Citizenship by Marriage or spouse

Citizenship for the spouse

In general, you may qualify for naturalization under the portuguese law based on marriage to a portuguese citizen if you

- Have been married for at least 3 years with a Portuguese citizen

- Or have been living in marital union with the same Portuguese citizen spouse during 3 years time – this civil union would have to be recognized on a portuguese court

The law that allowed this is recent. It is no longer needed to prove you’re fluent in Portuguese or to reside in Portugal for the effect


It is also no longer necessary to have other family, other than the spouse, registered as portuguese


The documents needed are quite straightforward and open an interesting oportunity to those couples that one of them recently obtained the portuguese citizenhip

In the Latin American diaspora remain, for example

STEP 1
Register the marriage in the Portuguese system

Needed documents

power of attorney

marriage certificate with apostille

birth certificate from Portugal

birth certificate from spouse with apostille

passport copy notarized

STEP 2
Apply for the citizenship based on marriage to your spouse

Needed documents

power of attorney

marriage certificate registered in Portugal – completed on last

birth certificate from spouse with apostille

passport copy notarized

criminal record from the countries of birth and residence with apostille