Hello all. We’re a family of 3 that had started our Portuguese GV in 2016, and my wife and I submitted our file for citizenship in Nov 2022. I have finally managed to obtain my citizenship last month. My daughter is almost 17, and I need to start her citizenship application. As I have read in many other posts, for minors there is a requirement to have “legally resided in Portuguese territory in the five years immediately preceding the request and, being a minor of school age, also prove school attendance at an educational establishment in Portuguese territory”. The first condition is met, as she has had her residency since 2016, but the issue is with the school attendance, as we are not living in Portugal. Does anyone know of a school in Portugal that accepts remote enrollment, especially for a student in this last stage? Any other workarounds to consider? Thank you.
Just wait a few months and apply when she is an adult?
Problem solved.
Only impact then would be her need to pass the language test, which I am trying to avoid if possible.
That is a sufficient condition, not a necessary one.
Just do the 8 week PLA course with EdPro … I assume she can find 8 weeks for that over the summer? If she is going to wield a Portuguese passport it is good for her to speak some. Civil servants can put up with foreigners needing English, but they can get quite upset when an actual citizen wants them to speak in English.
I have read in the forums that just having a valid residence card for 5 years is considered a good enough tie, without the school requirement. Maybe consult with an immigration lawyer, or if don’t wanna risk it, better wait until 18 and apply as adult with language course
True, and I do have an immigration lawyer, but seems if the minor is attending school in Portugal then it’s a direct approval and could take few months to get citizenship. Without school, it would take longer and could have a slight risk to it.
Yeah. But the thing is, more than 90% of GV holders and their minor children don’t reside in Portugal, thus no way for their kids to go to school in Portugal
Exactly, but it seems the law is not for GV holders only, but more generic, and the legal teams are hoping for a specific update that relates to GV holders. At least this is what I am being told.
GV has always been residence by investment, not citizenship by investment. The promises of citizenship are all from the advertisers.
Given how politically toxic GV is I would not expect any legal changes to be in our favor.
However I heard that currently, opposing children’s citizenship based on “lack of connection” must happen within 1 year of filing the application, and currently most applications are taking much longer to be processed, so in theory the government cannot oppose them (once the one year deadline is passed).
You can contact this school. The director is Miguel Gama.
hope this helps.
Best
Angela
Yes, it might be the solution. I will consider it too for two of my kids, but are we really sure that this will provide the requisite connection with Portugal? As I understood from the website, this is a tutorial college (providing coaching) as opposed to a formal educational insitution like a high school or Uni. But may be that makes no difference?
Hi @mahmoodsalman, I did reach out to them, and unfortunately while they have presence in Lisbon, they are only registered in England, hence are not under the jurisdiction of the Portuguese Ministry of Education. Meaning it wouldn’t really tick the box…