I 100% qualify for citizenship but can't afford to wait years

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Guest7824Guest15 March 2023 13:10:30

214245

Hi.

I’m new here. I’m Portuguese South African now living in the USA. I want to start the process of moving to Portugal to go take care of my ill dad.

Not sure which way to go about it. My birth wasn’t registered so I need a whole bunch of documents in order to apply for citizenship. Getting said documents from South African home affairs is a total nightmare made worse by the fact that I now live abroad. It can literally take years to get a birth certificate from them. I am in contact with an agency that handles these kinds of things but they charge a small fortune!

Considering trying the D7 route and then fighting to get paperwork from that side. At least I’ll be there to help my dad then.

I feel so lost and frustrated. I 100% qualify for citizenship but can’t afford to wait years for South Africa to send me my papers.

Any thoughts?

JohnnyPT Portugal Expert

Member since 23 May 2020

JohnnyPTPortugal Expert15 March 2023 14:37:37

4525

Hi Monique, Welcome.

You can start by requesting your parents' birth certificate. You can order online and receive the certificate by email. But you will need some info from your parents, like citizen card's id.

Request birth certificates (certidões de nascimento):

https://www.civilonline.mj.pt/CivilOnli … Online.jsp

You can start the nationality process at the Portuguese consulate in the area where you are living now. You will also need your birth certificate, which you will probably have to get in South Africa if you were born there.

Please read this:

https://justica.gov.pt/Como-obter-nacio … -portugues

____

Born abroad, but child of a Portuguese citizen (A1):

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=915197

Best Regards

nz7521137 Portugal Advisor

Member since 03 July 2021

nz7521137Portugal Advisor15 March 2023 14:41:33

562

@moniquecordes It sound like a very complicated situation you are in. If your dad is ill right now and needs immediate help, then you could come over for a few month and make sure that your dad is taken care of. Also, as you seem to be established in the USA it might be possible to move your dad as part of a family reunion or on humanitarian grounds to the USA. There you will be much more familiar with the administrative processes.

I am certain that there will be members in this forum that can provide some advice on suitable visa for moving to Portugal from outside the EU.

Guest7824 Guest

Guest7824Guest15 March 2023 14:53:54

214245

@JohnnyPT

Thanks! I’ll read through the links that you sent. Much appreciated.

Guest7824 Guest

Guest7824Guest15 March 2023 14:56:05

214245

@nz7521137

Great thought but unfortunately the US’s medical system is a nightmare and wouldn’t benefit my dad and his ongoing medical needs.

JohnnyPT Portugal Expert

Member since 23 May 2020

JohnnyPTPortugal Expert15 March 2023 16:06:10

4525

In the meantime, you can try to get a visa for FAMILY REUNIFICATION. Please check this possibility with a Portuguese Consulate in the USA for additional information:

https://imigrante.sef.pt/en/solicitar/residir/art98-2/

Portuguese Consulates in USA:

https://portaldascomunidades.mne.gov.pt … da-america

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