Yes!
If you become a Portuguese citizen – something you can do after living in Portugal for just 5 years – you will not be asked to give up your other passport. Well, the Portuguese government won’t ask you to anyway. The possibility of dual citizenship, combined with the speed at which you’re eligible, has made Portugal a very popular destination for second passport seekers, particularly from from the US, UK, Canada, and India.
Some countries don’t allow dual citizenship and if you’re from one of those countries you may have to choose between your current passport and your Portuguese passport. Examples of these countries include China, Malaysia, and Belarus.
However, one stumbling block that people come across is having to show an A2 level or higher of Portuguese (with exceptions). But the good news is that even though this may seem daunting, A2 is a very achievable level and many people reach it in as little as a few months. And there are now plenty of great courses and resources that cover European Portuguese, including podcasts, YouTube channels, and TV shows.
If you’re from one of those countries, you don’t have to take Portuguese citizenship after 5 years. Instead, some people are happy with permanent residency which gives them the right to live, work, and study in Portugal as well as travel within the EU. Unfortunately, it doesn’t allow them to easily move to another EU country in the same way as having Portuguese citizenship would.
Read more about obtaining Portuguese citizenship (and getting that all-important EU passport).
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