• Text size  | | |
• Email this document
• Printable version

Does Brazil accept dual citizenship? Is there an age limit for requesting Brazilian citizenship?

A new Constitution was promulgated in Brazil on October 5, 1988. [Europa Year Book 1989, (London: Europa Publications, 1989), p. 542.] Although an official copy of the new Constitution is not presently available to the IRBDC, a free translation [The Brazilian Constitution 1988, (Rio de Janeiro: Dash Representacoes e Promocoes Ltda., 1988), p. 6.] of the document states in Article 12, section 4:

"The loss of nationality of a Brazilian will be declared when:

I-Naturalization is cancelled by judicial sentence, in virtue of an activity harmful to the national interest;

II-Upon the acquisition of another nationality through voluntary naturalization."

According to information provided by External Affairs on this date, the Brazilian mission in Ottawa stated Brazil does recognize dual nationality among its citizens. However, External Affairs also stated that other sources within their Department described the recognition of dual nationality by Brazilian authorities as unlikely.

Information on age limits for requesting Brazilian nationality could not be obtained from the sources presently available to the IRBDC. According to the available free translation of the Brazilian Constitution, those born overseas to Brazilian parents have to return to Brazil before adulthood in order to request Brazilian nationality.