In 2015, the government of Portugal enacted a “law of return” allowing the descendants of Jews deported from Spain and Portugal in 1492 and 1496 to gain Portuguese citizenship<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our law office helps the descendants of Sephardim Jews receive a Portuguese passport. Who is eligible for Portuguese citizenship, how long does the application process take, and what are the costs?<\/p>\n Once you receive a Portuguese passport, you can live, work, and conduct business in all EU countries, including the United Kingdom (at least until the end of the Brexit process). In addition – not everyone knows, but a Portuguese passport also allows you to enter the U.S. without having to receive a visa in advance. Portugal has all the advantages listed above in common with Spain, and does not have the same disadvantages. Applicants for Spanish citizenship are required to fly to Spain during the application process, pass a complicated test of their knowledge of Spanish language and culture, and swear allegiance to the King of Spain. Anyone who can prove that at least one of their ancestors was a Sephardi Jew – descendant of Spanish and Portuguese deportees – is entitled to receive citizenship of Portugal. Not all descendants hail from the Middle East! Most of the eligible are indeed of “Mizrahi” descent, such as Moroccan, Tunisian, Algerian, Libyan, Egyptian, etc. But the expellees from Spain and Portugal settled in “Ashkenazi” countries such as Poland, Romania, the Netherlands and even in the New World, including the US<\/a> and Canada<\/a>. Therefore, no matter where you were born, if one of your ancestors was of Spanish descent, you should check your eligibility.<\/p>\n Many assume that it is necessary to prove that one of their ancestors was deported from Spain or Portugal in the late 15th century, and that there’s no point in even trying to prove eligibility that far back. No such requirement exists, obviously. Proof of eligibility is based on three separate factors:<\/p>\n However, Jews from the Former Soviet Union or descendants of families who never set foot in a synagogue are not automatically out of luck. Many rabbis are willing to issue the necessary letter based on the proof detailed in sections 1 and 2 above, even if they do not know the applicant. This is a very common question<\/a>. While there is no short and definitive answer (the procedure length varies from case to case depending on the circumstances), on average the procedure takes about a year and a half.<\/p>\n In practical terms, undertaking the application without expert assistance will require you to produce the required documents proving your descent (and translate them into Portuguese), obtain an apostille certification, contact the Portuguese Jewish community and carry out the complex bureaucratic procedure vis-a-vis Portugal authorities.<\/p>\n After the applicant obtains the much coveted passport, the applicant’s children and spouse are also eligible for Portuguese citizenship. In addition, after proof of eligibility, the path to obtaining citizenship for extended family members (descendants of the same Spanish Jew) is much easier. Our office provides a discount for handling multiple citizenship applications from members of the same family.<\/p>\n The associated costs<\/a> can be divided into three sections: Contact us<\/a> by phone or email below to make an appointment at our office in Petah Tikva or Jerusalem or schedule a remote consultation. We would be happy to advise, explain, translate documents and manage the application process for obtaining a Portuguese passport<\/a>.<\/p>\nWhat are the advantages of a Portuguese passport?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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Why should you apply for a Portuguese citizenship? In addition to the right to live, work, and do business in Portugal (a first-world country with a lovely climate, a developed economy and incredible landscapes), you will receive the passport of a European Union member state.<\/p>\n
\nPortuguese citizenship opens doors across Europe and the world, and allows you to enter the United States without a visa.<\/p>\nI know that descendants of the expellees are eligible for a Spanish<\/em> passport – why apply for Portuguese, rather than Spanish, citizenship?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\nAlso \u2013 our office has reliable professional contacts in Portugal. We work with a local immigration law firm that handles the final stages of the citizenship application process, we have contacts with the Jewish community in Porto that issues the necessary approval, and we’re trusted by key members of the immigration authorities.<\/p>\nWho is eligible for Portuguese citizenship?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
How can I prove my eligibility?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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\nBased on at least two of these factors, you can apply to the Jewish community in Portugal, obtain a certificate stating that the applicant is a descendant of expellees, and use this certificate to apply for Portuguese citizenship.<\/p>\nHow long does it take to obtain Portuguese citizenship?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Can I apply for citizenship on my own, without the help of a lawyer?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
What about the applicant’s family?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
How much does the whole application cost?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n1. Payment of fixed fees to the Jewish community and authorities in Portugal.
\n2. Finding, translating and verifying the relevant documents.
\n3. Attorney’s fees, specific to the case.<\/p>\nReady to start?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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03-3724722<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\u05e8\u05d7\u05d5\u05d1](\"https:\/\/lawfirmbackup_200125.k1uagm.ap-southeast-2.wpstaqhosting.com\/wp-content\/themes\/cstardesign\/images\/icons\/iconsweets\/black\/32\/mail.png\")