Nationality
Portugal was, up to shortly after the April 25, 1974 revolution, a territorial power, spreading its presence from Europe top Asia, comprising the territories now pertaining to the countries of Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, S. Tomé e Príncipe, India (Goa, Daman, Diu, Dradra and Nagar Aveli), East-Timor and Macau. Those born in this territory were Portuguese nationals and many of them have maintained Portuguese nationality after independence or separation from Portugal. Spouses and descendants of those Portuguese nationals may also have maintained Portuguese nationality or may be able to acquire it, under the terms of the law.
Besides those Portuguese nationals and respective descendants, others have emigrated to and settled in foreign countries, building important Portuguese communities in locations as far apart as Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Newark, Toronto, Caracas, Johannesburg, Dar-es-Salem, Sydney, Paris, Geneva, etc..
Both have the right to maintain or acquire Portuguese nationality from birth (that is, for being a direct descendant of a Portuguese national) or derived (by marriage, life partnership, adoption, etc.).
Beyond the personal reasons (emotional, cultural, family, etc.) determining the decision to acquire Portuguese nationality, there are a number or advantages of having Portuguese/European nationality:
– Ease of travel – Portuguese nationals may travel to all countries of the European Union without the need for a visa or passport. He/she may also visit the USA, Brazil, Dubai and other locations without the need for a visa.
– Freedom of establishment and right of residence in Portugal and the European Union – although a foreign citizen faces no barriers to participate in the share capital or the management of a Portuguese company, the fact is that he/she will need a valid residence permit for Portugal or another EU country to be able to manage from there the daily life of his/her company. A Portuguese national does not need a permit for Portugal and, in relation to the remaining EU countries, may establish his/her residence and proceed to his/her economic activity by way of a simplified permit process, in line with one of the fundamental pillars of the Union: freedom of establishment for UE nationals.
– Ease of access to education – Portuguese nationals, even if residing abroad, have the right to access the national public education system and, if residing in a European Union country, to respective national education system under the same terms as a national of such State. Also in terms of tuition fees, it is not unusual for universities to distinguish between national/European and foreign students, with the latter paying higher fees.
Please refer also to the following related areas:
– Migrations
– Litigation and dispute resolution