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The Peninsula - 3rd February 2003 DOHA: The Goan Overseas Association (GOA), an organisation of Goan expatriates in Qatar, is offering assistance to people of Goan origin seeking Portuguese citizenship. The association will soon organise a presentation in Doha on the procedures and formalities of applying for citizenship, its president Simon D'Silva said yesterday. Any person who was born in Goa before 1961 is eligible for Portuguese citizenship, as well as those who had a parent of grandparent born in Goa during the same period. "This was a special privilege granted by the Portuguese exclusively for people of Goan origin when they left India," Simon said. Thousands of Goans have applied and obtained Portuguese passports and are now settled in Europe, mostly in the UK, France and Germany, he added. There are agencies in Goa which are operating legally to help interested people apply for the citizenship. The Goan Overseas Association has approached one such agency, which has agreed to assist Goans from Qatar to obtain the necessary papers for a nominal fee, Simon said. He clarified that a Portuguese passport was not a necessary pre-condition for procuring citizenship. A birth certificate of the applicant (if he/she was born before 1961) or the parent or grandparent would suffice along with other required documents, the details of which are available at the website geocities.com/Paulocd/PortNatLaw.htm. Portugal allows dual nationality and according to Portuguese law, a citizen can keep his second and other nationalities. The only restriction is that the person can not claim Portuguese protection in the country of the other nationality, Simon said. However, it is not clear whether a person of Goan origin can retain Indian citizenship after he/she acquires Portuguese nationality. As a general rule, India does not allow dual citizenship. Indian embassy sources, when contacted yesterday, could not provide any further information in this regard. Simon said the presentation will be held soon after the Eid Al Adha holidays. Further details can be had from Simon (5550491) or John Desa (4425239/ 5214047). THE PENINSULA.
