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ELIGIBILITY ASSESSMENT
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You may qualify for Portuguese dual citizenship by descent or through the Portugal Golden Visa program. Portugal has favorable laws allowing you to obtain Portuguese citizenship and an EU passport which carries with it significant opportunities for you and your family.

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Get Assistance with Portuguese Citizenship from the Professionals at PDC

Portugal has become an increasingly popular destination for people looking to apply for dual citizenship with the European Union. With its rich history, vibrant culture, and strong ties to the European Union, Portugal is known for its high quality of life at a very reasonable cost of living. It also has some of the easiest legal avenues available to obtain EU citizenship.

Obtaining Portuguese citizenship not only grants access to one of the most beautiful countries in the world but also provides access to the entire EU, allowing you the right to live, work, and travel freely across all 27 member states. Whether you are choosing to apply for Portuguese dual citizenship for personal, professional, or familial reasons, having citizenship with Portugal opens opportunities worldwide for you and your family.

The process of applying for Portugal citizenship can vary depending on your circumstances and which path you will be applying through. Whether you qualify through descent, marriage, naturalization, or Portugal’s Golden Visa program, understanding the specific requirements associated with each path and navigating the legalities are critical to obtaining Portuguese citizenship successfully.

The process of applying for Portugal citizenship has many requirements and challenges. PDC has a team of Portugal citizenship experts who provide start-to-finish citizenship services from the beginning of document procurement to Portuguese passports in hand. 

Our team combines an deep understanding of Portuguese nationality law with our commitment to supporting you in obtaining citizenship with Portugal.

Why Consider Portugal Dual Citizenship?

Portugal has a blend of natural wonders and cultural riches, instilling deep pride in its citizens and residents. As a Portuguese citizen, you will also enjoy the benefits of EU membership, effectively making the entire European Union your home.

Having Portugal citizenship gives you access to a Portuguese passport, while maintaining the ability to retain your current nationality—Portugal fully supports dual citizenship.

Portugal is one of the best pathways to get citizenship in Europe, and the team at PDC will help you streamline the process of becoming a Portugal citizen.

Portuguese nationality law women and children

Portugal Nationality Law Pathways

Portuguese nationality law offers multiple ways to become a citizen. Each one carries with it special eligibility requirements. Below are the 4 most common paths to obtain Portuguese dual citizenship.

  • Portugal citizenship by descent: Do you have a Portuguese parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent? You might have a straightforward path to becoming a citizen.
  • Portuguese citizenship by marriage: Share citizenship with your spouse. Additionally, Portugal’s nationality law allows you to get a short residency requirement for having a long-term relationship—even if you haven’t married.
  • Portugal citizenship through naturalization: Portugal offers one of the shortest residency requirements for citizenship in all of Europe. At only five years, many people already qualify for citizenship this way and don’t even know it.
  • Portugal Golden Visa: If you are ready to make a major investment in Portugal, then you can cut down your residency requirement to one of shortest in all of Europe. The Portugal Golden Visa is one of the best ways to obtain EU citizenship.

Under Portugal nationality law there are several paths to obtain Portugal citizenship, making it easy to find an ideal starting point. You simply need to determine which route suits your circumstances. Learn more about how to get Portugal citizenship.

How to Get Dual Citizenship Portugal and USA in 3 Steps:

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Qualification

The first step is always to identify the path you will be applying through and confirm your eligibility. Our Portuguese legal team provides a free eligibility assessment for your case.

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Documentation

The second step is to track down and obtain all official certified documentation, legalizations, translations, apostilles, legal amendments, and supporting documents for your case.

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Application

The application process will be one of the last steps in your process where all documents are officially filed with the Portuguese government with your documents.

Routes to Portuguese Citizenship in Detail

The prospect of dual citizenship in Portugal and the USA is a fully achievable when all of the Portugal citizenship requirements are met. The process begins with identifying the best pathway given your personal circumstances.

  • Portugal citizenship through ancestry is an accessible route for those with Portuguese roots. The Portuguese legal system places significant weight on family lineage, especially if you qualify through a parent.
  • The naturalization process offers a path open to anyone. This requires a five-year residence period, during which you demonstrate meaningful integration into Portuguese society.
  • For those looking to invest, the Golden Visa significantly reduces the residency requirement and gives you plenty of flexibility on the road to full citizenship.
  • Citizenship by marriage requires a three-year period of living together as a couple, and it helps unite families into a single nation.
Portuguese citizenship by descent trolly in Lisbon Portugal

Why Partner with PDC for Portuguese Dual Citizenship?

The path to Portuguese dual citizenship often appears difficult and complex—which is precisely why we founded PDC. We recognize that many ambitious individuals become lost in the maze of Portugal’s nationality legal requirements and paperwork.

Our expertise comes from our work guiding people through the process to get Portugal citizenship. We’ve developed a comprehensive suite of specialized Portuguese citizenship services that address each aspect of the process:

  • Heritage Evaluation: This initial assessment looks into your potential eligibility for Portugal citizenship, with particular attention to ancestral connections that might unlock the citizenship-by-descent pathway.
  • Document Discovery: This service tackles one of the most challenging aspects of the process—locating crucial records and replacing ones lost to time. Our genealogical experts routinely uncover documents once thought lost for good.
  • Ancestral Investigation: We employ sophisticated research methods and leverage extensive networks to uncover the documentary evidence that proves your Portuguese lineage—particularly helpful for Sephardic Jews looking to return to their Iberian home.
  • Application Support: We attend to every procedural detail, from securing properly apostilled documents to obtaining certified translations. This comprehensive oversight lets you focus on preparing for your new life while we handle the intricate bureaucratic requirements.
Portuguese golden visa couple in Lisbon Portugal

Service Packages

PDC (Portugal Dual Citizenship) has structured our citizenship service packages to accommodate different needs and starting points, respecting the differences in everyone’s situation:

  • Comprehensive Full Service: This package delivers end-to-end management of your citizenship journey. We oversee every aspect, eliminating uncertainty and stress from the Portugal citizenship process.
  • Guidance Package: This level suits those who have gathered their materials but still seek professional guidance to take every step correctly. It offers strategic direction while letting you maintain control of your application.
  • Support Package: This tier offers a limited set of services for those who are already approaching the final stages of the Portugal citizenship process.

We have a tier that fits your needs, whatever your challenges, whatever your situation. Maybe you’re simply curious about what Portugal citizenship would take. Or maybe you are well on your way but hit an unforeseen snag. PDC is available to assist you.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can a US citizen get Portuguese citizenship?

Yes. In fact, it can be quite easy to become a Portuguese citizen, especially if you are willing to make an investment in the country through the Portugal Golden Visa program.

Yes, both countries allow dual citizenship.

The timeline depends on the route you take. The average time is 2-3 years. The longest amount of time is five years, the residency requirement for naturalization. This time period begins when you first submit your application for a residency permit.

There are several ways to qualify under Portugal nationality law. If you have a Portuguese parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent, you qualify for citizenship by descent. If you have been married or living with a partner who is Portuguese for three years or more, you qualify for citizenship by marriage. Naturalization, on the other hand, takes five years of residency.

Yes. Among EU member states, Portugal is among the easiest. This is for many reasons. For one, the amount of time you need to live here to naturalize is among the shortest in all of the continent. It also allows people who are living together but unmarried to get the equivalent of citizenship by marriage.

No, you do not. To get Portugal dual nationality, you simply apply for citizenship without renouncing your American citizenship.

Yes! For this reason, you can get dual citizenship in Portugal and the USA.

Take Advantage of a Free Phone Consultation Today

Envision yourself embracing the Portuguese lifestyle—meandering through historic cities, catching trains across Europe without border concerns, accessing world-class healthcare, and enjoying the freedom to work anywhere in the EU. These possibilities await, but realizing them requires experienced guidance.

Your First Step to Portugal Citizenship

To start, you do not need to have everything in order. We recommend starting with a free conversation with one of our experts to confirm the best path for your case and if you qualify. We’ll get back to you within 24 hours on business days. You can contact us by phone or email below:

Our team can assist you in obtaining Portuguese dual citizenship efficiently.

This page was last updated with help by Marco Permunian

If you are interested in obtaining Portugal dual citizenship but are unclear if you qualify - Click Here

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What Clients Say

Thank you for helping me with my Portugal citizenship application through the Golden Visa program. Its something I have been wanting to do for years and PDC made the entire process much quicker than I expected. As we worked through the application, we ran across several issues with document accuracy which Marco and Anna fixed quickly. My case manager was in constant contact and provided regular updates which was very helpful in scheduling around my workload. The Portuguese Dual Citizenship team was very thorough in explaining the entire process from beginning to end so I was informed from the start. I hadn’t realized how complex applying for Portugal citizenship could be but I am grateful for their expertise. Thank you all so much!
client3-portugal
My path to obtaining Portugal citizenship and my EU passport began around three years ago when I started exploring the different options for dual citizenship with the EU. I learned about Portugal's golden visa program for citizenship by investment and reached out to PDC and had a conversation with Marco Permunian. I worked with Jason at the start of my case and his team did a complimentary assessment to first confirm my eligibility and all of the requirements for me to apply for Portuguese citizenship through the golden visa program. This assessment at the beginning of the process was very helpful because I wasn’t entirely sure if I could meet all of the requirements. Portugal has become more strict on the program lately so I wanted to be sure. The Portugal Dual Citizenship team handled my case from start to finish until I received my Portuguese passport from the consulate. The PDC team was outstanding and made the entire process so much more manageable for me and my family. Thanks Marco!
client8-portugal
I contacted Portuguese Dual Citizenship to see if I could obtain Portugal citizenship through investment with their Golden Visa program. A friend of mine had successfully received his EU passport that way, so I thought I’d see if I can get mine through the same route. I had spoken with a few other companies, but after my conversation with PDC and receiving a detailed breakdown of the golden visa process and the steps involved. Their guidance really helped me make my choice to choose them over others I spoke with. What impressed me most was the time they took to understand the specifics of my situation and ensure that I could get my Portuguese passport within my planned retirement timeline. Marco and his USA based team were incredibly responsive and took the time to answer all my questions to make sure the process was much smoother. A big thank you to them for helping my family and me obtain Portuguese citizenship!
client2-portugal
I highly recommend PDC’s services if you are applying for citizenship by investment. My Portuguese citizenship application through the golden visa program was complex. There is an extensive amount of documentation needed and specific requirements that must be met in order to obtain the Portuguese passport. Marco and the entire PDC team guided me from start to finish, ensuring all necessary paperwork was in perfect order and keeping me in the loop each step of the way. I had done a lot of research on Marco beforehand and watched several of his interviews online so I felt very confident in his team’s expertise. It was very reassuring to know I had an experienced citizenship attorney managing my case. He has a deep understanding of citizenship processes for multiple countries and I am very satisfied with my results and finally being able to get access to the European Union. Thank you Jason, Marco, and the whole PDC team!
client11-portugal
If you’re like me and trying to work your way through the Portugal citizenship process through the Golden Visa program then you know how complex it can be. I initially attempted it on my own but ran into several obstacles that became increasingly frustrating as it was delaying my progress. After feeling like I was wasting a lot of time and money, I did some research and stumbled on PDC. I contacted Marco and the team at PDC and confirmed that my biggest challenges had to do with dealing with the Portuguese bureaucratic requirements. The PDC team stepped in right where I left off helped me moved my citizenship by investment application forward quickly. I can’t praise Marco and his team enough for their help. Marco's experience in Portugal citizenship law is outstanding, and working with them was truly a great experience.
client4-portugal
PDC was great for helping me obtain my dual citizenship through the Portuguese citizenship by descent program. Initially, when I began looking into the process of getting Portuguese citizenship and still keeping my US citizenship I was completely overwhelmed by the complexity of the requirements. Tracking down old historical documentation, getting official translations, legalizations, and apostilles all seemed daunting and I was worried I was going to make a mistake. With so many requirements in order to be successful, I was really concerned about the risk of getting rejected. I saw an interview with Marco Permunian on CNN and reached out to him. His team carefully obtained all of my documents, organized my paperwork, and tracked down all of the missing records. Once I hired them, the entire process became much easier and stress-free which lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. I highly recommend PDC to anyone with Portuguese ancestry that is looking to apply Portuguese citizenship!
client6-portugal
I’ve been working with Jason, Marco, Emma and the PDC team for months and I can confidently say they’ve been fantastic to work with. I have Portuguese heritage on my mothers side so I was filing a Portuguese citizenship by descent application. My case had unique challenges due to the documentation requirements involved in the by descent process. I quickly realized that the further you go into this process, the more complex it becomes. Navigating older records, especially those from the early 1900s are full of inconsistencies with names and dates. Marco and his team handled everything on my behalf, which was exactly what I needed with my busy work and family commitments. The Portugal Dual Citizenship team was always available and responded to my questions promptly, which I really appreciate. It’s rare to find such quick communication these days!
client9-portugal
Without Marco’s help with my citizenship application through descent I don’t think I would have completed my Portugal citizenship. While gathering some of my ancestors documents on my own was fairly manageable I was at a complete loss once the process turned out to be much more challenging than I had expected. There are numerous legal requirements and Portuguese bureaucratic steps that must be followed perfectly in order to be approved. After a few days of research, I chose to work with Marco and PDC. For me, starting this process wasn’t just about obtaining an EU passport, it also became an amazing opportunity to learn more about my family’s heritage and history. I discovered so much about my grandparents and our Portuguese heritage that most of my family didn’t even know. A bit thanks to Marco and the dedicated team at PDC, I’m on track to finalize my Portuguese citizenship by December!
client7-portugal
I work remotely and have been considering applying for the Portuguese golden visa for citizenship for years and finally decided to take the plunge after a recent trip to Portugal. After researching the Portugal citizenship by investment process online I quickly realized it was going to be complicated and there are a lot of requirements that I had to make sure were met. I'm not good with handling paperwork and don't have the time while raising 3 children so to avoid the hassle of dealing with Portuguese bureaucracy I wanted my case to be handled professionally. If you’re looking for a great team to assist with Portugal citizenship, PDC is the perfect choice. Marco Permunian has in-depth knowledge of the Portuguese citizenship process, and his team is responsive to my emails which helped ease my anxiety around the process. Their attention to detail and timely responses were so refreshing. I’m beyond pleased that I chose them!
client10-portugal
I just wanted to recognize Marco and the Portugal Dual Citizenship team for their outstanding support with my Portuguese citizenship application through the Golden Visa investment. Having lived and worked in several European countries over the past 4 years and between all of the back and forth I knew from all of my co-workers that an EU passport would make work and travel significantly easier. The constant need for me to get and renew visas had become costly and frustrating over the years. When I first contacted PDC they were incredibly helpful in every step of the Golden Visa process with Portugal to me and what was required of me to apply by investment. I chose their Turn-Key option, and they handled all the required paperwork and kept me informed so I always knew the status of my application. My family were actually the ones to give me Marco's contact information after watching a bunch of his YouTube videos and podcasts. Working with him has been a wonderful experience!
client1-portugal
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Applying for a Portugal Golden Visa or confirming your eligibility for Portuguese citizenship by descent can be complex and depends on many factors. We offer a free phone consultation to help you.

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We will preliminarily assess your case free of charge or obligation to determine determine the details of your Portugal Golden Visa or confirm if you qualify for Portuguese citizenship by descent. Just fill out the form below to send us an email. We respond with 24 hours on all business days.

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PDC is dedicated to helping people of Portuguese descent reestablish their heritage and strengthen their bond with Portugal. Obtaining Portugal dual citizenship unlocks a world of opportunities for you and your family, both within Portugal and throughout the 27 member states of the European Union.

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