Portuguese Citizenship for Children: What Israeli Parents Must Know
Thousands of Israelis with Portuguese citizenship assume their children are automatically eligible. Attorney Yinon Shraga explains that children born before naturalization require a separate application before turning 18.
Thousands of Israelis who have obtained Portuguese citizenship assume the path is open for their children as well. However, Portuguese citizenship law distinguishes between children born before their parents acquired citizenship and those born afterward. Attorney Yinon Shraga explains what parents must check and why they should not delay submitting applications for their children.
In recent years, over 100,000 Israelis have applied for Portuguese citizenship. Tens of thousands have already received European passports, leading many to assume that once their own process is complete, the path to citizenship for their children is also open. However, citizenship is not automatically passed on to children in every case.
The Distinction Between Children Born Before and After Naturalization
According to Attorney Shraga, parents unfamiliar with the distinction between citizenship tracks risk missing the opportunity to apply for their children while they are still minors. Portuguese citizenship law distinguishes between two scenarios:
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Children born after naturalization: Children born after the parent became a Portuguese citizen may be entitled to citizenship by birth, subject to required registration procedures.
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Children born before naturalization: Children born before the parent acquired citizenship do not receive it automatically. An independent application must be submitted through a declaration while they are minors.
Attorney Shraga emphasizes that turning 18 is a critical milestone. After adulthood, the designated track for minor children of those who acquired Portuguese citizenship is no longer available to them.
Citizenship Law Reforms and Stricter Conditions
Alongside the distinction regarding children, Portuguese citizenship law has undergone significant changes in recent years. The track for descendants of Spanish Sephardic Jews was tightened in September 2022, and an additional legal amendment took effect in May 2026, abolishing that special track and tightening conditions for other naturalization pathways.
"Those who wait, lose out," says Shraga. His recommendation to parents is not to assume their citizenship automatically grants citizenship to their children, but rather to examine the status of each child and determine whether an application must be submitted while the child is still a minor.
Portuguese citizenship can offer practical significance for families seeking to allow their children to live, study, or work in European Union member states in the future.
