I Am an American and the Child of a Brazilian: Can I Have Dual Citizenship?

If you were born in the United States and one of your parents is Brazilian, you may apply for Brazilian nationality without renouncing your U.S. citizenship, thereby being entitled to dual citizenship.

However, the procedure to exercise this right varies according to specific rules under Brazilian law.

Before the Age of 18

It is necessary to verify whether your birth certificate was registered at a Brazilian consulate before you turned 18.

If this registration was completed, all that is required is the transcription of the consular birth certificate in Brazil, and your Brazilian nationality will be automatically recognized.

Please note that this service can be completed remotely, and we are available to assist you throughout the process.

After the Age of 18

If your parents did not register your birth at a Brazilian consulate and you are over 18 years old, the procedure becomes more complex and involves two main steps:

• Registering and transcribing your U.S. birth certificate in Brazil;

• Filing a judicial request for recognition of Brazilian nationality.

This is because, when consular registration is not completed before the age of 18, the individual holds only a “potential nationality.”

In such cases, the recognition of Brazilian nationality is conditional upon the intention to establish residence in Brazil. As a result, the citizenship application may only be submitted while you are physically present in Brazil.

There is a specific step-by-step process and timeline that must be followed to ensure compliance with Brazilian legal requirements before filing the judicial application.

We are here to guide and support you according to your specific circumstances.

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