Since the Portuguese passport burst into our lives, many Jews have begun to dig into the memories of their family history and check whether their family also belonged to the deportation of Spanish Jews. Portuguese Passport Beyond the fact that it gives its holder citizenship of one of the most beautiful countries in Europe, it is also possible to enjoy a wide range of additional options as this article will review.
Deportation from Spain is the basis for amending the Citizenship Law
The expulsion of the Jews from Spain is an event of great significance in the Jewish tradition. Many Jewish families to this day we remember with pain the deportation event when in one fateful decision it was decided to expel all the Jews of Spain and Portugal from the territory of the kingdom. Many Jews even today preserve the Spanish Masoretic and even speak the Ladino language, which is the language of the Jews of Spain who were deported.
Somewhere in 2015, the Portuguese government decided to redress the historical injustice done to Jews expelled from its territory in 1497 AD and in an extraordinary decision decided to grant citizenship as well as a Portuguese passport to any Jew who would prove affinity and connection to the deportation of Spanish Jews. This decision, in fact, opened a door for many Jews to obtain additional citizenship and not just citizenship, one of the most powerful citizenships in the world. How do you prove an affinity for the deportation of the Jews of Spain and Portugal? We will immediately review in the next paragraph.
How do we prove that we belong to the Jews expelled from Spain?
There is no doubt that proving the connection to the deportation of the Jews of Spain and Portugal sometimes raises difficult questions and many difficulties. The long years that have passed since this traumatic event, together with the complex Jewish history, raise difficulties in proving the connection and direct connection to the deportation of the Jews of Spain. This difficulty has not escaped the eyes of the relevant bodies entrusted with deciding on the applications and the affiliation of the applicant will be determined on the basis of country of origin and surname appearing in the list of names as published by the Portuguese Government.
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Based on research and memoirs, it is known that the Jews of Spain migrated to specific countries after deportation such as Turkey, Egypt, etc. Therefore an applicant whose family originates from one of these countries may apply to the Jewish community in Portugal with a suitable application. The Jewish community in Portugal is the deciding factor which examines the applications for proof of affiliation and then determines whether the applicant has met the required conditions or not.
If I am eligible, what benefits will this citizenship give me?
First and foremost keep in mind that Portuguese citizenship is a citizenship of one of the most beautiful countries in Western Europe, a country with a warm and loving population, breathtaking views and some of the finest food in the world. Portuguese citizenship is also a European citizenship that gives its holder the following benefits:
- Visa waiver to a huge variety of countries around the world. Portuguese citizenship is strongly ranked sixth in the world and grants an exemption from entry to its holder to about 182 countries around the world. There is no doubt that with a Portuguese passport you can move around and get to know the world more freely.
- Residence and living in each of the member states of the European Union. The European Union includes the most developed countries in the world. A holder of Portuguese citizenship can live, work and work in any of the EU member states legally and fully. Freedom of movement we said, freedom of employment we also said and now we will mention the freedom of education.
- A Portuguese passport gives the holder the opportunity to study in the best higher education institutions in the world in each of the member states of the European Union. While foreign nationals will have to pay tuition fees, the holder of a Portuguese passport will be able to enjoy subsidized or even completely free tuition.
- Exemption from entry into the United States. We all know the difficulty of issuing a visa to enter the US which sometimes in some cases even the permit is not received and the future of the trip is questionable. Using a Portuguese passport it is possible to enter the US without a visa for a period of 90 days.
- Far-reaching tax benefits for returning citizens to Portugal. Portuguese citizens returning to their country are entitled to a tax exemption for a period of 10 years as well as other tax benefits. While this tax benefit does not exempt the Portuguese citizen from paying the taxes in full but from a certain tax bracket the citizen will be exempt from paying tax.
Disadvantages of Portuguese citizenship, are there any at all?
A common question that often arises in connection with Portuguese citizenship is whether there are any disadvantages in holding a Portuguese passport and if so from them. A disadvantage of holding additional citizenship can be in the form of double taxation, military service, etc. For now, holding Portuguese citizenship is no disadvantage. Military service in Portugal is not mandatory and there is no need to pay taxes as long as you live in another country where the tax is paid.
It seems that these days the holding of Portuguese citizenship entails only advantages and gives quite a few rights to the citizen. Thanks to an amendment to the Citizenship Law made by the Portuguese government today, a Portuguese passport is a kind of amendment to the historical injustice inflicted on the Jews expelled from Spain who were expelled from their homeless homeless.
If you believe that your family origin also belongs to the deportation of the Jews of Spain and Portugal, it is time to start examining the family roots journey and obtain the coveted citizenship.