Emigrants satisfied with new nationality law

Leaders of Portuguese emigrant communities today welcomed the extension of the nationality law to great-grandchildren of Portuguese citizens, admitting they understand the restrictions on immigrants entering Portugal.

The changes to the law on foreigners have already been approved by parliament and are before the Constitutional Court at the request of the President of the Republic. In September, the new nationality law is expected to be discussed, which provides access to naturalization by Portuguese ancestry up to great-grandchildren, a diploma praised by two of the oldest members of the Council of Portuguese Communities (CCP).

Vasco Abreu, a 40-year resident of South Africa, and Fernando Campos, an emigrant to Venezuela, argue that changes to the nationality law will attract many second-generation Portuguese descendants.

"It's another passport and another option that's linked to their family's origins," said Fernando Campos, recalling that Venezuela was, for many, "a final destination" for those who emigrated in the 1970s and 1980s.

"In Venezuela, we already have a very old generation that, when they emigrated, became very disconnected from Portugal, and now there is concern about granting nationality to their grandchildren and great-grandchildren," because their children never applied for the documents.

"There was a generational leap and there are many citizens who did not have access to Portuguese citizenship," but, when "there was the current political and social change in Venezuela," in reference to the 'Chavista' regime, "people once again felt the need to emigrate."

And so, easier access to a Portuguese passport “is good news,” said Fernando Campos, who would prefer that nationality requests had other motivations.

“I would like people to seek nationality not out of necessity [to emigrate], but out of identity,” he said.