I am the grandchild of a Portuguese citizen and live abroad. Will I have to take the test?

Under the text of the law, nationality for grandchildren presupposes the requirements in Art. 6(1)(c) to (h) (Art. 1(3)) — which include proving knowledge of culture, history and national symbols and knowing rights, duties and political organisation. How people living outside Portugal will prove this (test at a consulate, online, certificate?) has not been defined. If your application was filed before 19 May 2026, the previous law applies.

Are Brazilian grandchildren exempt from the language proof?

Art. 6(10) presumes that nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries meet “the first part” of paragraph (c) — the language. Since Art. 1(3) applies paragraph (c) to grandchildren, the most natural reading is that the presumption benefits them too. The regulation may still spell this out, so treat it as likely, not certain. The culture, history and symbols part is not covered by the presumption.

My grandchild application was filed before 19 May 2026. Does anything change?

Under Art. 7(2) of Organic Law 1/2026, procedures pending when the law entered into force are governed by the law as previously worded. The press reported that IRN looks at the submission date. If in doubt about your case, speak to a Portuguese lawyer or solicitor.

Can great-grandchildren apply?

Art. 6(8) allows the Government to grant nationality to third-degree direct descendants of Portuguese citizens by origin who have lived legally in Portugal for at least five years, waiving only the residence requirement in (b). All other requirements — including the culture proof — still apply.Another route, which does not depend on Art. 6(8): if the parent (the grandchild of a Portuguese citizen) obtains Portuguese nationality of origin, the great-grandchild can then apply as the child of a Portuguese citizen (Art. 1(1)(c), whose text Organic Law 1/2026 did not change). For your case, talk to a lawyer or solicitor.

Portuguese citizenship through a grandparent: the new knowledge test

If you are the grandchild of a Portuguese citizen and plan to apply for nationality, Organic Law 1/2026 added new requirements. (The law says “nationality” — nacionalidade; in Brazil people usually say “Portuguese citizenship”. For this purpose they mean the same thing.) Here is only what the law says — and, separately, what is still uncertain.

Updated 5 October 2026. Main source: Organic Law 1/2026 (official Diário da República PDF, Portuguese).

1. Who counts as a “grandchild”

d) Os indivíduos com, pelo menos, um ascendente de nacionalidade portuguesa originária do 2.º grau na linha reta que não tenha perdido essa nacionalidade, se declararem que querem ser portugueses e possuírem laços de efetiva ligação à comunidade nacional;

— Law 37/81 as amended by Organic Law 1/2026, Art. 1(1)(d)

Our translation (unofficial): (d) Individuals with at least one second-degree direct ascendant of Portuguese nationality by origin who has not lost that nationality, if they declare that they want to be Portuguese and have effective ties to the national community;

In practice: at least one grandparent with Portuguese nationality by origin who has not lost it. In this route nationality is by origin (attribution), not naturalisation — but it depends on requirements.

2. The new rule: requirements (c) to (h)

3 — A atribuição da nacionalidade portuguesa ao abrigo da alínea d) do n.º 1 pressupõe o preenchimento dos requisitos constantes das alíneas c) a h) do n.º 1 do artigo 6.º

— Law 37/81 as amended by Organic Law 1/2026, Art. 1(3)

Our translation (unofficial): 3 — Attribution of Portuguese nationality under paragraph (d) of no. 1 presupposes meeting the requirements in paragraphs (c) to (h) of no. 1 of Article 6.

In short, Art. 6(1)(c) to (h) are:

(c) prove, by test or certificate, sufficient knowledge of the Portuguese language and culture, history and national symbols;
(d) sufficiently know the fundamental rights and duties and the political organisation of the Portuguese State;
(e) solemnly declare adherence to the principles of the democratic rule of law;
(f) to (h) requirements about serious criminal convictions, national security and UN or EU restrictive measures.

Note what does not apply to grandchildren: being of age (a), legal residence in Portugal (b) and means of subsistence (i).

3. What about Brazilians and other Portuguese speakers?

10 — Presume-se que os nacionais de países de língua oficial portuguesa preenchem o requisito da primeira parte da alínea c) do n.º 1, salvo nos casos em que a falta de domínio da língua portuguesa, evidenciada pelo requerente junto dos serviços competentes, seja manifesta.

— Law 37/81 as amended by Organic Law 1/2026, Art. 6(10)

Language: presumed for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries (the “first part” of (c)). The regulation should confirm how this applies to grandchildren
Culture, history and national symbols: not covered by the presumption.
Rights, duties and political organisation (d): not covered either.
Grandchildren from other countries (e.g. the US, Venezuela, France) get no language presumption: they would need to prove Portuguese as well.

4. Other changes that affect grandchildren living abroad

In-person declarations at consulates: nationality declarations before Portuguese diplomatic or consular agents “must be made in person by the applicant”; this can only be waived for proven physical impossibility and if the consular agent cannot travel to collect it (Art. 17).
Biometric data: facial image, fingerprints and height are collected, including by staff accredited by the Directorate-General for Consular Affairs and Portuguese Communities (Art. 12-C).
Pending applications: applications already in progress on 19 May 2026 follow the previous law (Art. 7(2) of Organic Law 1/2026).

5. What is still unknown (and matters a lot for grandchildren)

Where to take the test when living abroad: consulate, Camões Institute, online, or only in Portugal?
Format and language of the test, number of questions and pass mark.
Cost and booking times.
Which certificates could replace the test (e.g. courses or schooling).
Whether there will be an official question bank and free study material.

All of this depends on the government's regulation, which according to a direct check of the Diário da República on 5 October 2026 and the other sources consulted up to 5 October 2026 had not been published. Follow the regulation status.

6. What you can do now

Study the topics the law already sets: history, culture, symbols, rights and duties, political organisation. Start with the free 25-question practice test.
Read the law at the source — our article-by-article explanation links to the official texts.
For your specific case (documents, deadlines, whether your application counts as pending), consult a Portuguese lawyer (advogado) or solicitor (solicitador). This site does not give legal advice.