Portugal
Portugal's legacy of exploration runs deep in its national identity, from Vasco da Gama's voyage to India to Ferdinand Magellan's circumnavigation of the globe. Through Second Pass, you can follow in the footsteps of these intrepid discoverers with the exploration of your ancestry. If it leads right back to Portugal, you'll find yourself welcomed into a culture that celebrates both its pioneering past and promising future.
The Portuguese pace of life encourages a healthy work-life balance, where relaxed lunches and evening strolls along the Tagus River become daily rituals. With English widely spoken in urban centers, you’ll easily integrate while gradually immersing yourself in Portuguese. The country's strategic location also makes it an ideal European base, connecting you to Spain in minutes and placing the rest of Europe within easy reach for weekend explorations.
Pathways to Portuguese Citizenship
By Descent
One of the following family members must hold Portuguese citizenship for you to qualify:
Parent
Grandparent
Special Cases:
Great-grandparent: You won’t be able to directly apply if your Root is a great-grandparent or older. However, if either your parent or grandparent gains citizenship by descent first, you would then be eligible to apply through them.
Sephardic Jews: Individuals with verifiable Sephardic Jewish ancestry may be eligible for Portuguese citizenship, even without a direct Portuguese ancestor.
Citizens born in former Portuguese colonies: Individuals born in former Portuguese colonies before their independence may also be eligible for Portuguese citizenship. The specific requirements vary depending on the colony and the individual's circumstances.
Disqualifications:
A serious criminal record may disqualify an individual from obtaining Portuguese citizenship.
If your Root family member renounced their Portuguese citizenship [link to article], you may no longer qualify.
Golden Visa
For those without Portuguese ancestry, the Golden Visa program offers a pathway to residency and eventual citizenship through investment. To qualify, you must make one of these investments:
Real estate: €500,000 (reduced to €350,000 for urban regeneration properties)
Capital transfer: €1.5 million to a Portuguese bank account
Create at least 10 permanent jobs
Research or cultural contribution: €500,000 for research or €250,000 for arts and culture
The program requires maintaining your investment for five years with minimal physical presence—just seven days in Portugal during the first year and 14 days biannually thereafter. After five years, you become eligible for citizenship, subject to basic Portuguese language proficiency.
Life as a Portuguese National
Portugal offers a high standard of living with excellent healthcare, education, and safety, while maintaining costs about 30-40% lower than France or Germany. Walking through Lisbon's Alfama district as a resident rather than a tourist transforms how you experience Portugal's everyday life qualities: your mornings might begin at a local pastelaria with neighbors, chatting over espresso and pastéis de nata. Your citizen status grants access to comprehensive healthcare services at a fraction of American costs, while housing outside Lisbon and Porto offers remarkable value, with renovated three-bedroom apartments available from €150,000 in charming historic districts.
The country has become a haven for digital nomads and entrepreneurs, with thriving communities in major cities and emerging hubs like Braga and Coimbra. Portugal's NHR tax program offers significant advantages for those with foreign income sources, providing up to 10 years of preferential treatment.
Efficient transportation networks make car ownership optional, with reliable trains and local transit serving both urban and rural areas. For retirees, the mild Mediterranean climate supports year-round outdoor activities across diverse landscapes—from Algarve beaches to Serra da Estrela mountains—while the country's outstanding safety record provides peace of mind for residents of all ages.
Benefits of Portuguese Citizenship
Portuguese citizenship offers distinct advantages that enhance your global mobility and quality of life. Portugal fully permits dual citizenship, allowing you to maintain ties with your home country while embracing your Portuguese heritage.
Key benefits include:
Access to Portugal's excellent public healthcare system with comprehensive coverage
Tuition-free education at prestigious Portuguese universities for you and your family
Comprehensive social security benefits for citizens residing in Portugal
The Portuguese passport ranks among the world's strongest, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 180 countries
Beyond Portugal's borders, Portuguese citizens can participate in Portugal's extensive consular network spanning every continent, providing valuable support during international travel. Property ownership in Portugal comes with fewer restrictions for citizens, and Portuguese tax residency can be highly advantageous, particularly through the NHR (Non-Habitual Resident) program that offers preferential tax treatment for up to a decade.
EU Citizenship
Because Portugal is part of the European Union (EU), you're granted access to a wide array of benefits across all 27 EU member countries in Europe:
Freedom to live, work, study, and retire anywhere within the EU without visa requirements
Access to healthcare coverage across the European Union through the EHIC system
Ability to vote and stand as a candidate in European Parliament and municipal elections
Streamlined business operations across the EU single market
Consular protection from any EU member state while traveling internationally
Access tuition rates for EU citizens at universities in any country
Next Steps
If you believe you may qualify for Portuguese citizenship by descent, here's how to begin your journey:
Take the Second Pass eligibility quiz to receive a personalized assessment of your citizenship options based on your family history.
Start tracing your Portuguese ancestry through resources like Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, or Portugal's Torre do Tombo National Archives, which houses records dating back several centuries.
Gather initial documentation including birth certificates, marriage certificates, and death certificates for you and any Portuguese ancestors. If possible, locate baptismal records from Portuguese parishes.
Create a family tree focusing on your Portuguese lineage, noting birth locations and dates to establish your connection to Portugal.