Thousands of Indians and their descendants – in the former colonies of Goa, Daman and Diu – still could claim Portuguese citizenship. It is estimated that nearly three million still could make that claim for themselves including two subsequent generations.

To qualify claimants must submit an original birth certificate attesting that they or a relative were born before December 19, 1961, the day the former Indian colonies were liberated from Portuguese rule.

To the present date only a small minority of claimants to Portuguese citizenship have succeed in their claim due to the complexity of the Portuguese citizenship law.

On 18th December 1961, the Indian Army invaded the Portuguese territories in India forcing the Portuguese military to surrendered. Manyy Goans burnt their Portuguese passports in public demonstrations.

For most Goans the most favoured destination today is the United Kingdom where an estimated 50,000 Goan-Portuguese have settled.

PAJ/cm