PANAJI
Hot on the heels of India’s dual citizenship uproar, comes a double whammy for those aspiring to get Portuguese passports.
If a proposal from the Embassy of Portugal in India is accepted, the Portuguese government could tighten its citizenship criteria – dashing the dreams of many.
According to a Portuguese news website, the Embassy has sent a proposal to its government that Portugal put an end to the existing policy of granting citizenship to Goa residents born before December 20, 1961, as well as their descendants.
While the exact reason is yet to be ascertained, the proposal is reportedly a move to improve bilateral relations between the two countries and resolve legal disputes about the ongoing dual citizenship.
“The Portugal government must take a political decision regarding the continuation and duration of its process to grant citizenship,” an official said, adding that Portugal has not set any deadline to grant citizenship to citizens from former colonies in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Officials in the Portuguese government also admit that the primary goal for most, if not all applicants, is to enter the European Union for employment opportunities in the wealthier regions of the continent.
“Any person who acquires Portuguese citizenship has to mandatorily renounce their Indian citizenship. We are also aware that those holding dual nationality are facing challenges including revocation of their Indian passports, upon seeking to surrender their nationality,” the official said.
As many as 1,968 Goan citizens holding Portuguese nationality have been removed from the State’s electoral roll since 2011. The website stated that improved relations with India could benefit Portugal, one of the countries most affected by the European debt crisis.
The Goa government is facing mounting pressure to provide relief to several thousand Goans who have registered their births in Portugal.
With many already facing revocation of their Indian citizenship, it has led to complications in obtaining visas and Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status.
After an extensive two-month debate, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant convened a meeting with Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi in Delhi last month to seek a resolution to the issue.
Joined by Minister Aleixo Sequeira, the CM discussed the challenges surrounding the acquisition of OCI status and visa issues following the potential revocation of passports. Although the specifics of the meeting were not disclosed to the media, the Chief Minister took to social media to inform the public about the progress made during the discussion.
The Goan tried to connect with a few concerned officials at Secretariat, who declined to comment.
