I am American and the son of a Brazilian: can I have dual citizenship?

If you were born in the USA and one of your parents is Brazilian, you can apply for Brazilian citizenship without renouncing your American citizenship, thus having the right to dual citizenship.

However, the way you can claim your right varies according to certain rules and procedures, both at Brazilian Consulates and in Brazil.

Birth Certificate

You can register directly in Brazil or at a Brazilian Consulate. In most cases, it is recommended that you register at the Consulate. You should request that your American birth certificate be registered at a Brazilian consulate and that your Brazilian consular certificate state need written you as a "native-born Brazilian".

After that, simply have your consular certificate transcribed in Brazil, and your Brazilian nationality will be guaranteed.

If your birth certificate does not state "Brazilian by birth"

Brazilian legislation, as well as normative and procedural guidelines, has been changing significantly over the months, and it's necessary to analyze each case individually, as it varies depending on the year of birth and the Consulate.

If any information is found that doesn't automatically authorize citizenship, it will be necessary to file a lawsuit requesting recognition of Brazilian nationality.

This is because, in some cases, the registration indicates that the individual only possesses a "potential nationality."

Ideally, each case should be analyzed individually to determine the best solution. We are here to help and guide you according to your specific case.

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