The Portuguese Government announced measures for migration policy, with António Leitão Amaro, the Minister of the Presidency, stating an update to naturalization pathways through Portuguese ancestry.
The revision aims to extend naturalization rights to the great-grandchildren of Portuguese nationals, according to the minister.
Currently, the law allows naturalization for individuals born abroad with at least one second-degree ancestor (up to grandchildren) with Portuguese nationality.
Excluded from this regime are the grandchildren of Portuguese nationals who lost nationality during the decolonization process, as well as those whose grandparents naturalized as foreigners.
The government aims to extend these rights to great-grandchildren to address the dynamics of the Portuguese diaspora, especially in regions with long-standing migration, such as Venezuela and the United States.
“We could never sever this bond and diplomatic capacity our diaspora possesses,” added the source, highlighting the enduring connection to the national territory in many instances.
During the conference, the minister proposed ending the “extraordinary naturalization regime for Portuguese Sephardic Jews.”
The law, initially conceived with a historical reparation intent, “has served its purpose” and will therefore be discontinued, noted Leitão Amaro.
