TNAG-1558-FCO40-2122-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 135

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Your current passport or other travel document

Identity Card(s) where applicable

Your certificate of no criminal conviction

The official receipt of your purchase of property in Portugal One copy of the contract of property purchase

Two passport photographs for each person included in the

application, plus

Proof of income or assets for yourself or your family ("a man of means" can support himself and his family). In practice, this means you must show a monthly income of around $US1,500. assets or cash which can produce such an income. this income does not have to be transferred to Portugal.

Step #4.

Receive temporary residency visa.

Important:

Step #5. Travel to Lisbon and visit, with your Portuguese attorney, the Aliens Department for the issue of your residency card from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. All family members included on the application should also travel to Lisbon. they cannot accompany you, a power of attorney can be certain circumstances for them to be represented in Lisbon without having to be physically present.

If

arranged in

At this point, each family member has achieved the right to reside in Portugal. There are only two more "hurdles" to pass before you and your family can achieve the status of Portuguese nationals.

Step #6. For the following six years, you must renew your right to reside in Portugal each year during the month stated on the residency permit--and only during that month. This entails travelling to Lisbon and, with your attorney, visiting the Aliens Department to renew your right of residence.

If, for family or business reasons, you are unable to visit Lisbon in the relevant month in any year, your attorney may represent you. The fee for this service is approximately $US100. In theory, your attorney could represent you for each of the next six years.

In practice, it's preferable to visit Lisbon at least twice during that six-year period (i.e., a total of three times including your initial visit).

Step #7. Upon completion of the above requirements--that is, having maintained the right to reside in Portugal for six years-- there is only one remaining test: to achieve the right to seek citizenship, you must now pass a Portuguese language test. This latter test allows some discretion on the part of the examiner.

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