Portugal Citizen Card and Passport

Portugal Citizen Card and Passport

Upon becoming a Portuguese citizen,the law does not require you to obtain a Portuguese passport, just a PortugueseCitizen Card, a general ID card. However, there are some advantages toapplying for a Portuguese passport for international travel. Portugal allowsdual nationality, and there are several options for immigrant residentsapplying for a Portuguese passport without giving up their original passport.As Portugal is an EU country, a Portuguese passport allows its holder to travelaround the world as both a Portuguese and an EU citizen. Portuguese passports are issuedthrough the Portuguese Ministry of Justice (Instituto dos Registos e doNotariado). In 2006, the Portuguese government began issuing electronicallyenhanced passports (Passaporte Eletrónico Português – PEP) with improvedsecurity features and biometric information. All standard Portuguese passportsare now PEP.

There are five types of Portuguese passport

1. Standard Portuguese electronic passport (PEP) issued to Portuguese citizens
   
2. Diplomatic Passport (PD) issued to officials carrying out diplomatic business
   
3. Passport for Foreign Citizens (PCE) issued to stateless individuals with no other passports who have been granted the right to reside in Portugal. Valid for 2 years.
4. Special Passport (PES) given to Portuguese officials who perform certain Public Administration functions
5. Temporary Passport (PT) issued in certain emergency circumstances for a period of up to one year

You can apply for a Portuguese passport at any of the following places

1. At the offices of the Portuguese Immigration and Borders Service (SEF)
   
2. In Portuguese Citizen Shops
   
3. In the passport shops at Lisbon and Porto airports
   
4. In the government offices of the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira
   
5. In Portuguese consulates around the world