Thousands of Israelis line up for appointment to obtain Portuguese citizenship

Walk-in day event led by Portuguese embassy draws massive crowds as demand among Israelis surges for EU passports

Thousands of Israelis waited in line outside of Cinema City Glilot in the central city of Ramat Hasharon on Friday morning to book an appointment with the Portuguese Embassy to receive citizenship or renew Portuguese passports.

A line stretched from the entrance of the complex down to its underground parking structure after the Portuguese Embassy announced that it would allow people to wait in person – without advance scheduling – to secure appointments for citizenship or renewing Portuguese passports in December and January.

The embassy announced last month that it would be holding a special “Old times are back” event, temporarily bypassing its chronically overloaded online appointment system.

In an announcement on the embassy’s Facebook page, it wrote that the event was “open to all Portuguese citizens.”

News of the opportunity spread quickly, drawing far more people than the venue could comfortably accommodate, with people waiting in line all day long. Many arrived before dawn in hopes of getting a slot, while others turned back after seeing the immense wait.

According to a post on the Embassy’s Facebook page following the event, “thousands” of citizens were helped and “no one was left unattended.”

Portugal recently announced that, starting in May 2026, Portuguese passports will be extended from five to 10 years. However, those who lined up on Friday are still expected to receive five-year passports under the current rules.

The surge of Israeli applicants for Portuguese citizenship began after Portugal passed its “law of return” in 2015, allowing the descendants of Portuguese Sephardic Jews who were affected by the 16th-century Inquisition to apply for nationality.

The Portuguese government had announced plans to end the policy in December 2023, saying at the time that its purpose of reparation had been “fulfilled.” However, rather than fully abolishing the route, the law was revised to make citizenship for Sephardic descendants more restrictive and conditional, including demonstrating stronger ties to Portugal, such as residing in the country for at least three years.

Portuguese citizenship has a wide-ranging appeal for Israelis, including the freedom of movement that comes with a European Union passport. Portugal has lower taxes and a lower cost of living than Israel, although its income levels are also proportionately lower. Some Israelis are drawn to the more relaxed admission rates at public universities in Europe and the lower tuition costs for EU nationals.

Demand has intensified since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attacks, as many Israelis have sought a second passport for added security in a period of heightened instability, which has also seen tens of thousands of Israelis leaving the country.