The issue of Portuguese nationality is very delicate subject, and it is connected with the pride of some of the Niz Goenkars but, at the same time, there is a need to address this issue, as there are stories about some people in Goa making the misuse of this privilege of Portuguese Nationality for their own benefits.
The issue of Portuguese nationality does not remain limited to Goa alone since the Portuguese rulers gave this privileged to their colonies in India which includes the union territories, Daman and Diu, Dadara and Nagar Haveli situated in Gujarat province.
Goa was under the Portuguese rule for almost 4 and a half decades. The influence of their dominance has led to the development of Goa as well as its culture. Goa, the tiny coastal state is known for its beaches, custom and culture. The western cultural influence is a noticeable feature of this land. The Portuguese dominance led to a special privilege granted to the citizens of Goa.
The story begins with the news of Goans going directly to the UK making use of the Portuguese passport instead of Portugal while the Portuguese gave this invitation to the Goans to come to their land.
When the Portuguese Government gives a green signal to the passport of a Goan, they don’t ask them to learn the language first. They don’t even know a word in Portuguese while they hold a Portuguese passport. How can you be a Portuguese when you don’t know a word in Portuguese?”
According to Mr Khabir Moraes, one of the Niz Goenkar, a lot of Goans goto the UK other European Countries instead of Portugal. “Instead of contributing to Portugal and their economy the Goans prefer to go to the UK to make more money and settle down there,” said Khabir.
According to this privilege, Portuguese nationality law allows people born before Goa’s liberation on December 19, 1961, and their children, to opt for its citizenship, which makes them citizens of the European Union and thus eligible to migrate, live and work in any of the 28 countries of the EU.
The Portuguese citizenship granted exclusively for Goans have proved to be a boon. There is no doubt that many Portuguese nationals have settled down in the UK that also includes the big chunk of Goans. Many Goans have shifted to the UK and some have even settled there. Due to the lack of opportunities in Goa, many Goans often resort to moving to the UK in search of job opportunities.
But it is noticed that Goans more than often apply for Portuguese citizenship only to move and settle in the UK or other European countries rather than Portugal. The main agenda of this move by the Portuguese government was to maintain a healthy relationship with India while giving Goa and its citizens an opportunity to work and contribute to their country and earn a living.
According to this privilege, Portuguese nationality law allows people born before Goa’s liberation on December 19, 1961, and their children, to opt for its citizenship, which makes them citizens of the European Union and thus eligible to migrate, live and work in any of the 28 countries of the EU.
There may be many reasons behind this, and many factors contributing as to why Goans choose UK over Portugal. Speaking on the same, Khabir Moraes said that “Goans have a privilege to access the Portugal citizenship, and after they attain the passport, they don’t go to Portugal but take advantage of the European Union and move to the UK or any other European country.”
Although there have been Goans moving to Portugal it cannot be denied that a major percentage of them choose the UK. One can also think that this happens maybe due to the language barrier. Goans although ruled by Portuguese for over 450 years, the language, however, has not been spoken by many.
Moraes stated “When the Portuguese Government gives a green signal to the passport of a Goan, they don’t ask them to learn the language first. They don’t even know a word in Portuguese while they hold a Portuguese passport. How can you be a Portuguese when you don’t know a word in Portuguese?”
Goans who move to the UK, often pick up odd jobs and get paid a meagre amount. Often their living conditions are also low. In most cases, Goans move to London due to the available job opportunities. Many get employed as cleaners, drivers or in hotels. The cost of living in the UK and especially, London is quite high.
It comes to a surprise that Portugal arguably has the lowest cost of living in Western Europe. Just about everything, from accommodation to groceries, is affordable. But still, Goans resort to move and work in the UK.
Moraes highlighted that people who opt for such jobs in the UK aren’t educated and in most cases do not even hold a college degree. He was of the opinion that “this is like back-stabbing Portugal and taking advantage of the privilege. Such people instead of working like daily wage workers must study and get a degree, and then look for a job in Portugal.”
It might be helpful to take into consideration this situation. Portugal granted the citizenship to help Goans move forward but it is unfortunate to see that most Goans fail to make use of this. Instead of working in a meagre job that would take one nowhere, it would be much better if Goans focused on attaining education and getting better jobs and if possible also help contribute the economy of Portugal.
It might be helpful to take into consideration this situation. Portugal granted the citizenship to help Goans move forward but it is unfortunate to see that most Goans fail to make use of this.
When asked about what measures Portugal can take up to repair this condition, Khabir Moraes stated that “Portuguese Government must set a threshold as to have candidates meet certain requirements of education and must be acquainted to the language and culture of Portugal. It should also be made that the passport holders must be made to work at least two years in Portugal and then allowed to work any other country in Europe.”
If anytime, the Portugal Government feels the need to remove this privilege and feel that this is no longer serving the purpose, it would result in a huge blow to the Goans. It must be acknowledged that Goa is the only state in the country that gets this opportunity. Realising this, many outsiders visit and settle in Goa and change their identity to attain the Portuguese citizenship. It is important to lay down strict measures to make prevent misuse of these privileges.
Disclaimer: This article has been compiled with the help of information available from reliable sources, and in case there are any discrepancies found in the article, please do write to us.
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2 thoughts on “Some People misuse the Privilege of Portuguese Citizenship?”
The person who wrote this article should get the facts right.
It’s a shame that the writer hasn’t spend anytime researching. Before 1961 Goa was a part of Portugal and Nationality is granted to those born in Portugal ( Goa before 1961)
The issue of Portuguese nationality does not remain limited to Goa alone since the Portuguese law gave this privilege to all their overseas territories. In India these include the union territories, Daman and Diu, Dadara and Nagar Haveli which are bordered or surrounded by Gujarat and Maharashtra. The Same law applies to Brazil, Macau, East Timor and all the Portuguese territories in Africa as well. Portuguese nationality is granted to anyone born in these territories at the time it was administered by Portugal. Citizenship can be acquired by right of birth on Portuguese soil and by right of descent of Portuguese parent or grandparent.
Goa was not under Portuguese rule for almost 4 and a half decades. Goa was created by Portugal and was part of Portugal for four and a half centuries. The Portuguese governance did not grant any special privilege to the citizens of Goa it was given the same rights as all citizens of the empire.
Who says the people who apply for Portuguese passport don’t know a single word in Portuguese?
They use many words but don’t even know they are Portuguese words as it is so integrated into the language.
It is fair for you to move to any place which meets your requirement. No law in any country states you have to live and work in the country of your origin or the travel document or a work visa you hold.
There is more than just the EU 28 countries that you can work in and many just don’t know it.
I agree that due to the lack of opportunities in the former Portuguese India the residents of these territories often resort to moving to other countries in the west (preferably the UK as they only calculate the GBP to INR and can speak few words of broken English) in search of job opportunities. There are also good and well qualified Portuguese Indian diaspora in the country. The are also members of the British parliament.
Portugal may have a low cost of living but that is ok for you to settle if you were there from before. When you migrate to a new country you have to have more earning capacity as the expenses just shoot up and is not enough to manage if you cannot speak much of the language of that country.
Why be critical of the migration of the Portuguese of India to the UK. There is greater migration of Eastern Europeans to the UK which has initiated the Brexit. The Portuguese of India are just a hair strand in comparison.
The Portuguese language was not taught after annexation of the territories by India as it wanted to eliminate the sense of being Portuguese, The reason we study English or any other language in our schools is because it is government sponsored. Portuguese language is not. There were no jobs available for the use of the language after the annexation of the territories,
No job is a small job if it feeds you and your family. There is dignity of labour here which is missing in India.
I would agree that all applying must have an interview in basic Portuguese as is the requirement for Brazilian nationality and must also include a 2 year service bond. This will help boost the learning of he Portuguese language in India give confidence to the people they are eligible to converse.
People coming from eastern Europe are mostly uneducated. It is the freedom of movement that allows them to seek better opportunities and its is fair.
Portugal cannot revoke the article of citizenship to it former territories. Many of those seated in the Portuguese parliament were not born in continental Portugal.
There is an operation in Portugal called Livro Mágico (Magic Book) launched in 2013 which spanned India, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Mozambique, Sao Tome & Principe, Cape Verde and many other countries for those that forged documents to acquire Portuguese passports. They then seize their nationality and the life of the individual is automatically destroyed.