The procedure for obtaining Portuguese nationality for the descendants of those Sephardim expelled from the Iberian Peninsula has the following differences respect to the Spanish one:
The presence of Jewish communities in the Iberian Peninsula commenced several centuries ago, even before the foundation of the Christian Iberian kingdoms. After the Alhambra Edict of 1492, these Jewish communities began to be persecuted by the Spanish Inquisition and many of their members took refuge in Portugal. However, King D. Manuel, who had initially enacted a law that guaranteed them protection, ordered on 1496 the expulsion of all Sephardic Jews (also known as Marranos) who did not adopt Catholicism through baptism. Therefore, a large number of Sephardic Jews were expelled from Portugal in the late 15th and early 16th centuries.
Our Firm carries out the advice and full study of each case and the complete follow-up of all the files until the final Portuguese passport is obtained.
The obtaining of the Portuguese nationality for Sephardic jews and/or their direct descendants must be carried out through two different procedures:
1. Procedure before one of the Hebrew Communities of Portugal (Lisbon or Porto) competent to assess the documentation and family origin of the applicants and to issue an official certification of Sephardic origin.
2. Procedure to formally apply for Portuguese Nationality before the Portuguese Ministry of Justice.
Portuguese nationality gives its holder the same rights as any citizen of the European Union.
This type of procedure requires a solid knowledge of Portuguese Administrative, Notarial, Civil and Registry Law, and requires a detailed analysis of the extensive documentation required, as well as experience in handling similar files. The team of Larrauri & Martí Lawyers and the law firm of Carina Vicente Correia, Lisbon, which has extensive experience in this legal process, can advise you on this procedure.
In addition, our firm is a corporate partner of the Spanish-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce.
Access to the Regulation:
Portuguese Decree (Decreto-Lei n.o 30-A/2015)
Reglamento de Nacionalidad Portuguesa (Decreto-Lei no. 237-A/2006 de 14 de diciembre)
Instituto dos registos e do notariado.
Portuguese ministry of justice
Access to the Jewish Communities in Portugal:
Our partners in Portugal: