Baptism vs birth certificate

[Cheri Mello]

Repost for  mrleonardramos at gmail.com

Does anyone know how to get a baptism record certificates as a birth certificate? I’m trying to get Portugal citizenship through my grandparents.  All four of my grandparents were born on the islands. So I’m looking on Pico and Flores islands. Who would know the process?

Thank you for any help. 

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Leonard,

A lawyer would know the process. If you search the main forum/archive/web board for this group, people have posted the process that was in place for them at the time they applied.

Baptisms are a Catholic document making a person (usually a baby) part of the Catholic church. They mention the birth date. Births are civil documents that state the birth dates. Birth records didn't exist in the Azores until 1911 onwards.

I don't know if you are 60 years old and your grandparents would be born in the 1880s, 1890s, or early 1900s. The only records you have are the baptisms. Your lawyer will tell you to request certified copies. Maybe you are only 20 years old and your grandparents were born in the 1940s. Those would be the Civil Registry births (Civil Registry is like an American vital records from the County Clerk's office). Again, your lawyer will tell you to request certified copies.

Cheri Mello
Listowner, Azores-Gen
Researching: São Miguel island: Vila Franca, Ponta Garca, Ribeira Quente, Ribeira das Tainhas, Achada

[Diana Bawn]

Hi Leonard, 

Are you currently an American? I submitted a dual citizenship application 16 months ago with the assistance of Reis & Pellicano, an international law firm based in Lisbon that is authorized to submit applications on behalf of clients using Portugal’s online portal - https://reispellicano.com/en/ . Their fees are reasonable and they use translation services that cost a lot less than the prices I was quoted for translations by the Portuguese consulate in New Bedford. Believe it or not, there are scammer firms out there, so it’s good to use a firm that’s been vetted. Reis & Pellicano obtained my grandmother’s birth certificate and also got her US marriage registered in Portugal, a pre-requisite for citizenship applications. If your parents are still living, they may need their citizenship before you can apply. My mother was deceased, so I was able to apply directly. If you’re already fluent in Portuguese, you can simply pass a language test. If you need to learn the language, it’s possible to get a certificate of proficiency from an accredited online program. Unlike the vital records and FBI background report, the language certificate does not have to be obtained within the 3-6 months of submitting your application like all the other documents, so it’s best to get that out of the way as early as possible. 

Let me know if you’d like to chat about the process. I also know genealogists who can pull documents for you. 

Diana (dian...@gmail.com) 

[Diane Pereira]

Good morning.  Please find information about obtaining citizenship via a grandparent below, given to me directly from the Portuguese consulate in Massachusetts:

Baptismal records are accepted as birth records if the registered person was born before 1910.  

Documents required to apply for Portuguese citizenship through a grandparent (Article 1(1)(d) of the Nationality Law):

• Proof of payment for your application for nationality (IRN) – Payment must be made by Visa or MasterCard. IRN - Pagamento Visa/MasterCard
  After payment, you will receive Form 1D annotated with proof of payment. Please print the form and complete it. 
• Form 1D – Must be duly completed. Modelo 1D - maior de 18 anos.pdf
  Important: This form must be signed in person at the Consulate, or alternatively, it may be signed before a public notary, whose signature must be apostilled. (Google search "how to obtain a Hague Apostille in the State of ...”( name the State where document was issued) and follow instructions. 
• Applicant’s birth certificate – Long-form certified copy (extracted from the original record ) where it is possible to see the parent’s signature(s). This certificate needs an Apostille. 
• Parent’s birth certificate(s) – Long-form certified copy, with Apostille. 
• Parent’s marriage certificate – Long-form certified copy, with Apostille. 
• Portuguese grandparent’s birth certificate (assento português) 
• Portuguese grandparent’s marriage certificate –
  If the Portuguese grandparent was married in any country other than  Portugal, the marriage may need to be recorded in the Civil Registry of Portugal, prior to the nationality application, depending on the circumstances and whether parentage is clearly established according to the Portuguese Civil Registry law. 
• FBI Criminal Background Check Identity History Summary Checks Frequently Asked Questions — FBI – With Apostille issued by the U.S. Department of State (Washington, D.C.) Office of Authentications. Must be issued within 6 months prior to the submission of the application in Portugal. 
• Proof of effective ties to Portugal or to the Portuguese community. For instance, if you own property in Portugal, have bank accounts there, visit Portugal regularly, belong to local Portuguese clubs or associations in your area, have been part of any Portuguese initiative (cultural/business/ religious, etc), in your residence area, then you need to document those connections/ties/liaisons by submitting proof of all facts that you present. 
• Proof of Portuguese language proficiency – certificate of the CIPLE exam administered by CAPLE (minimum A2 level proficiency). You may get more information on this exam by contacting the Coordinator for the Portuguese Language Programs and Education Affairs in the US, Dr. João Caixinha at: joao.c...@camoes.mne.pt    He works out of the Consulate-General of Portugal in Boston. 

 

Thank you, 

Diane

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On May 31, 2026, at 11:22 AM, Cheri Mello <gfsc...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Leonard Ramos]

That is great information, thanks. I will check them out.

 

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On Jun 2, 2026, at 7:37 AM, Diana Bawn <dian...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Leonard, 

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[Leonard Ramos]

Excellent info, I found my grandmother’s baptism records. I am trying to get copies of all birth certificates and marriage licenses now. I am a US citizen. All four of my grandparents were born on the islands. Pico, Flores, and two from San Miguel. My parents have passed. 

Thanks again for all the info.

Leonard Ramos

Sent from my iPad

On Jun 2, 2026, at 7:37 AM, Diane Pereira <nossagent...@gmail.com> wrote:



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