Portuguese emigrants satisfied with proposed 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 law 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.

After being born in Mozambique and returning to the metropolis after the 25th of April Revolution, Vasco Abreu emigrated to South Africa 40 years ago and has daughters and granddaughters born in that country.

"The new law is welcome. I don't have any problems in my family because we've always taken care of the paperwork, but there are many who haven't," he explained to Lusa.

"My daughters and granddaughters were educated in South Africa, they want to stay here, but at home we always gave them the opportunity to speak Portuguese," a "language that is an asset" in the region, due to its proximity to Mozambique and Angola.

“I’m already retired and my closest family is in South Africa,” so “I don’t consider returning [to Portugal] as a possibility in the near future,” he acknowledged.

Regarding the change to the law on foreigners, which requires applicants for residence permits to work to have a work visa issued at Portuguese consulates in their countries of origin, Vasco Abreu admitted that he understands the Government's decision.

"When I went to South Africa, it was also a long process. I already had a job offer, I had to present my criminal records from all the countries I had lived in, and I had to wait," he recalled.

“I think it makes sense to tighten the net a little” because “it is also inhumane to go to Portugal and then not have the conditions to work or have a home.”

And "illegal immigrants are exploited because there are no conditions to receive them," highlighted the leader of the Portuguese community in South Africa.

Fernando Campos agrees with his counterpart's view: “when I emigrated to Venezuela, there were requirements and selection of emigrants.”

Immigration “must be controlled according to the country’s needs,” but despite agreeing with a more restrictive policy, Fernando Campos warns of other risks.

“When things are too controlled, the door is opened to a lot of corruption” and “careful selection” can be overcome by “illegal hiring networks or schemes.”

“We need labor” in Portugal and many of the least skilled jobs are done by foreigners.

“We also went to countries to do things that the locals didn’t want to do,” he recalled.