How to get a Portuguese passport in Goa – Learn more about the key benefits of becoming a Portuguese citizen, who is eligible to apply, various stages of obtaining the Portuguese Nationality and one good Portuguese passport agent in Goa. Post Brexit – it is still an attractive option to study medicine or take up a biotech job in Europe !
How to get a Portuguese Passport in Goa !
The Portuguese Nationality process has to start with an individual whose birth is registered in Goa.
After the birth and marriage of this individual is registered / transcribed at the Conservatoria dos Registos Centrais / Conservatoria do Registo Civil in Lisbon, Portugal, his / her decendants are eligible to apply for Portuguese Nationality / Portuguese Passport.
Your application is submitted in Lisbon and the process is concluded for acquiring Portuguese Nationality / Portuguese passport before the Conservatoria dos Registos Centrais / Conservatoria do Registo Civil.
Who can apply for a Portuguese passport in Goa ?
You can apply for Portuguese Passport and Portuguese Nationality, if you or one of your parent or Grandparent was born in Goa OR if you are a descendant of a deceased parent or grandparent in Goa.
There are three stages to acquire Portuguese Nationality :
Stage 1: Portuguese passport for Goans born before 1961 in Goa.
Stage 2: Your (or parents) Marriage registration in Portugal.
Stage 3: Portuguese passport for all the siblings born after 1961.
Important tip: The Portuguese passport is issued only by the Government of Portugal and / or by the Embassies / Consulates of Portugal. You can collect yours either from the Portuguese Consulate in Goa or from Lisbon.
More news about Portuguese passport application in 2016
According to data from the Election Commission of India, 11,500 Goans surrendered their Indian passports in favour of Portuguese citizenship in the five years between January 31, 2008 and January 31, 2013.
Giving up Indian citizenship means having one’s name struck off Indian voters’ lists and losing the right to stand for elections or buy agricultural property in India.
Goa was formerly known as the Estado da Índia and this territory was an integral part of Portugal (as distinct from a colony) under Portugal’s Constitution of 1910.
On 19 December 1961 India invaded and annexed the territory. The annexation was not recognised by Portugal until 1975, at which time Portugal re-established diplomatic relations with India. The recognition of Indian sovereignty over Goa was backdated to 19 December 1961.
Portuguese nationality law allows those who were Portuguese citizens connected with Goa before 1961 to retain Portuguese nationality. Acquisition of Indian citizenship was determined to be non-voluntary at the time.
One practical obstacle is that the civil records of Goa were abandoned by Portugal during the invasion and hence it can be difficult for descendants of pre-1961 Portuguese citizens from Goa to prove their status.
Benefits of becoming a Portuguese citizen
For most Goan-Portuguese citizens, it is the hope of getting employment somewhere in the European Union, that drives them. Portugal has been a part of the EU for a long time, but in the past few years, the benefits of being a member nation have been publicised much more, so people are seeking citizenship to look for work.
Besides a Portuguese passport allows you visa-free access to 172 countries around the world implying that if you are a travel buff, you can travel almost visa – free across the globe.
All Portuguese citizens are:
- able to vote in political elections upon reaching the age of 18.
- able to run for political office.
- able to vote in referendums.
- able to obtain a Portuguese passport.
- prevented from getting deported from Portugal.
As Portuguese citizens are also European citizens, their rights include:
- the right to live, work and retire in any member state of the European Union, for unlimited period.
- the right to vote in local and European elections in other members states.
- the right to stand in local and European elections in other members states.
- the right to protection by the diplomatic or consular authorities of other member states when in a non-member state, if there are no diplomatic or consular authorities from the citizen’s own state.
Useful tip: Use your Portuguese passport to get a job and work at the best pharmaceutical companies in Germany or in Ireland. Students can opt to study at the top medical schools or pharmacy colleges in Europe. The elderly can visit the best medical tourism destinations in the world for a surgery / medical treatment.
More about how to get a Portuguese passport in Goa – Finding a good Portuguese passport agent is the key !
There are a number of agents for making your Portuguese passport in Goa, however care must be taken to select the best among the lot. It is important that you find a good, reliable and trustworthy Portuguese passport agent in Goa who will provide complete assistance in processing your Portuguese Nationality / Portuguese Passport process in Lisbon, Portugal.
The agent must also preferably, be able to assist in searching your and your ancestor’s birth and marriage documents and help you to translate and authenticate all your documents required in the process.
Right to consular protection in non-EU countries
When in a non-EU country where there is no Portuguese embassy, Portuguese citizens as EU citizens have the right to get consular protection from the embassy of any other EU country present in that country.
Remember, a Portuguese passport is one of the best passport to have for unrestricted travel across the world. All travel buffs, please take note !! Do not let Brexit make any difference to your Portuguese passport acquisition plans.
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