The
number of Israelis seeking a Portuguese passport through a 2015 law passed for
the descendants of Jews expelled during the Inquisition reached 20,975 in 2022,
according to statistics from the Portuguese Immigration and Border Service
(SEF).
That exceeded the 18,591 applicants from Brazil, whose
population is over 20 times larger than Israel’s and has longstanding cultural
ties to Portugal, including a shared language.
Israelis were also the largest group in 2021 when 21,263
people applied.
The surge of Israeli applicants began after Portugal passed
its “Law of Return” in 2015, allowing the descendants of Portuguese Sephardic
Jews who were affected by the 16th century to apply for nationality. The
Portuguese government has announced plans to end this policy in December 2023,
declaring its purpose of reparation to be fulfilled.
The
policy was plagued by scandal last year amid allegations of fraud and
corruption in the Jewish Community of Porto, one of two Jewish authorities
— alongside Lisbon’s community — that was certified to vet applications. In
particular, the Porto community came under fire for approving the citizenship
of Roman Abramovich, a Russian-Jewish billionaire who made his fortune in
Russia’s energy sector and has been called a close ally of Vladimir Putin,
although he has denied being part of the Russian president’s inner
circle. Abramovich’s naturalization came to light shortly after Russia
invaded Ukraine when it became apparent that he could live in Europe and
challenge the European sanctions being imposed on Russian oligarchs. His case
triggered a criminal probe into Porto’s vetting process, leading to the
detainment of community rabbi Daniel Litvak and a bitter rift in Portugal’s
Jewish communities.
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
attracted to the more relaxed acceptance rates at public universities in Europe
and lower attendance costs for EU nationals.
There
are likely also political motivations. Liberal-leaning Israelis — alarmed by
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government and its push to
undercut the Israeli Supreme Court’s power and independence — have expressed
growing interest in moving abroad. Others are galvanized by the fear and stress
that come with living in a country continuously locked in deadly conflict with
its neighbors.
Despite their spiking interest in nationality, most of the
Israelis who applied have not moved to Portugal. While 60,000 Israelis had
Portuguese citizenship in 2022, only 569 were residents, according to SEF data.
In comparison, 239,744 Brazilians lived in Portugal last year.
Many citizens of Israel, a country full of citizens who have
endured past migrations, may be driven by the desire for a “plan B.” Amikam, an
Israeli healthcare professional who did not provide his last name, told The
Portugal News that he applied for nationality in 2017 even though he has no
plans of emigrating.
“It’s always good to have a plan B in case things in Israel
turn for the worst,” he said.
