· 1 min read
Nationality for Minor Children Born Abroad: 2020 Clarifications to the Law
Law 2/2020 clarified that children born abroad to Portuguese parents automatically qualify for citizenship if the parent's nationality is registered prior to birth.
On 11 November 2020, amendments to Portugal’s Nationality Law were published in the Diário da República, refining rules applicable to minor children born abroad to Portuguese parents. These changes were enacted through Law no. 2/2020 as part of a broader update to Law no. 37/81.
The reform clarified that children born abroad to a Portuguese parent automatically qualify for citizenship if the parent’s Portuguese nationality is registered prior to the child’s birth. In cases where the parent’s nationality is registered later, the child may still apply but must demonstrate effective ties to Portugal.
For families in the diaspora—particularly in Brazil, the United States, Canada, Israel and the UK—these clarifications provide certainty regarding transmission of citizenship across generations.
The publication strengthens the integrity of Portugal’s nationality system while preserving access for genuine Portuguese families abroad.
Official source: Diário da República, amendments to Law no. 37/81, 11 November 2020 (https://dre.pt)