Portuguese Citizenship through Marriage

Applying for Portuguese citizenship through marriage or a de facto union is a process of "acquisition by declaration of will." You can submit your application in person at a registry office in Portugal, via mail to the central office in Lisbon, or through a legal representative using the online portal.

Step 1: Transcribe Your Marriage

If you were married outside of Portugal, your marriage must first be recognized by the Portuguese state. You must apply for a Transcrição de Casamento (Marriage Transcription) at a Portuguese consulate or a Civil Registry office. Your application for citizenship cannot proceed until your spouse’s Portuguese birth certificate includes a marginal note of your marriage.

Step 2: Gather and Legalize Documents

You must collect several official documents. Any document not issued in Portugal must be Apostilled (a form of international legalization) or legalized by a Portuguese consulate in the issuing country. If the documents are not in Portuguese, they must be accompanied by a certified translation.

• Full Narrative Birth Certificate: A detailed version of your birth certificate.
• Spouse’s Birth Certificate: Must show the marriage is already registered in Portugal.
• Criminal Record Certificates: You need these from your country of birth, your country of nationality, and every country where you have lived after the age of 16. Note: These are typically only valid for 3 to 6 months, so obtain them close to your submission date.
• Proof of Nationality: A certified copy of your current passport.

Step 3: Establish "Effective Ties"

The Portuguese government requires you to have a connection to the community. You do not need to provide extra proof of these ties if:

• You have been married/in a union for 6 years or more.
• You have been married/in a union for 5 years and have A2 level Portuguese language proficiency.
• You have common children who are already Portuguese citizens.
• You have lived legally in Portugal for at least 3 years and speak Portuguese at an A2 level.

If you do not meet these criteria, you must include evidence of ties, such as property ownership in Portugal, proof of residence, or membership in Portuguese cultural associations.

Step 4: Submit the Application

You can submit your application form (Modelo Declaração) and documents:

• In-person: At any Conservatória do Registo Civil (Civil Registry Office) or a Balcão da Nacionalidade.
• By Mail: Send your packet via registered post to the Conservatória dos Registos Centrais, Rua Rodrigo da Fonseca, 202, 1099-033 Lisboa, Portugal.
• Online: This option is currently only available to lawyers or solicitors through the official justice portal.

Step 5: Preliminary Review and Prosecution Check

The Registry will assign your case a process number. Your file is then sent to the Public Prosecutor’s Office. They have a legal window to oppose your application if they believe you lack effective ties or pose a security risk. Under 2025 safeguards, they will strictly check for criminal convictions (sentences of 3 years or more) or threats to national security.

Step 6: Final Registration

If no opposition is filed and your documents are approved, the Conservatory will create your Portuguese birth record. Once this is issued, you are officially a Portuguese citizen and can apply for your Cartão de Cidadão (Citizen Card) and passport.

Item	Cost
Citizenship Application Fee	€250
Marriage Transcription (if required)	€120

Total Estimate: €250 - €370 This total does not include costs for obtaining foreign documents, Apostilles, certified translations, or legal fees if you hire a lawyer.

The processing times for nationality applications have increased significantly due to high demand.

• Initial File Reference: 6 to 12 months after submission.
• Total Processing Time: Currently 36 to 48 months (3 to 4 years) from submission to final registration.
• Document Validity: Most foreign criminal records are only valid for 3 to 6 months. Because the backlog is so long, the authorities may ask you to submit fresh, updated criminal records during the "preliminary analysis" phase.
• Marriage Status: Your marriage must remain legally active throughout the entire waiting period. If you divorce or the union is dissolved before the final registration, your application will be rejected.