The Portuguese government considers those born in Goa, Daman, Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli during its regime, that is before December 19, 1961, as its deemed nationals.
It is this category of Goans who are technically insulated from the recent move of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to deem those who have obtained 'assento do nascimento' from the authority in Portugal and proceed to revoke their passports.
There is a catch though. These pre-1961 born would have had to specify in their application that they are opting for the process to enable their dependents to proceed with the processes of obtaining Portuguese nationality and not for themselves.
In this case the Portuguese authority only issues a 'transcription of the birth registration' which does not accrue to the applicant that country's citizenship but merely acknowledges or certifies that the person was indeed born in its 'Estado do India' (colony) during the time it ruled over it until 19th December, 1961.
"Any other interpretation by the Indian authorities, whether it be the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) or the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is erroneous and a misinterpretation," said a Panaji-based agent who has been assisting scores of Goans in their pursuit of obtaining Portuguese nationality for at least two decades.
Seeking anonymity for obvious reasons, he however admitted that the action of the passport authority in revoking the Indian passports of those who have either obtained a 'Cartão de Cidadão' (formerly the Bilhete de Identidade or BI) or a formal Portuguese Passport.
"It is foolishness on the part of these Goans not to surrender their Indian passports. You cannot hold two distinct travel documents," he said, adding that as soon as you obtain the physical 'Cartão de Cidadão' or Portuguese passport, one has to proceed to cancel name from ration card and from electoral rolls and surrender your passport to the Passport Office.
He said, in several cases Goans proceed to Portugal on a visit visa and proceed to their destinations (other than Portugal) after obtaining their physical 'Cartão de Cidadão' and Portuguese Passport from Lisbon. Many of them do not follow the procedures to surrender their Indian passport thereafter, he added.
