Grandchildren of Portuguese citizens may acquire original Portuguese nationality, provided they meet the requirements set out in the Lei da Nacionalidade (Portuguese Nationality Law, Lei n.º 37/81). The central condition is that the grandparent must have held original Portuguese nationality and must not have lost it, and the grandchild must declare their wish to be Portuguese and possess effective ties to the national community, pursuant to art. 1(1)(d) [1].
Who can apply for Portuguese citizenship as a grandchild?
The Lei da Nacionalidade grants original nationality to individuals with at least one ancestor who held original Portuguese nationality in the 2nd degree in the direct line and did not lose that nationality, provided they declare they wish to be Portuguese and possess effective ties to the national community (art. 1(1)(d)) [1]. In practical terms, the 2nd degree in the direct line corresponds to a grandparent.
For the application to be possible, the Portuguese ancestor must have held original Portuguese nationality — that is, must have been Portuguese by origin, not by later acquisition — and must not have lost it [1].
What does the law require beyond descent?
The attribution of nationality under this provision requires the grandchild also to meet the requirements set out in art. 6(1)(c) to (h) of the same law (art. 1(3)) [1]. These requirements include:
- Proving sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language and culture, history and national symbols (subparagraph c) [1];
- Knowing the fundamental rights and duties inherent to Portuguese nationality and the political organisation of the State (subparagraph d) [1];
- Solemnly declaring adherence to the fundamental principles of the democratic rule of law (subparagraph e) [1];
- Not having been convicted, by a final decision, to an effective prison sentence of more than 3 years for certain serious crimes (subparagraph f) [1];
- Not posing a danger or threat to national security or defence (subparagraph g) [1];
- Not being subject to restrictive measures by the UN or the European Union (subparagraph h) [1].
The Regulamento da Nacionalidade (Nationality Regulation, art. 10-A(2)) specifies that effective ties to the national community are verified by sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language and depend on the absence of a criminal conviction of three years or more and no danger or threat to national security [2]. Note: the version of the Regulation consulted (consolidated version of 2025-07-23) predates Organic Law 1/2026, and the Portuguese Justice portal states that the Regulation is still to be amended to apply the new law [3]; where the two texts differ (for example, on the type of conviction that bars the application), the law prevails, and the point should be checked for your case.
Why does documentary evidence matter?
A nationality application is, at its core, an exercise in proof: the applicant must demonstrate, with documents, who they are, whose descendant they are, and that the chain reaches a grandparent who held original Portuguese nationality. This inevitably involves civil registry records — the entries that record the facts of each person's life in the legal system where they occurred.
Where part of that chain was formed outside Portugal, foreign documents require additional steps to be recognised in the Portuguese legal system — which may include authentication and, depending on the language, translation. Identifying what is needed, obtaining it and organising it is a central part of the support the firm provides in each application, in accordance with the Regulation [2].
To understand what applies to your case, tell us about your situation through the contact form. Conecta Fronteiras assesses whether the documentation you have covers what the application requires.
How is the application made?
The justiça.gov.pt portal confirms that "Neto/a de avó/avô português originário e possuir laços de efetiva ligação à comunidade nacional" (grandchild of an original Portuguese grandparent with effective ties to the national community) is listed among the grounds accepted by the online nationality service [3].
The application is handled by the Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado (IRN, the Portuguese Institute of Registries and Notaries) [3]. If the applicant has a representative (a lawyer or solicitor registered in Portugal), submission is exclusively through the online channel (mandatory since 1 December 2023) [3]. Without a representative, the application may be sent by post or delivered at a Balcão da Nacionalidade (Nationality Counter) [3].
The application is assigned to a conservatória (registry office), automatically selected by the system, for review by the IRN [3].
What changed with Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026?
The Lei da Nacionalidade was amended by Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026, which entered into force on 19 May 2026 [1]. Administrative proceedings that were pending on that date follow the previous wording of the law, in accordance with the transitional rule in art. 7 of LO 1/2026 [1].
Some of the amendments introduced by LO 1/2026 require complementary regulation, with a 90-day deadline for amending the Regulamento da Nacionalidade Portuguesa [3]. The justiça.gov.pt portal notes that its contents are being updated [3].
What does this article not cover?
- This article does not guarantee that any nationality application will be approved. The decision rests with the IRN on a case-by-case basis.
- Processing times depend on the volume of applications and any further steps required by the IRN.
- If your case has a particularity not covered by this article — missing documents, name discrepancies, a prior refusal, adoption or doubt about whether your grandparent lost nationality — this article is not for you: the next step is to speak with a lawyer.
What is the next step?
If you are the grandchild of a Portuguese citizen and want to know whether your case falls within the law, tell us about your situation through the contact form. The response helps us understand whether the case is within the scope of Conecta Fronteiras and what documents might be needed. You may also write via WhatsApp.
This content is informational. It does not replace the analysis of your case.
Dra. Ana Paula Caldwell · OAB/RJ n.º 214.698 · OA Portugal n.º 61214P
When it is not for you
What this text does not guarantee
- This article does not guarantee that any nationality application will be approved. The decision rests with the Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado (IRN) on a case-by-case basis.
- Processing times depend on the volume of applications and any further steps required by the IRN.
- If your case has a particularity not covered by this article — missing documents, name discrepancies, a prior refusal, adoption or doubt about whether your grandparent lost nationality — this article is not for you: the next step is to speak with a lawyer.
Official sources
Each legal statement in the text points to one of these sources.
Legal notice
This text is for information only and does not replace individual legal advice. Reading this article, sending a message or contacting the firm does not by itself create a lawyer–client relationship. The law changes: check the verification date and the official sources before you act.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, provided the grandparent held original Portuguese nationality and did not lose it, and the grandchild declares they wish to be Portuguese and has effective ties to the national community, pursuant to art. 1(1)(d) of the Lei da Nacionalidade (Nationality Law) [1].
The Regulation defines that effective ties are verified by sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language, and depend on the absence of a criminal conviction of three years or more and no threat to national security, pursuant to art. 10-A(2) of the Regulation [2].
The law requires proof of the chain of descent to the original Portuguese ancestor of the 2nd degree. The answer depends on the specific case and the applicable version of the law. Consult a lawyer.
The law provides for naturalisation of descendants in the 3rd degree of original Portuguese citizens, but through a different route (naturalisation, art. 6(8)), requiring legal residence in Portugal for at least five years [1]. The conditions differ from those for grandchildren.