born abroad to a father or mother born in Portugal or naturalized, those born in the former State of India who declare that they wish to retain Portuguese nationality and the woman married to, or widowed or divorced from a Portuguese national in the situations mentioned above as well as their minor children.
- Descendants up to the third degree of the Portuguese mentioned above also retain Portuguese nationality, unless they declare that they do not wish to be Portuguese.
- Citizens born in an independent overseas territory who had been resident in mainland Portugal or the adjacent islands for more than five years on April 25, 1974, as well as their wives and minor children.
These Portuguese citizens must transcribe/integrate their birth records in Portugal, either themselves or their descendants. After that, of course, descendants and spouses can also obtain Portuguese nationality.
Macau
It was a Portuguese territory until April 25, 1976 and a territory under Portuguese administration from that date until December 20, 1999, when it was integrated into China, so until the Nationality Law came into force on November 21, 1981, all citizens born there were Portuguese citizens. After that date, the Nationality Law came into force just like in Portugal, so the children of Portuguese fathers or mothers are Portuguese.
Although China does not allow dual nationality, which is why many citizens who still have the right to Portuguese nationality choose not to obtain it, there are many who have retained Portuguese nationality or the right to it under Portuguese law and can still pass it on to their descendants.
These Portuguese citizens must transcribe/integrate their birth records in Portugal, either themselves or their descendants.
After that, of course, descendants and spouses can also obtain Portuguese nationality.
Timor
Citizens who were born in the territory of Timor until April 26, 1976, even if they were the children of foreigners, were Portuguese citizens. After that date, the Nationality Law was in force, just as it is in Portugal, so the children of Portuguese fathers and mothers are Portuguese.
These Portuguese citizens must transcribe/integrate their birth records in Portugal, either themselves or their descendants.
After that, of course, descendants and spouses can also obtain Portuguese nationality.
