I have a Golden Visa in Portugal. I also have a son. I want to know in the future, once I become a naturalized Portuguese citizen, can my 30-year-old son become one too?
Even though your son cannot acquire Portuguese citizenship through you, he may be eligible to obtain it based on his period of legal residence in Portugal. Currently, the minimum required period is five years; however, changes to the law are currently being discussed that may increase this requirement to ten years.
While acquired Portuguese citizenship (nacionalidade por naturalização), as a rule, can only be transferred to minor children (Art. 2.º, n.º 1, al. d) and Art. 14.º, Lei da Nacionalidade – Lei n.º 37/81), your 30-year-old son would not automatically become Portuguese when you naturalize. However, he can still obtain Portuguese nationality if he qualifies independently under the law. The most common pathways are: Residency route – If he relocates to Portugal and becomes a legal resident for the minimum period (currently 5 years, counted under Art. 6.º, n.º 1, Lei da Nacionalidade, as amended by Lei Orgânica n.º 2/2020), he may then apply for naturalization. Family reunification + residency – As the adult child of a Portuguese citizen, he may apply for a residence permit via family reunification (Art. 98.º and Art. 99.º, Lei de Estrangeiros – Lei n.º 23/2007, as amended). After 5 years of legal residence, he can request nationality under Art. 6.º, n.º 1, Lei da Nacionalidade. Dependency exception – If he is financially dependent on you or has a disability that makes him dependent, the authorities may accept family reunification even as an adult (Art. 99.º, n.º 2, Lei de Estrangeiros), which then leads to the same 5-year residence track. Marriage or de facto union – If he marries or enters into a legally recognized de facto union with a Portuguese citizen, he can apply for nationality after 3 years of marriage/union (Art. 3.º, n.º 1, Lei da Nacionalidade).
No. Acquired Portuguese citizenship can only be "transmitted" to minor children.
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