Portuguese citizenship by marriage allows the spouse or long-term partner of a Portuguese citizen to apply for nationality after three years of marriage or legally recognized partnership.

Unlike other citizenship pathways, living in Portugal is not mandatory, although applicants must demonstrate a connection to the Portuguese community and maintain a clean criminal record.

Once approved, you receive the same rights as any Portuguese citizen, including a Portuguese passport and the ability to live, work, and study anywhere in the European Union.

Portuguese Citizenship by Marriage Requirements

To apply for Portuguese citizenship through marriage or partnership, you must meet several requirements.

RequirementDetails
Marriage or partnershipMarried or in a legally recognized partnership with a Portuguese citizen
Relationship durationAt least 3 years
Criminal recordMust be clean
Connection to PortugalMust demonstrate ties to the Portuguese community
Language requirementMay be required depending on the circumstances

De Facto Partnerships in Portugal (União de Facto)

ortugal legally recognizes long-term partnerships known as união de facto.

Couples can obtain legal recognition if they have lived together for at least two years. This status provides several legal rights similar to marriage, including:

  • residence permits
  • family reunification
  • tax benefits
  • healthcare access
  • inheritance protections

To formalize a de facto partnership, couples usually present proof of shared residence—such as utility bills, rental contracts, or joint bank accounts—and obtain a certificate from their local parish council (Junta de Freguesia).

This option allows couples to obtain legal recognition without formal marriage.

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Required Documents for Portuguese Citizenship by Marriage

Applicants must provide documentation confirming their identity, relationship, and eligibility.

Typical documents include:

  • valid passport or national ID
  • birth certificate
  • marriage certificate (registered in Portugal if married abroad)
  • criminal record certificates from Portugal and your country of residence
  • proof of connection to the Portuguese community
  • proof of payment of the application fee

Additional documents may be required depending on the specific circumstances of the application.

How to Apply for Portuguese Citizenship by Marriage

The application process largely follows the same steps as standard naturalization, with a few additional requirements related to your relationship:

Step 1: Gather Required Documents

Collect your identification documents, marriage certificate or partnership proof, and criminal record certificates.

Step 2: Submit the Application

Applications can be submitted:

  • online through NacionalidadeOnline
  • at a Portuguese civil registry office
  • at a Portuguese consulate abroad

Step 3: Pay the Application Fee

The standard government fee for citizenship applications is €250.

Step 4: Wait for Processing

Authorities review the application and verify the authenticity of the relationship and supporting documents.

Processing Time for Portuguese Citizenship by Marriage

Processing times vary depending on the workload of the Portuguese civil registry and the complexity of each case.

Most applications are currently processed within 24 to 29 months, although some may take longer if additional documentation or verification is required.

In recent years, processing times have increased due to the large number of nationality applications submitted to Portuguese authorities. You can learn more about the current situation in our guide to citizenship application delays in Portugal.

Cost of Portuguese Citizenship by Marriage

The official application fee for Portuguese citizenship by marriage is €250.

However, additional costs may include:

  • document translation and certification
  • marriage transcription into the Portuguese registry system
  • legal or advisory services

Professional legal assistance typically ranges between €1,000 and €2,000, depending on the complexity of the case.

Portuguese Citizenship by Marriage vs Other Citizenship Pathways

Portugal offers several routes to citizenship depending on your situation.

PathwayRequirementTimeline
Citizenship by marriageMarriage or partnership with Portuguese citizenEligible after 3 years
NaturalizationLegal residency in PortugalEligible after 5 years
Golden VisaResidency through qualifying investmentEligible after 5 years

What If You Cannot Obtain Portuguese Citizenship by Marriage?

If citizenship through marriage is not possible, other pathways may still lead to Portuguese nationality.

Apply for Permanent Residency

After five years of legal residence, foreign nationals may apply for permanent residency in Portugal, allowing them to live and work in the country indefinitely.

2. Apply for Citizenship Through Naturalization

Foreign residents can apply for Portuguese citizenship after five years of legal residency, provided they meet the standard requirements such as language knowledge and a clean criminal record.

3. Explore Other Residency Options

If you are not yet eligible for citizenship, visa programs such as the D7 Visa, Digital Nomad Visa, D2 entrepreneur visa, or the Portugal Golden Visa can help you obtain and maintain residency, eventually allowing you to transition to citizenship later on.

What Our Clients Say

Tim Evans
Tim EvansUSA
We began working with Portugal Residency Advisors (PRA) in April 2024 to consider residency in Portugal. Pedro Branco and Beatriz Garcia provided critical incite and information in helping us decide how best to apply for the Portugal Golden Visa Program. The most wonderful thing was that their advice was completely independent and they were not trying to sell us any investment scheme that they would benefit PRA. They provided professional advice and let us decide what worked best for us. We completed the process in less than two months. I highly recommend that you talk with them regardless of who you have talked with already.
Phyllis Kynas
Phyllis KynasCanada
My experience with Portugal Residency Advisors has been exceptionally good. Pedro Branco (client manager) provided me with clearly set out details of their services and costs and timeline. Right from the start, Beatriz Garcia (immigration lawyer) has promptly set out clearly what steps I needed to take for my visa application. She was always helpful and supportive (when I was feeling stressed by the process) and guided me through it with patience and a quick response. Portugal Residency Advisors took me through a complicated and detailed process efficiently and clearly, and I am sure that it would have taken me much longer, and with much more stress, without them.
Lyssa Adkins
Lyssa AdkinsUSA
I recommend to Beatriz Garcia and Portugal Residency Advisors completely. They helped us with our immigration meetings scheduling and preparation. I am quite sure that without Beatriz we would still be waiting for our immigration appointment. The onboarding process and documents collection process was incredibly smooth and professional.
Chyntia Sutton
Chyntia SuttonUSA
The best team of immigration attorneys in Portugal! Pedro and Fernanda were so attentive to every single question, nothing was too small or too big to handle for them. They guided us through every stage to the point of arrival in Portugal. They continue to be available to us whenever we have questions. We highly recommend them and we will add their contact information on one of our podcast episode as well. Thank you for your excellent expertise!
Ann-Marie Giustibelli
Ann-Marie GiustibelliUSA
Beatriz and Pedro were professional, kind most importantly (to me) is they were effective. They promptly answered all of my questions; even after my case was finished. I would hire them again in a second!
Francis Miles
Francis MilesUK
Pedro helped us through the legal minefield when purchasing a property in Portugal, along with the residency aspects as well. He is always on call, professional and extremely patient, and we are happy to recommend him and his company.
Andrew Symons
Andrew SymonsUK
Portugal Residency Advisors provided an excellent service. They took control of the whole residence permit application process, explained to me what was going on, gathered and presented all the required documentation. I received my permit 20 days after the application.
Mehmet Kidman
Mehmet KidmanTurkey
They are a highly successful team that you can completely trust and always get support from throughout our residency application process. We were very pleased with their immediate support regarding our issues.
Alejandro Castellano
Alejandro CastellanoSpain
Thank you, Pedro, for making my experience of moving to Portugal so lovely!
Piero Colafranceschi
Piero ColafranceschiItaly
Perfect assistance all along the process!

Who Can We Assist You

Local Expertise

We know Portugal. Due to our extensive local knowledge, we believe that concentrating our services in a single country destination is the best way to give you the most thorough and useful information.

Honest Guidance

We recommend what’s best for you based on an extensive process experience that saves time and money to clients. Our pricing is clear and competitive, and we don’t sell services that make us more money.

All-in-One Solution

One single channel of communication for the entire process. We provide you with a comprehensive service that covers all aspects of your move, from identifying the ideal residency visa to finding your new home or helping you to settle.

Seamless Process

Technology plays a very important role in our company. We minimize our clients’ involvement in paperwork. We are customers ourselves and we know how to serve you.

Your Questions Answered

No. Physical residence in Portugal is not required. However, you must prove the relationship is real and stable, and show community ties such as visits, family links, or cultural involvement.

You must be married or in a registered de facto union with a Portuguese citizen for a minimum of three years before applying.

Yes. Applicants must demonstrate A2-level Portuguese language proficiency, typically through the CIPLE exam or an equivalent accepted certificate.

Ties can include visits to Portugal, family connections, property ownership, memberships in Portuguese organizations, or other meaningful links that demonstrate integration.

If you were married abroad, your marriage must be registered in Portugal before applying for citizenship.

Yes. Both Portugal and the United States allow dual citizenship, so you can legally hold both passports.

Yes. You can apply for a family reunification residence permit, which allows you to live, work, and access services in Portugal.

Processing times typically range between 24 and 29 months, depending on the complexity of the application and government processing times.

Yes. Portugal fully recognizes dual citizenship and places no restrictions on holding multiple nationalities.

Yes. Portugal recognizes same-sex marriage and partnerships, and the same citizenship rules apply.

Portuguese citizenship by marriage is one of the most flexible pathways to EU nationality. After three years of marriage or a legally recognized partnership with a Portuguese citizen, applicants may apply for citizenship without needing long-term residence in Portugal.

However, applicants must still demonstrate a genuine connection to the Portuguese community and meet the legal requirements established under Portuguese nationality law.

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