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Stricter Rules for Sephardic Jewish Citizenship: The September 2022 Reform
The September 2022 amendments to Portugal's Nationality Regulation now require Sephardic citizenship applicants to demonstrate an effective connection to Portugal beyond genealogical proof alone.
On 1 September 2022, amendments to the Portuguese Nationality Regulation entered into force following publication in the Diário da República. These changes significantly restricted the conditions under which applicants may obtain Portuguese nationality on the basis of proven Sephardic Jewish ancestry. For nearly a decade, this route had been one of the most popular pathways to Portuguese citizenship for people of Sephardic descent, particularly applicants from Israel, Turkey, the United States and Brazil.
The new rules require not only genealogical proof of Sephardic ancestry, certified by the Jewish communities of Lisbon or Porto, but also evidence of an effective connection to Portugal. This includes meeting at least one of the following: having held legal residence in Portugal for at least three years; owning property in Portugal for a meaningful period; or making documented, regular visits to the country. Certificates of ancestry alone are no longer sufficient.
The reform was introduced as a response to concerns about the volume of applications, alleged commercialisation of the process, and high-profile cases in which applicants had little tangible link to Portugal. It marked a major shift in policy, emphasising genuine engagement with the Portuguese community rather than relying exclusively on genealogical continuity.
For foreign applicants—especially Israelis, Americans, Canadians, Britons and Brazilians—this tightening of criteria means that the Sephardic route is no longer a quick or easy path to EU citizenship. Those who genuinely maintain ties to Portugal, own property or have spent significant time in the country remain eligible. However, applicants without such connections will likely need to pursue alternative routes such as residency-based naturalisation after five years, marriage, or descent from a Portuguese citizen.
The new rules created legal certainty for Portuguese authorities and aligned the nationality process more closely with the principles of community integration. For prospective applicants, the emphasis has shifted firmly towards building or demonstrating real bonds with Portugal.
Official source: Diário da República, amendments to the Nationality Regulation, 1 September 2022 (https://dre.pt)