How Does Citizenship by Birth in Portugal Work?

When people think about gaining citizenship in another country, two routes usually spring to mind: investment or ancestry.

But there’s a third – often overlooked – option, one that’s not based on bloodline or wealth but on being born in the right place under the right conditions.

For globally mobile families, this birth-based path to citizenship can be a powerful planning tool – and Portugal offers one of the most compelling examples.

Much of the attention paid to Portugal tends to focus on the country’s famous golden visa. That’s a shame because it overlooks the fact the country also grants citizenship to certain children born on its soil.

Unlike investment pathways, this citizenship-by-birth option is simpler, faster, and much more cost-effective. It has fewer bureaucratic hurdles and a clear legal framework.

Under current rules, a child born in Portugal may be eligible for citizenship depending on the legal residency status and duration of stay of the parents.

For families who meet the criteria and understand the requirements, the process can be relatively straightforward.

In this guide, the Nomad Capitalist team breaks down who qualifies, what’s required and how internationally minded families can leverage Portugal’s birth-based citizenship rules to secure long-term mobility, security and opportunity.

Birthright Citizenship (Jus Soli) in Portugal

Portuguese citizenship law primarily follows the principle of jus sanguinis, or ‘right of blood’.

In simple terms, that means Portuguese citizenship is generally passed down through lineage, not automatically granted based on birthplace (jus soli).

If you were born to a Portuguese mother or father, you’re typically considered a Portuguese citizen from the moment you were born, irrespective of where in the world you drew your first breath. 

This principle holds firm even if your Portuguese parent was born outside Portugal. 

That said, Portugal also recognises that birthplace can matter – especially when the child is born on Portuguese soil to foreign parents with legal residency. In certain case, children can acquire citizenship at birth. 

The finer points are considered below, but let’s first consider what’s at stake. 

Benefits of Obtaining Portuguese Citizenship by Birth 

Aside from the long-term advantages, the immediate benefits are life-changing. You gain the unfettered right to live, work, study and retire anywhere within the European Union, EEA and Switzerland with minimal bureaucracy.

In addition, citizenship carries the weight of strong consular assistance from Portuguese embassies and consulates worldwide. 

And where Portugal lacks representation, you can often turn to the embassy of any other EU member state.

There are also some strategic lifestyle bonuses, such as access to high-quality healthcare and education in Portugal and across the EU.

Of course, while citizenship itself doesn’t dictate tax residency, holding an EU passport provides a lot of tax flexibility within the EU. This allows you to better plan your personal and business taxes. 

Eligibility and Requirements for Portuguese Citizenship by Birth

Under Portuguese law, citizenship by birth is only attainable by Portuguese citizens and residents who meet certain criteria. 

According to the current Portuguese law, effective as of early 2025, the following key conditions must be met to be eligible for Portuguese citizenship:

1. At least one parent – irrespective of their marital status – must have been legally residing in Portugal for a minimum of one year immediately preceding the child’s birth. 
2. The legally resident parent(s) cannot be in Portugal, but in the service of their home country. This typically excludes children born to diplomats or other foreign government officials carrying out duties in Portuguese territory. 

Previous versions of Portuguese law had longer periods, but changes, especially in 2020, reduced the time limit.

It’s important to note that any child born within Portuguese territory who would otherwise be stateless (lacking any nationality) is granted Portuguese nationality. 

Children Born Before Parents Meet Residency Requirements 

If a child is born on Portuguese soil to foreign parents, but neither parent fulfils the mandatory one-year legal residency requirement prior to the birth, the child does not automatically gain Portuguese citizenship. 

However, the rules include two pathways for these children to become citizens as their family’s connection to the country grows.

Firstly, if at least one parent subsequently achieves a total of five years of legal residency in Portugal, the child can then acquire Portuguese nationality. 

Alternatively, the child’s integration into Portuguese society via education is another potential pathway. 

If the child, having been born in Portugal, completes at least one full cycle of either basic education or secondary education within the Portuguese system, they become eligible to apply for citizenship. 

How to Apply for Portuguese Citizenship by Birth

Acquiring citizenship for your child born in Portugal, when you yourselves are foreign nationals residing there, is about meeting specific conditions at the time of birth. 

If you meet the one-year legal residency requirement when your child is born in Portugal, the process begins at the Civil Registry Office (Conservatória do Registo Civil). 

There, you register your child’s birth, a standard procedure in any country. 

During this registration, you must provide documentation proving that the parental residency requirement is satisfied.

Typically, this involves presenting:

• The child’s birth certificate (issued by the hospital or place of birth)
• Identification documents for both parents (passports, residence cards, marriage certificate)
• Proof of the qualifying parent’s legal residence in Portugal for at least the preceding year. 

This usually means showing their valid residence permit(s) covering that period.

As long as these conditions are clearly met and documented, the registration itself serves to confirm the child’s status as a Portuguese citizen. 

Children Born Overseas With a Portuguese Parent

For those holding Portuguese nationality, the ability to pass this status on to their children born abroad is a fundamental aspect of citizenship. 

Unlike the jus soli (right of soil) principle we discussed earlier, this pathway hinges purely on parental lineage. 

If you’re a Portuguese citizen (mother or father), when your child is born outside Portugal, your child will automatically be Portuguese. 

However, this right isn’t automatic in the sense of it happening without action. 

The birth needs to be officially registered within the Portuguese civil system to formalise the child’s citizenship.

Now, it gets a little tricky here because the process differs slightly depending on the child’s age and where the birth occurred.

For infants under one-year-old whose birth was registered within another European Union country – the Portuguese government has eased the process considerably. 

Parents can initiate the nationality registration online through the official Justice Portal. You’ll typically receive email updates about the ‌progress. 

Once the nationality is formally recognised, there’s a nominal fee, around €10, associated with obtaining the child’s Cartão de Cidadão (Citizen Card), which will be delivered to you.

However, if your child is older than one year (or if their birth occurred outside the European Union), the pathway for you is the traditional, in-person approach. 

You’ll need to make an appointment and bring your application to the Portuguese Consulate or Embassy in your area. 

Citizenship by Birth in Portugal: FAQs

Get Citizenship Where You’re Treated Best

Portugal’s citizenship-by-birth provisions now make it easier for residents to give their newborn children citizenship. 

It can be a strategic play, addressing a core Plan B concern for your family’s future in the event of changing global dynamics. 

After all, if you’re a resident, you know that through naturalisation, you can get your own Portuguese citizenship. If you have children while you are doing this, they will already have become citizens ahead of you. 

That said, Portugal might not even be the best answer. It won’t, for example, single-handedly resolve complex personal tax burdens overnight or necessarily give you the fastest second passport. 

If those criteria are important to you, then you should look at places like Malta for its residency program, which leads to citizenship.

If speed is your concern, then the Caribbean programs might be more beneficial in conjunction with or instead of a Portuguese strategy.

Don’t get us wrong, we love Portugal and have helped many clients move there, gain citizenship and live a good life. But you should understand you have options. 

Untangling these overlapping opportunities and potential pitfalls – weighing residency requirements against tax implications and aligning them with your unique family and business goals – requires guidance. At Nomad Capitalist, we’re ready to help you. To find out more, get in touch today.