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In depth
The Registo Civil (Civil Registry) is the Portuguese civil registry system that maintains records of births, marriages, and deaths. Each Portuguese consulate (conservatória do registo civil) also maintains records for Portuguese citizens abroad.
For CBD cases, the Registo Civil of the ancestor's birthplace is the primary source of Portuguese vital records. Civil registration in Portugal began in 1878 (mainland) and 1880 (islands). Records before 1878 are found in parish archives.
Portuguese consulates abroad can issue certified copies of records from any Registo Civil in Portugal. Ancestra coordinates with the relevant conservatória on behalf of clients.
Related terms
Sephardic citizenship is the Portuguese (and formerly Spanish) path to citizenship for descendants of Sephardic Jews expelled during the Inquisition.
A conservatória is a Portuguese registry office, including the Conservatória dos Registos Centrais (Central Registry Office) which processes citizenship applications.
The Ley de Memoria Democrática (Democratic Memory Law, 2022) is the Spanish law that opened citizenship to descendants of Civil War and Franco-era exiles.
The Ley de Memoria Histórica (Historical Memory Law, 2007) was the predecessor Spanish law granting citizenship to descendants of Civil War exiles, replaced by the 2022 Democratic Memory Law.
The Registro Civil is the civil registry in Spain and Latin American countries that maintains records of births, marriages, and deaths.
The Ministerio de Justicia (Ministry of Justice) is the Spanish government ministry that processes citizenship applications under the Memory Law.