Some Descendants of Portuguese Nationals Can Now Apply for Citizenship

If you have a grandparent that was born in Portugal, but you were born in the United States, you can now apply to officially become a Portuguese citizen.

O Jornal is reporting that the Council of Ministers in Portugal voted in favor of the Portuguese Nationality Act, amending the Nationality Law to grant citizenship to those born outside of Portugal but have at least one grandparent that was a Portuguese national.

Those applying must be able to demonstrate that they have "an effective link to Portugal," such as knowing the language or having regular contact with those in Portuguese territory.

The amendment had been adopted by Portuguese Parliament in May of 2015, but was never enacted because it needed to be regulated. Anyone who meets the requirements are only required to register their birth in any Portuguese civil registry to claim citizenship.