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| Nationality Act Lei da Nacionalidade | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Assembly of the Republic | |
| Citation | Act No. 37/81 |
| Territorial extent | Portugal |
| Enacted by | Assembly of the Republic |
| Enacted | 3 October 1981[1] |
| Commenced | 3 October 1981 |
| Status: Amended | |
The primary law governing nationality of Portugal is the Nationality Act, which came into force on 3 October 1981. Portugal is a member state of the European Union (EU) and all Portuguese nationals are EU citizens. They are entitled to free movement rights in EU and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries and may vote in elections to the European Parliament.
All persons born in Portugal before 3 October 1981 are automatically citizens by birth regardless of the nationalities of their parents. Individuals born in the country since that date receive Portuguese citizenship at birth if at least one of their parents is a Portuguese citizen or has resided in the country for at least one year. Foreign nationals may become citizens by naturalisation after living in Portugal for more than five years and showing proficiency in the Portuguese language. Due to Portugal's historical status as a colonial empire, some individuals with a connection to a former colony may acquire citizenship.