Many foreigners who emigrated to Portugal plan to obtain a passport from this country. The power located on the Iberian Peninsula also attracts Russians. Less popular than neighboring Spain, the country offers the same benefits of European life. There are several ways to obtain Portuguese citizenship. Some of them are available to immigrants from the Russian Federation planning to settle in the state for permanent residence.
The republic, located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, is part of the European Union. Like other EU countries, Portugal has its own principles for issuing an internal passport for foreigners. The acquisition of citizenship of the westernmost European state is regulated by the Citizenship Law. According to the document, there are several ways to obtain Portuguese citizenship.
Passport by birth
Every child born to foreign parents in Portugal has the right to claim citizenship of the country. Key terms:
- Mother and father lived in a European country for at least 10 years.
- The entire period of stay of the parents was in the status of residence permit.
- The child completed the first 4 years of school.
In some cases, the 10-year period of residence is reduced to 6 years. A mandatory requirement is that the parents are citizens of a country where Portuguese is one of the official languages. Such states include, for example, Brazil.
Children born in Portugal to short-term visitors (for example, tourists) do not automatically become citizens of the state.
Citizenship by descent
Children are entitled to obtain Portuguese citizenship in this way:
- Whose father or mother is Portuguese. Children of such parents receive citizenship automatically. In this case, one of the following requirements applies to parents:
- They must be born directly on the territory of the Iberian Republic.
- Or work for a Western European state.
- Born to a Portuguese citizen in another country. Such children are registered by Portuguese parents at the Portuguese embassies as citizens of an Atlantic power.
Portugal's place in European migration
Reasons for obtaining Portuguese citizenship
There are several ways to obtain Portuguese citizenship.
If you have some close and long-standing ties with the Portuguese side - a loved one, Portuguese parents, a resident of a former colony abroad of Portugal, you can apply on the basis of marriage, family reunification.
Or prove that it is you that the republic needs and that you will bring it significant advantages.
If you have nothing in common with the country, but would like to retire in the future on the shores of the ocean of cultural Europe, you can invest a certain amount in the Portuguese economy or in the purchase of real estate.
After living in the republic for several years for work or study, you can go through the naturalization program. You will need to show the reasons for entry and length of stay.
Each method has its own conventions and features.
Passport after marriage
Wives/husbands of citizens of the Iberian state have the right to obtain Portuguese citizenship. Foreign spouses wishing to obtain a country passport must submit a special declaration. The main requirement is to be married for at least 3 years.
The law also applies to civil relations. Spouses only need to confirm that they are actually married. Such certificates are issued by the civil court.
Formally, immigrants through marriage are not required to live in the republic for a certain period of time. In this sense, the law of a European power is quite loyal. However, applicants are often required to:
- Confirm your knowledge of the Portuguese language.
- Prove integration into the local community.
Documentation
The following list of papers is submitted:
- Certificate of marriage or civil relationship.
- Birth certificates of both spouses.
- Identity card (for foreign spouse).
- Certificates of good conduct (from Portugal and Russia).
Applying for a Portuguese passport step by step
For a Russian citizen, the entire process falls into four stages:
- residence in the republic for a certain period (one period for the investment program, another for marriage);
- passing a language and country knowledge exam;
- preparation and submission of documents;
- payment of the processing fee.
Next, the Migration Service will notify you of its decision.
Collection and submission of documents
There is a legalized list of documents on how to obtain Portuguese citizenship for a resident of Russia.
It includes the following items:
- application form - an application on a special form;
- general passport of the Russian Federation, birth certificate;
- a certificate of good conduct in both countries;
- basis for residence – investment documents, marriage certificate, extract of real estate ownership, charter documents of LLC, etc.;
- financial guarantees – salary certificate, account statement;
- certificate of language proficiency;
- medical report.
The package of documents must be translated into Portuguese, some of the documents with an apostille and certified by a notary.
Language and Country Knowledge Test
An exam on knowledge of the language and history of the state is an important part of all matters related to obtaining citizenship.
A Russian citizen will have to successfully pass three language exam blocks:
- reading and writing – a short text is given, which the resident must read, translate, and answer the questions posed;
- listening – listen to the text and answer questions;
- situational speech - to play out a situation in Portuguese.
Upon completion, the examinee receives a certificate.
The country knowledge exam includes general questions on geography, history, and state symbols.
List of organizations for assessing immigrant competence
Every applicant who wants to become a full citizen of the republic must know the following government organizations:
- CAPLE is a center that deals with the issues of how much a migrant has mastered the Portuguese language and can be ignored by society;
- Service for Foreigners - looks at the level of residence of the migrant: his income, living conditions, relations with the law.
After a comprehensive analysis, the application is approved or rejected.
Cost and terms of obtaining a Portuguese passport
The cost and timing of obtaining a passport are pressing issues for many migrants who have already completed the permanent residence stage and are ready to apply for citizenship.
450 euros are charged for a passport; some applicants (children, refugees, people in whom the republic is interested) are exempt from payment.
You should know that all expenses are not limited to this amount. The migrant may be asked for documents, certification by a notary and the registration of which will require payment of a fee.
The law does not explain how quickly you can obtain Portuguese citizenship - everything is at the discretion of the migration department employees.
Most often, the process takes no more than six months, sometimes it drags on for a year or more. To make the review go faster, the resident can properly prepare the documents so that they provide comprehensive information and do not require lengthy analysis.
Naturalization of immigrants
Basic conditions for those wishing to obtain Portuguese citizenship by naturalization:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Have a residence permit.
- Live on the territory of the state under the residence permit regime for at least 6 years. 3 years is a requirement for people from countries where Portuguese is the official language.
- Guarantee financial solvency.
- Good command of Portuguese (documentary evidence required).
- Have connections with the local community.
- Confirm the impeccability of your reputation.
Documentation
You need to collect the following documents:
This is what a residence permit in the country looks like
- Application for acceptance of Portuguese citizenship (model form can be found on the website of the Foreigners and Borders Service www.sef.pt).
- Passport used for the last 5 years (copies of all pages).
- Birth certificate (original and copy).
- Residence permit (copy).
- Proof of proficiency in the state language (for example, an official university diploma of passing an exam).
- Confirmation of connections with the local community. For example: Copies of residence permits for relatives.
- Birth certificates of children in the republic.
- Documents for the purchased property.
Apostille sample
- Certificates of good conduct with an apostille from Russia and Portugal (issued a maximum of 3 months ago).
- Financial guarantees: A letter from the employer indicating the salary, type of contract and date of hire.
- Receipt of salary received (copy of the most recent payment).
- Tax return (original and copy of document for the previous year with detailed information on income).
- Registration with Social Insurance.
Documents for citizenship are submitted:
- Or directly on the peninsula - to the Service for Foreigners and Borders.
- Or at home - to the consular section of the Portuguese Embassy in Moscow.
Important! Children receive Portuguese citizenship when their parents naturalize. Parents are only required to submit the appropriate application. The rule of automatic citizenship applies to minor children (under 18 years of age) and incapacitated children.
Sample passport
Residence permit in Portugal
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According to statistics, Portugal is one of the most popular countries among those wishing to obtain EU citizenship. Russians and Ukrainians share first place in the list of applicants for acquiring a residence permit (RP) in Portugal.
Advantages of a Portuguese residence permit
no need for compulsory residence on the territory of the state;
the opportunity to become an EU citizen after 6 years;
affordable real estate prices and low prices for consumer goods;
low crime rates make Portugal one of the safest countries in the world;
no problems in registering commercial activities, prospects for business development at the European and global levels;
Excellent climatic, economic and social environment for living, relaxing or working.
How to obtain a residence permit in Portugal
- Buying a property
In Portugal, there is a state program for issuing a “golden” residence permit, which allows a foreign citizen to obtain a residence permit in the shortest possible time (within 2 months). It consists of purchasing real estate for an amount of € 500,000.It is important to know!
You must purchase real estate within 90 days from the date of entry into the country, and only after that apply for a residence permit.
- Investment
Investors applying for residence permit status must speak a basic level of the national language, have no criminal record and stay in Portugal for at least 35 days within 5 years.Minimum investment amount:
- economy - € 1 million;
- national natural heritage and artistic production - € 250,000;
- small business support - € 500,000.
research in the field of culture and science - € 350,000;
It is important to know!
A prerequisite is the regular submission of financial reports to the state tax authorities.
This method of obtaining a residence permit in Portugal can only be afforded by wealthy foreign citizens. Its essence is to open a business and create a minimum number of jobs for Portuguese citizens (in our case, 10). All employees working for a foreign owner must be tax residents and registered with the Portuguese social service.
Among the legal forms in Portugal, the most popular is a private limited liability company (LDA). It is attractive because it limits the control of government authorities over the activities of the established enterprise.
It is important to know!
When opening a company, any entrepreneur receives benefits depending on the form and direction of his business.
Having concluded an employment contract with an employer and received an official invitation, a foreign citizen has the right to come to the country for work for a period of 1 year with the possibility of extension (if the tax is paid and the working relationship with the inviting party continues). After working in the country for at least 3 years, you can apply for a residence permit.
It is important to know!
When opening a company, any entrepreneur receives benefits depending on the form and direction of his business.
Foreign students studying at educational institutions in Portugal automatically acquire a residence permit for a period of 1 year (with an annual extension during the period of study). To obtain your status, you must provide documents confirming your enrollment.
Any foreigner who has lived for 1 year in the territory of the state in a legal marriage with a Portuguese citizen has the right to obtain a residence permit for himself and his supported children.
A foreigner may be awarded the status of a residence permit for his contribution to the development of science, culture, sports or for other merits. For example, assistance in solving or preventing a crime. In this case, you must apply for status at the High Commission for Immigration and Ethnic Minorities.
As practice shows, unfortunately, not everyone can acquire residence permit status in Portugal. The Portuguese government is interested in the economic development of its state, and therefore strives to attract the attention of exclusively wealthy foreign citizens. An ordinary average resident of Ukraine, Russia or other countries of the former socialist camp simply cannot afford it. However, there is a win-win way to legally stay in Portugal. It consists of acquiring citizenship of any of the states that are part of the European Union. One of the most relevant countries at the moment is Romania. Having obtained Romanian citizenship in a relatively short period of time, a newly minted EU citizen can move to Portugal for permanent residence or choose any other European country as a new place of residence.
It is important to understand that the success of immigration largely depends on the professional support of experienced specialists. Ensure yourself a confident tomorrow with International Business!
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Citizenship by Investment
Investments in the country's economy are not a reason for issuing a Portuguese passport. No matter how much money a foreigner contributes, he has the right to obtain citizenship only on a general basis - after living in the Atlantic state for 6 years. Any investment (in real estate, land, job creation, etc.) only allows you to obtain a residence permit.
Property taxes in the country
Portuguese citizenship gives foreigners who receive it all the rights of native residents, with the exception of voting rights. The republic's passport not only erases the borders within Schengen, but also opens visa-free entry into many countries of the world. In addition, Portuguese citizenship provides the opportunity to live and work in EU countries.
Benefits of obtaining Portuguese citizenship
Portugal is not the most attractive country for global migration; its economy has only begun to grow rapidly in recent years, but there are obvious advantages for Russians:
- Portuguese citizenship is the easiest to obtain among European countries, if you do not take into account Transnistria and the Balkans;
- a colorful, safe and self-sufficient country on the ocean coast, which is developing rapidly;
- relatively inexpensive living abroad with all the European amenities;
- open visa-free Schengen - Russians have free entry into many countries.
A Russian with Portuguese citizenship is equal in his rights and opportunities to residents of the EU; he is the same full-fledged citizen of a European country as a Frenchman, a German or a Swiss - visa-free borders, social guarantees of the state, a prosperous old age.
