Portuguese passports for Sephardim
In 2015, Portugal passed a law (number 30-A/2015, February 27), offering Sephardi Jews and their descendants Portuguese citizenships to redress the historic wrong of their persecution and expulsion under the Inquisition. Now, more than ever, British citizens eligible for this opportunity are pursuing it with expediency. In fact, since the UK’s decision to leave the EU, applications have increased by approximately 80 per cent.
Many have holiday homes in the EU, enjoy travel, work and study throughout the EU as well; and Brexit has complicated the enjoyment of prior investments and hobbies. Others are seeking more stability, flexibility and access to EU citizenship and its benefits during uncertain times.
Applicants need not trace their heritage back to Portugal, only to a region where many Jews escaped to during the expulsion.
During the Inquisition, many Portuguese Jews managed to leave for regions of the Mediterranean (Gibraltar, Morocco, Southern France, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Algeria), Northern Europe (London, Nantes, Paris, Antwerp, Brussels, Rotterdam
and Amsterdam), Brazil, the Antilles and the USA, among others, creating renowned communities there and founding synagogues such as the
Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam, the Congregation Shearith Israel in New York, Bevis Marks in London, the Touro Synagogue in Newport (Rhode
Island, USA), the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue of Montreal and the Kahal Zur Israel Synagogue in Recife, Brazil.
This is a unique and simple opportunity with no requirement to invest capital or to speak Portuguese. It is an opportunity for full citizenship/ passport to Portugal — which means freedom to work, travel, live and study anywhere in the EU. It is freedom to enjoy your holiday home in Marbella, summer in Italy or the South of France.
Other benefits include visa-free travel to 186 countries, access to Portuguese social security and pension benefits and the ability to hold the sixth most valued passport in the world!
We have processed thousands of successful applications for Sephardi Jews around Europe, the US, EMEA, South America and Africa.
There is no need for you to travel to Portugal to obtain your passport, and there is no need to renounce any current citizenships you possess. It’s an affordable option with outstanding benefits.
There is no need to renounce your current citizenships’
Samantha Sultan is business development and client relations, at law firm Goy Gentile Abogados, SamanthaSultan@goygentile.com