Added
classified the pathway as naturalization and recorded the five-year legal-residence condition Source
Minimum cost
—
Timeline
5 years
residency required
Visa-free access
—
Dual citizenship
Allowed
Path to citizenship
- Residency5 years · any
- Applyprocessing time varies
- Citizenshipafter the oath
Overview
- Country
- Portugal
- Program
- Portuguese Citizenship for Great-Grandchildren by Naturalization
- Local name
- Naturalização de descendentes em 3.º grau de portugueses originários
- Type
- Naturalization
- Status
- Active
- Residency required
- 5 years
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
A direct descendant in the third degree in the straight line of a Portuguese national by origin may be granted Portuguese nationality by naturalization after at least five years of legal residence in Portugal. This is a discretionary naturalization pathway; descent alone does not confer nationality and the applicant must meet the other applicable naturalization conditions.
Fees and costs
No fees listed for this program.
Eligibility and requirements
- Minimum age 18+
- Police clearance required
- Medical exam not required
- Language Required
- Language exemptions Nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries are presumed to meet the language component unless lack of proficiency is manifest; all other statutory conditions remain applicable.
- Civics test required
- Oath required
Residency requirements
- Residency required
- 5 years
- Residency type
- Any
Passport and mobility
- EU citizenship
- Yes
- Schengen access
- Yes
- US E-2 treaty
- Yes — eligible for US investor visa
How to apply
- Apply from abroad
- Must apply in-country
- Application type
- Discretionary
- Official website
- diariodarepublica.pt
- Legal basis
- Lei n.º 37/81, Article 6(8), as amended by Organic Law 1/2026
Notes and caveats
Article 6(8) of the Nationality Law, as amended by Organic Law 1/2026, waives the ordinary residence-period requirement for third-degree descendants but requires at least five years of legal residence in Portugal. The route remains naturalization, not citizenship by descent. Article 6(1) still requires adulthood, Portuguese language and culture/history/symbol knowledge, civic and political knowledge, a solemn declaration, criminal/security/sanctions screening and means of subsistence. The statute says the government may grant nationality. Application procedures and the implementing format for the new knowledge requirements were not confirmed in the sources checked.
Also in Portugal
Last verified Oct 9, 2026 Last changed Oct 9, 2026 Source