Portugal to offer citizenship to descendants of expelled Jews
Portugal's Cabinet approved a law Thursday that would offer citizenship to the descendants of Sephardic Jews who were expelled, burned at the stake or forcibly converted to Christianity 500 years ago.
"I do not want to say this is an historic amendment because I believe that for this matter, there is no possibility to amend what was done," Portuguese Justice Minister Paula Teixeira da Cruz said, according to The Associated Press. "I would say it is the attribution of a right."
The AP adds: "Applicants will be vetted by Portuguese Jewish community institutions, as well as by government agencies. They will have to say whether they have a criminal record."
The law, which grants Portuguese citizenship in addition to the applicant's current nationality, is expected to go into effect by mid-February or early March, Oulman Carp, president of Lisbon's Jewish community, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
The legislation, which was approved by Parliament in 2013, will also apply to non-Jewish descendants of the Sephardim who once lived in the Iberian Peninsula, Carp said.
more: http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/01/29/npr-portugal-citizenship
= new reply since forum marked as read
and 1/2 Hawaiian 
How do you "prove" that you are a descendant of the Portuguese Jews? I pretty much know I'm descended from the "conversos" -- Jews forced to convert by the monarchy (not wanting to reveal any surnames publicly here, though). Is this only for those who were exiled or are the ones who were able to stay by being forced into Catholicism also included?
I'd jump at an opportunity like this to move to a progressive and civilized EU country and bail on the U.S.A. Titanic. But I'm unsure as to how exactly one gets "vetted" some 500-600 years later.
