Childbirth in Portugal: How to Prepare and Obtain Portuguese Citizenship for Your Child

Birth tourism is a popular practice when expectant parents choose another country for the delivery of their child, hoping that the baby will acquire local citizenship or other benefits. In many countries, such as the USA, Canada, or EU member states, this phenomenon is not only accepted but in some cases even encouraged.

One of the countries that attracts parents is Portugal, since local citizenship opens the doors to the European Union. Families choose it because, although citizenship by birth in Portugal is difficult to obtain there, the country grants significant benefits to the parents of a child born on its territory, including accelerated legalization and simplified residence permit applications.

In this article, we will explain how Portuguese legislation treats the granting of citizenship to newborns of non-resident parents, and what advantages this brings to both sides.

Portugal’s Approach to Birth Tourism

Portugal takes a balanced stance on birth tourism. Unlike countries with automatic birthright citizenship (jus soli), such as the USA or Canada, Portugal applies a combination of jus sanguinis (right of blood) and jus soli (right of soil), with emphasis on the parents’ legal status. This means that if the parents are not Portuguese citizens or legal residents, the birth of a child in Portugal does not guarantee automatic citizenship.

The government does not encourage intentional childbirth in Portugal when the sole purpose is obtaining citizenship. Therefore, non-residents who arrive in the country in the late stages of pregnancy on a tourist visa will most likely face rejection of citizenship for their child.

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Advantages of Giving Birth in Portugal

The main reason people most often seek to give birth in Portugal is citizenship. The Portuguese passport ranks 6th in the Global Passport Index and grants visa-free travel to the Schengen Area, the United States, Canada, Australia, and Japan. In total, this covers around 180 countries, including Brazil and Portugal’s former colonies in Africa.

Other benefits of Portuguese citizenship include:

• Access to EU education. Portuguese citizens are entitled to free secondary education and reduced tuition rates across EU institutions.
• High-quality healthcare. Portugal ranks among the world’s top 12 countries in terms of healthcare quality. Citizens can access public healthcare for free, or private healthcare with partial state subsidies.
• Social benefits. Children with Portuguese citizenship are eligible for a monthly family allowance (abono de família) ranging from €30 to €150. Payments continue until the child turns 16, or 24 in the case of students.
• Dual citizenship. Dual citizenship in Portugal is standard practice. There is no requirement to renounce the original nationality upon reaching adulthood, unlike in countries such as Georgia.
• Right to work and do business in the EU. Upon reaching adulthood, a child with Portuguese citizenship will be able to work or establish a business in any EU member state without the need for visas or permits.

Benefits of a Child’s Citizenship for Non-Resident Parents

If a child is born in Portugal and meets the Portugal passport requirements (citizenship), the parents may also benefit. While they do not acquire citizenship directly, they gain opportunities for legal residence in the country:

• Residence permit through family reunification. If the child obtains Portuguese citizenship, parents can apply for a residence permit under Article 122, paragraph (k) of the Immigration Law (Decreto-Lei No. 105/2008). This allows them to legally reside in Portugal, work, and access social benefits.
• Simplified path to naturalization. Parents with a residence permit, after 5 years of legal residence (or 3 years for citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries such as Brazil), can apply for citizenship. A child who acquires Portuguese citizenship at birth serves as a stable connection to the country, which strengthens the parents’ naturalization case.
• Access to social benefits. Parents holding a residence permit are entitled to healthcare services on equal terms with citizens.

Portuguese Citizenship by Birth

Portuguese legislation, specifically the Nationality Law (Lei da Nacionalidade No. 37/81, with amendments in 2018 and 2020), defines several scenarios in which a child automatically acquires Portugal citizenship by birth:

• Child born to a Portuguese citizen. If at least one parent is a Portuguese citizen at the time of birth, the child automatically becomes Portuguese. This rule applies both to children born in Portugal and abroad, provided the birth is registered in the Portuguese civil registry.
• Child born in Portugal to resident parents. If at least one parent has legally resided in Portugal for at least one year at the time of birth, the child is granted Portuguese citizenship. Legal residence is confirmed by a residence permit or another recognized status.
• Stateless children. If a child is born in Portugal but is not entitled to the nationality of the parents’ country of origin (e.g., due to restrictive Portuguese nationality laws), the child automatically becomes Portuguese.
• Adoption by Portuguese citizens. Minors (under 18) adopted by Portuguese citizens automatically acquire citizenship, regardless of their country of birth. The adoption must be formally recognized by Portuguese authorities.

If a child does not fall under the conditions for automatic Portuguese citizenship, the naturalization path remains open. This applies in cases where the parents do not hold a residence permit or have lived in Portugal for less than one year at the time of the child’s birth. The main requirements are:

• At least one parent has legally resided in Portugal for a minimum of 5 years.
• For children over 16 years old: proof of integration, including Portuguese language proficiency at level A2 (CIPLE certificate) and a clean criminal record.

After legally residing in Portugal for at least 5 years, children aged 16 and older may apply for naturalization, even if they were born abroad.

Citizenship by Descent

Acquiring Portuguese citizenship through parents applies primarily to the first generation of descendants. However, there are additional pathways if Portuguese ancestry can be established. The main options are:

• Children of Portuguese descendants. If the family can prove Portuguese ancestry and connection to the national community through birth and marriage certificates of ancestors, as well as evidence of integration (such as knowledge of Portuguese or participation in cultural activities), the child may obtain citizenship.
• Descendants of Sephardic Jews. Individuals whose ancestors were Sephardic Jews expelled from Portugal in the 15th—16th centuries may apply for citizenship if they can prove their origin. Evidence may include Sephardic surnames, genealogical documents, or certificates issued by Jewish communities.

There are also special cases, although they are rare, that apply to children of Portuguese nationals in government service (for example, diplomats). Such a child automatically acquires Portuguese citizenship, regardless of place of birth. For instance, the child of a Portuguese diplomat born in Beijing would still be considered Portuguese. Another case concerns children found abandoned in Portugal whose parents cannot be identified; they are granted Portuguese citizenship by default.

Registering a Child and Applying for Portuguese Citizenship

Before obtaining Portuguese citizenship, a child’s birth must first be registered in the Portuguese civil registry. This requirement applies whether the child qualifies for automatic citizenship or will apply through naturalization. Registration can be completed in the following ways:

• Conservatória do Registo Civil (local civil registry office) at the place of birth.
• Citizen Birth units (Nascer Cidadão) located in maternity hospitals.
• Online via the Institute of Registries and Notary portal, available for children under 1 year old if the parents have a digital signature or access through the Cartão de Cidadão.

The application should be submitted within 20 days after the child’s birth. This is a recommended, rather than mandatory, deadline. Registration after this period is still possible but may require additional documents and explanations.

Required documents for Portuguese citizenship:

• Birth certificate issued by the hospital (Certidão de Nascimento).
• Parents’ Portugal passports or ID cards (originals and copies). For non-residents: residence permits or visas.
• Parents’ marriage certificate (if applicable).
• Full names of the child’s parents and grandparents, for inclusion in the genealogical records of the Portuguese system.
• Registration application form (provided at the Conservatória or online).

The issuance of a birth certificate costs approximately €20, or up to €50 in cases of late registration. Documents in languages other than Portuguese, English, French, or Spanish must be translated into Portuguese, with the translation certified by a notary. If the parents are not married, a written consent from the other parent or a court ruling establishing paternity/maternity is required.

Once the birth has been registered, an application for citizenship can be submitted if the child is eligible. For automatic citizenship, the application must be filed at the Conservatória do Registo Civil (civil registry office) in the place of residence or birth, or at the Conservatória dos Registos Centrais (Central Registry). It can also be submitted online through the Ministry of Justice portal.

Required documents:

• Child’s birth certificate (issued after registration).
• Passport or ID card of the Portuguese parent, or residence permit card of the resident parent.
• Application addressed to the Minister of Justice (form available at the Conservatória or on the IRN website).
• Proof of legal residence of the parents (if applicable).

An application for naturalization may also be submitted through the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) with additional proof of the parents’ legal residence. For children over 16 years old, a Portuguese language proficiency certificate and a criminal record certificate must also be provided.

After citizenship is approved, parents can apply for getting Portuguese passport for their child through the Conservatória do Registo Civil or at SEF offices (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras, since 2023 replaced by AIMA). The following documents are required:

• Citizenship certificate (issued after approval).
• Child’s photograph (standard size 3.5 × 4.5 cm, white background).
• Parents’ passport or ID card.

Portuguese citizenship processing time for a standard application takes 5–10 business days. For an additional fee, this can be expedited to 2–3 days. All process costs are approximately €65 for children under 4 years old, and €100 for children aged 4 and above.

Citizenship for Children Born Abroad

If a child is born in another country, it is eligible for Portugal birthright citizenship; the birth registration must be submitted at the Portuguese consulate in the country of birth. This should be done within 30 days after birth. The following documents are required:

• Child’s birth certificate with an apostille.
• Certified translation of the birth certificate into Portuguese (if the original is in another language).
• Passport or ID card of the Portuguese parent.
• Parents’ marriage certificate (with apostille and translation, if applicable).
• Application for birth registration (form available at the consulate).

If the child is entitled to Portuguese citizenship, registering the birth in the Portuguese civil system automatically grants it. In all other respects, the procedure is identical to the domestic registration process.