December 2, 2025 | 02:36 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Thousands of Israeli citizens formed long lines on Saturday, November 30, 2025, outside the Portuguese Embassy in Tel Aviv. They were there to apply for Portuguese citizenship, according to the Times of Israel.
Queues began forming early in the morning as people registered for a special face-to-face appointment day at the embassy. The initiative was organized to address severe congestion in the online booking system and drew significant attention.
The line stretched from the embassy entrance to the underground parking area, with many applicants seeking citizenship or renewing their Portuguese passports.
Under a law adopted in 2015, Portugal allows Sephardic Jews, whose ancestors were persecuted during the 16th-century Inquisition, to apply for citizenship.
However, due to the high volume of applications, the Portuguese government announced in 2023 that the program had reached its quota and introduced stricter requirements.
Israeli citizens are pursuing Portuguese citizenship for a variety of reasons, including freedom of movement across European Union countries, lower cost of living, easier acceptance into European universities, and reduced tuition fees.
Since Israel launched its military operations in the Gaza Strip in October 2023, applications for second passports have surged. Tens of thousands of Israelis have left the country, and interest in Portuguese citizenship continues to grow.
Mass Exodus and Emigration Trends
Forward News reported that the embassy queues reflect broader emigration pressures across Israel. A 2025 survey by the Israel Democracy Institute found that over 25 percent of Israelis were considering leaving the country. Since 2022, Israel has lost a net total of 125,000 residents.
Officials describe this outflow as a “tsunami” rather than a temporary wave. Requests to renounce resident status in 2024 more than doubled the total recorded between 2015 and 2021.
Sruli Fruchter of Forward News linked this trend to political dissatisfaction, economic uncertainty, and declining public trust in leadership. Discontent surged following the October 7 attack and the prolonged war.
Many considering emigration are young, secular, and liberal, groups viewed as crucial to Israel’s economic and technological future.
Fruchter’s analysis suggests that years of political polarization, judicial overhaul attempts, and the mainstreaming of right-wing politicians have eroded public trust.
Economic instability and a weakening technology sector have further intensified frustration, prompting more citizens to consider leaving the country.
DITYA RASYADIPUTRA
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