PORTUGUESE NATIONALITY - INDIA

The Old Portuguese State of India was a Portuguese overseas state founded in 1505 and until the Indian invasion it covered the territories of Goa, Daman, Diu, Dadrá and Nagar-Aveli. On December 20, 1961, Portugal lost control over these territories due to an invasion by the Indian Union. However, Indian control was only recognized by the Portuguese State in 1975, after the Revolution on 25th April 1974 and the subsequent fall of the so called Estado Novo.

Considering that Portuguese India existed between 1505 and 1961, many of the people born in Goa, Daman, Diu, Dadrá and Nagar-Aveli could actually be considered Portuguese. However, they will have to prove that they were not residing in another former Portuguese colony at the time of the independence between the years 1974 and 1975. The request for the recognition of the Portuguese nationality may then be submitted by the interested party or, in the case of a deceased person, by the respective descendants.

After the birth certificates of these individuals are admitted by the Portuguese Civil Registry, their descendants may also be granted Portuguese nationality (even if they were born in another country and after 1961).

Our office is dedicated to this issue and has been helping countless citizens of Indian origin to become Portuguese.

Our office submits the files directly in Portugal to the competent Civil Registry Offices, so that the interested parties do not have to travel to Portugal personally.