In January 2015 the Portuguese cabinet approved a law under which descendants of Jews expelled from Portugal in the 15th century, may obtain Portuguese citizenship.
Applicants need to first obtain a certificate from one of the committees of the Jewish communities in Lisbon or Oporto confirming their ancestry. Proof can be brought through a combination of surname, language spoken in the family or evidence of direct descent.
Candidates may then apply for Portuguese citizenship by submitting the above mentioned certificate with other necessary documents (a police clearance certificate is necessary). It has been reported in the press that the first 21 applicants have already been approved from all over the world (Jornal de Noticias).
