Forum Portugal

[damianpfister]

Hi

Do I qualify for Portuguese citizenship if my Great-Grandmother was born, raised and died there as a national herself?

My Grandfather was born in Mozambique in 1918 (a Portuguese colony at the time) and spent his schooling years in Switzerland (my Great-Grandfather was Swiss) and his late teens and early twenties in Portugal with his Mother.

Later in his twenties he moved back to Mozambique and then on to South Africa, where he died in 2008. Throughout this time he was registered as a Swiss National and traveled on a Swiss Passport.

My own Father obtained Swiss citizenship through birth which then allowed me to request the same before I was 22. In a similar manner is it possible for me to obtain Portuguese citizenship through lineage to my Great-Grandmother, assuming my Grandfather was automatically recognized as a citizen at birth and then my own Father after him?

I do not believe my Grandfather ever obtained a Portuguese Passport, as he had a Swiss one. That said I do not know whether he would still be entitled to Portuguese citizenship (even after death)?

I could attempt to track down birth, death and marriage certificates of my Grandfather and Great-grandfather/mother through the relevant authorities in Portugual, Switzerland and possibly Mozambique.

The question is whether it would be worth the effort, if there is little-to-no chance of me being able to claim Portuguese citizenship through my lineage to them?

Thanks!

[texkourgan]

Hmmm...I checked out the guide to Lisbon but unfortunately it doesn't to touch on your issues with citizenship. I found thedeclaration requesting your citizenship, but it is in Portuguese so I am not sure if that is helpful

The other requirements appear to be:
Birth certificate (long form), translated to portuguese and certified by the portuguese diplomatic or consular authority;
Your Portuguese family member's birth certificate (long form).;
Your passport or ID

For the best advice, you need to consult with the closest Portuguese consulate. Best of luck!

[damianpfister]

Thanks for the pointers - I will look into them. I do plan to discuss this with the local Portuguese Embassy here in London, but the more information I am armed with the better

Thanks again!