The recent arrest of the religious leader of this community, Rabbi Daniel Litvak, on charges of tax fraud, falsification of documents, money laundering and other crimes related to the proceeds of the certification process for Sephardim, was the decisive element in the Board's decision to suspend all activities related to the nationality process for Sephardim.

The Comunidade Israelita de Porto had no legal authority to grant or deny Portuguese nationality and its mission was only to certify the possible Sephardic origin of candidates for nationality. For each certificate issued, the Community demanded a donation of €250.

Following the arrest of its rabbi, the IPC distributed an explanatory note to its staff stating that 'In the light of current events, the Board of Directors of the Community has decided to take the following measures:

- No new applications for certification will be accepted.
- Applicants whose applications have been approved will be able to continue with their processes and submit form, tree and donation payments.
- Applicants who have already submitted form, tree and paid donations after approval of their cases will be certified.
- Corrections to certificates issued and invoices for payments made will continue to be processed."

It should be remembered that the Oporto community only accepted applications from Jews, and was responsible for certifying their Sephardic family origin.  The Jewish Community of Lisbon, on the other hand, was until today in charge of verifying the applications of descendants of Sephardic Jews. This decision of the CIP to end its activities leaves the Comunidade Israelita de Lisboa (CIL) as the only certifying entity for the process of Portuguese nationality for Sephardic Jews.

We are experts in the process of obtaining the Portuguese Nationality for Sephardim, if you have any doubts please contact us, we will be happy to help you.

Alejandro de Vicente de Rojas. Lawyer

Larrauri & Martí Abogados

Portuguese nationality for Sephardic Jews