EN 
PT 
"I have the right to Portuguese nationality, but I don't have my Portuguese ancestor's birth certificate. Is it possible to obtain Portuguese Nationality?"
I - Issuing the Portuguese Ancestor's Birth Certificate
It's not possible, BUT you can get it.
The essential basic document for any nationality process ius sanguinis (by blood descent from Portuguese) is the Portuguese person's birth certificate. Without it, it is not possible to be granted Portuguese nationality.
This certificate can be issued by requesting it from the competent authority, namely the respective District Archive or the respective Civil Registry Office.
Depending on the date of the registration, it is possible that it is already computerized. The more recent the date, the greater the likelihood, depending on the registry office holding the record.
If the registry is already computerized, it is possible to issue your certificate at any Portuguese Civil Registry Office by providing data that helps locate you in the system, such as your full name, date of birth, place of birth and parentage.
Computerized Birth Certificate
If the registry is not computerized, the request must be made at the registry office or the district archive in charge, and precise data must be provided to enable it to be located.
Parish Birth Register - 1885
Records over 100 years old are usually sent to the district archive.
Schedule a meeting to discuss your case
II - Genealogical Research
"I don't know where my Portuguese Ascendant was born or the date of his birth."
A very common occurrence is that the person concerned does not know the date and/or place of birth of their Portuguese ancestor.
In these cases, it is necessary to go to a Genealogist to carry out a Genealogical Research to locate the birth record of the Portuguese ancestor.
When turning to a genealogist for research, it is essential to have as much data as possible on the Portuguese ancestor, as this can increase the chances of success.
The success, cost and time of the research may depend on various factors, such as: the time of the record being researched, the hours spent on the research, travel for the research, etc, mainlythe quantity and quality of the information provided.
Examples of data from the research subject that can increase the chances of success:
The primary source of data for genealogical research is the information obtained from the family of the person concerned, especially the oldest relatives. Relevant information can often be found in old documents (certificates, migration documents, identity cards) and, above all, in family memories.
III - Conclusion
In general, many people who know they have Portuguese ancestors don't even think about filing a Portuguese nationality suit simply because they don't have the birth certificate of their deceased Portuguese ancestor and believe that obtaining it would be an impossible task. In many cases, depending on the situation, the seemingly impossible task can be solved in a few days, hours or even minutes by a trained professional.
In the vast majority of cases, Genealogical Research is the starting point for the nationality process, especially in cases where there is no complete information on the place and date of the Portuguese ancestor's birth registration and where the birth certificate is not computerized.
For an analysis of your specific case, we are available to schedule a consultation by calling e-mail.
Dr. Aldo Andrade, Lawyer and Genealogical Researcher
Portuguese-Brazilian lawyer, registered with the Portuguese Bar Association, under No. 57.455P, and with the Brazilian Bar Association, Federal District Section, under No. 54.095, graduated from UniCEUB in 2014, with a postgraduate degree in Registries and Notaries from ISCET, with expertise in Portuguese Nationality Law. Genealogical researcher, specializing in locating records of Portuguese ancestors. Works in the areas of Portuguese Nationality Law, Foreigners' Law and Family Law. Fluent in English.
