Roque Dias
Margao: A huge number of certified copies of birth and marriage certificates of relatives are obtained by Salcete residents and mostly used by the applicants for acquiring Portuguese passports in what could be termed as a disturbing trend wherein an increasing number of Goans are leaving the state and the country in pursuit of better employment opportunities thus resulting in a noticeable void in the state.
According to the office of the Civil Registrar cum Sub Registrar, Salcete, a staggering 31,916 certified copies of birth certificates and 29,195 certified copies of marriage certificates were issued last year to the applicants. These certificates were sourced from the archival records dating back from 1914 to 1970.
The high volume of requests mostly linked to applications for Portuguese citizenship is mainly observed in the Catholic-dominated Salcete taluka.
Sources in the office of the Civil Registrar cum Sub Registrar said a majority of these certificates are indeed utilised for the acquisition of Portuguese passport.
“Nearly 70% of these certified copies issued are used for acquiring Portuguese passport,” said an official. He further said, “These birth certificates establish a connection with Portugal, allowing Goans to follow the citizenship process more easily.”
According to District Registrar, South Goa, and Civil Registrar Cum Sub Registrar Suraj Vernekar, “The documents are mainly used for completing the process of obtaining Portuguese passport and for resolving land ownership issues.”
The data indicates that on an average, the office issues 122 certified copies of birth certificates and 111 certified copies of marriage certificates daily.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant revealed in the state legislative assembly in July 2024 that a total of 25,939 individuals have surrendered their Indian passports in Goa over the past decade, specifically from January 1, 2014 to March 31, 2024. He said this based on a report tabled by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).
The Election Commission of India has reported that between 2008 and 2013, 11,500 Goans renounced their Indian citizenship to acquire Portuguese nationality.
The United Kingdom has emerged as the preferred destination for Goans, who have acquired Portuguese citizenship, mainly due to the convenience of English language and the substantial presence of Goan community in Swindon, South-West England and parts of London. An increasing number of Goans have been recently opting for Ireland.
A couple of applicants admitted that their purpose behind applying for the birth and marriage certificates was to submit the same to facilitate the acquisition of Portuguese passport.
“I applied for a copy of my grandfather’s birth certificate to establish his relationship as my father’s father. My grandfather was born in the mid-1930s. This, along with my father’s certificate, will be given to an agent to complete the process of obtaining Portuguese passport. Despite my reluctance, I have decided to seek employment in London to improve my financial prospects and support my family,” said an applicant.
He further said, “Initially, I attempted to start a small carpentry business with government assistance, but the excessive formalities and financial difficulties discouraged me from pursuing the path.”
