Menu
Expat.com
Search
Magazine
Search

portuguese citizenship nightmare

T
#1
Hello all. I wish someone can help me with this . I have been in Portugal( article 77 para 1) for some time and about to hit  the 5 month mark in a weeks time. I have been trying to gather the documents needed  to make a successful citizenship application.

The application requires you to submit registo  criminal or police checks as know in other countries from all countries  that I have ever lived in since the age of 16.

The problem being is that one of the countries (i  lived there when I was 20) where I have lived in the past no longer issues police check to foreigners any more (no exceptions here).  I am not sure what to do but conservatoria  dos registos centrais says it is needed. - does that mean that I am barred from applying and ever being a Portuguese citizen or am I allowed to make my case? Is there an exemption?

The second question that I have  is I am also contemplating on applying permanent resident article 80 in the mean time. Is it okay to apply for both(citizenship and article 80 ) at the same time- I know they are different departments? or to submit an citizenship application, do I need to wait for to be approved under article 80?


Thank you.
See also
JohnnyPT
#2
Hi Tyler,

I'm sorry but I don't understand your questions, for the following reasons:

- Are you applying for citizenship because you are entitled to it, i.e. by acquisition or original attribution? You don't mention this in your post.

Portuguese Citizenship: Who is entitled and how to obtain it?
https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=915197

- The question about criminal records should be asked at the central registry office. If they are the ones who review your application, there is no one here who can say the opposite of what they are demanding.

- permanent residence only makes sense after 5 years of temporary residence, so you cannot apply for article 80 after 5 months of stay in Portugal...

Best Regards

The Portugal expat guide

Updated in 2025, comprehensive and free

Read it now
Portugal
T
#3
I am the one applying by acquisition. Sorry that was a typo- I mean 5 year mark , not 5 month mark.
does anyone know how long article 80 take to be approved?

Thank you.
JohnnyPT
#4
Criminal records:

https://www.irn.mj.pt/sections/irn/a_re … -nac-art3/

Certificados do registo criminal emitidos pelos serviços competentes do país da naturalidade e da nacionalidade, bem como dos países onde o interessado tenha tido e tenha residência após os 16 anos, acompanhados de tradução, se escritos em língua estrangeira. O interessado está dispensado de apresentar o certificado do registo criminal do país da naturalidade e ou do país da nacionalidade sempre que comprove que, após ter completado os 16 anos, residiu noutro país. O interessado está também dispensado de apresentar o certificado de registo criminal português, que é oficiosamente obtido pelos Serviços.

___

Article 80: The deadline for this application to be analysed is up to 3 months

https://eportugal.gov.pt/servicos/pedir … permanente

O pedido de concessão de autorização de residência deve ser decidido no prazo de 90 dias.
T
#5
Just to make sure, Am I looking at the latest version of the law? Seems like there is an exemption. Please confirm if possible. Will be greatly appreciated.

https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostr … ;so_miolo=

Artigo 26.º
Dispensa de documentos   
Em casos especiais, o Ministro da Justiça pode dispensar,
a requerimento fundamentado do interessado, a apresentação de qualquer documento que deva instruir o pedido de naturalização,
desde que não existam dúvidas sobre a verificação dos requisitos que esse documento se destinava a comprovar.
JohnnyPT
#6
You are right :)  You can contact the Portuguese Ministry of Justice using this web form:

https://sgmj.justica.gov.pt/Formularios/Correio-SGMJ

Make your problem clear, explaining why you cannot get your criminal record in a specific country. If you get no reply, you can try sending a registered letter to this address. Always be insistent until you get a reply. 

Secretaria-Geral do Ministério da Justiça
Rua do Ouro, n.º 6
1149-019 - Lisboa

Put in the subject line, e.g:

Pedido de Naturalização: Solicitação de dispensa de documentos ao abrigo do Artigo 26.º do Decreto-Lei n.º 237-A/2006 -  Regulamento da Nacionalidade Portuguesa

____

https://dre.pt/dre/legislacao-consolida … 6-34442175

Artigo 26.º Dispensa de documentos

Em casos especiais, o Ministro da Justiça pode dispensar, a requerimento fundamentado do interessado, a apresentação de qualquer documento que deva instruir o  desde que não existam dúvidas sobre a verificação dos requisitos que esse documento se destinava a comprovar.


If you select this article, and filter with today's date, you will see that this article has not changed. There were changes in some articles of this law in 2017-06-21 and 2020-11-10, but it seems to me that this one has not changed.
T
#7
Thank you for your reply. Just to make sure, the only two laws that govern citizenship are

Lei da Nacionalidade Lei n.º 37/81
https://dre.pt/dre/legislacao-consolida … 1-34536975

And
https://dre.pt/dre/legislacao-consolida … 6-34442175
Regulamento da Nacionalidade Portuguesa
Decreto-Lei n.º 237-A/2006

Is one of them no longer applicable?
Just asking because when
https://www.irn.mj.pt/sections/irn/a_re … -nac-art3/



Have the exemption provided in article 26  already been provided when they say "

O interessado está dispensado de apresentar o certificado do registo criminal do país da naturalidade e ou do país da nacionalidade sempre que comprove que, após ter completado os 16 anos, residiu noutro país"

a matter of citizenship policy or Article 26 of Regulamento da Nacionalidade Portuguesa is still applicable on top of this?

Thank you.
Y
#8
@tylerscott55 I'm a little confused. Art. 70 para. 1 is on documents required for residence but you mention it in relation to filing for citizenship. At any rate, I would strongly recommend you discuss this issue with a lawyer. Mine is excellent and extremely knowledgeable: 
Carla Fortes 

Best of luck with everything!
Moderated by Julien 4 years ago
Reason : for your own safety please use the private message system to share your contact details
We invite you to read the forum code of conduct

Essential services for your expat journey

Choose the best health insurance
Choose the best health insurance
Protect your health and get easy access to treatment for expats in Portugal.
Plan your international move
Plan your international move
Facilitate your move to Portugal by getting a quote from our top rated movers.
Open a bank account that suits you
Open a bank account that suits you
Discover the best international banks to manage your money securely.
Plan your retirement
Plan your retirement
Plan your retirement income with the advice of an expert.
Other discussions on living in Portugal
Ask your questionSimilar discussions about life in Portugal

Further reading

Diversity and inclusion in Portugal
Before embarking on a journey to a new country and completely uprooting yourself towards a new life and a new ...
Phones and Internet in Portugal
Whether or not you are a tech-savvy person, this is still quite an important part of everyday life – and it ...
Dating in Portugal
If it's true that dating in general can be tricky and present its challenges, even more so when we talk about ...
Internships in Portugal
Many students and young professionals dream of acquiring professional experience in a foreign country. More often ...
The Portuguese lifestyle
Moving to a new country means you will be discovering a new culture and exploring different habits, as well as a ...
Healthcare for the elderly in Portugal
Portugal is a popular destination for retirement for Europeans, but also for retirees from other countries. ...
Things to do in Porto on weekdays
While walking through the streets, interacting with the people, and visiting local museums, restaurants and ...
Study in Portugal
Portugal attracts thousands of foreign students every year! If you're one of the lucky students making their way ...