GOANS DRAWN BY LURE OF GETTING A PASSPORT INTO THE E.U.
By Frederick Noronha

PANJIM, June 5: An increasing number of emigration-prone Goans,
whose diaspora has taken them across the continents, have shown
much interest in the possibility that they could get easy access
to Portuguese nationality till date.
Portugal's concession to its former colony in Asia means that the
doors to the affluent European Union might still be open to
people from here.
Paulo Colaco Dias, an expatriate Goan who has informally
translated the Portuguese nationality law, points out that, as of
now, a large percentage of Goans are entitled to apply for
POrtuguese nationality.
This, he guestimates, could cover 75% of the state or even more.
"All Goans born before 1961 in Goa can recoup Portuguese
Nationality as long as they did not officially declare they
wanted to cease being Portuguese citizens," says Dias.
Artigo 1st of the Portuguese Nationality Law also grants
citizenship to descendants of Portuguese citizens.
Therefore, even if one was only born yesterday, but had a
grandfather who was born in Goa before 1961, it is still possible
to claim Portuguese nationality, argues Dias.
Other Goans point out that information is available on the
Internet offering details on this issue.
This is located at the site
http://www.secomunidades.pt/apoios/nacional.html
Incidentally, for some of the period under colonial rule, Goans
were considered Portuguese citizens and their rights and duties
were no different from the Portuguese people living in Portugal.
Some argue Lisbon treated people in its overseas colonies on a
different footing compared to say the British, Dutch or French.
"But the one potential problem I can see is that I doubt the
required chain of birth certificates in my family would be easily
attainable. Any idea what would happen then?" asked another
expatriate Goan while joining a discussion on the subject over
the Internet..
He added: "I'm going to ask my parents for more information, in
any case. It's definitely worth pursuing to some degree -- but I
won't be too disappointed if it doesn't work out; since I will be
a US citizen shortly."
This special consideration given to Goans, and other residents of
the former Portuguese colonies in India, has something to do with
centuries-old history, and also the manner in which colonial rule
ended after a military action in Goa.
In the 1750s, the regime of the liberal Portuguese prime minister
Marquis de Pombal got issued a Royal Decree granting Portuguese
citizenship to all residents of "Portuguese India". This was
unique in the context of colonial history, it is thought.
When Portugal became a Republic in 1910, the new Constitution
again granted that those living in "Portuguese India" -- but not
to the African colonies -- have the same prerogatives and status,
as Portuguese citizens.
Later, under the rule of the Salazar dictatorship, which assumed
power in 1928, the 1930 Colonial Act made Goans and those living
in the other small Portuguese enclaves in India second-class
citizens.
After democracy returned to Portugal, following the Revolution of
1974, independence was officially given to all overseas
territories and the Portuguese Nationality Law became very
important in order to determine who retained nationality.
Former "Estado da India" comprising of Goa, Daman, Diu and Dadra
& Nagar Haveli, was given somehow a different status under the
Portuguese Nationality Law.
To make a political point perhaps, after 1961 Salazar had wanted
the residents of the former Portuguese enclaves in India to feel
that Lisbon did not abandoned them and provided laws to keep them
as Portuguese citizens.
It may be recalled that many Goans left Goa at that time and were
welcomed in Portugal.
Under the Portuguese Nationality Law, citizens residing in
the now-independent former "overseas Portuguese territories"
would retain their Portuguese nationality if they were born
before the date of independence, or if either of their parents
were born thus.
Likewise, all descendents until the third generation of any
one who qualifies as a Portuguese citizen under the above criteria.
To get on with the process of claiming Portuguese nationality, it
is "absolutely necessary" to register in the Conservatoria dos
Registos Centrais de Lisboa together with proof the the
individual is a citizen of the now-independent state.
Applications for Portuguese nationality have to be submitted to
the nearest Portuguese Consulate. Supporting documents -- birth
and marriage certificates, legal identification documents,
certificate of residency, or proof of parents' birthplace (for
those born after 18 December 1961) etc -- are also to be
submitted.
Documents issued in Goa are required to be certified by a Public
Notary, the Collector, and Under Secretary (Home).