Report on Citizenship Law: Portugal had been destroyed due to wars or revolutions.104 Nevertheless, there are still many problems for obtaining documents from the authorities of the countries of origin-105 Due to these procedural arrangements, the waiting time for the acquisition procedures was substantially reduced, from an average of two years to six months (regarding adults) and three months (regarding minors).106 Art. 40 of the Nationality Regulation allows the possibility of creating extensions of reception centres of the Central Registry Office along with other public authorities. One of them has already been created in the National Immigrant Support Centre. Art. 40 also provides for the negotiation of protocols between the Directorate General of Registry and Notaries and other entities, such as private associations, for the purpose of providing information on the applications for acquisition and loss of citizenship and transmission of the respective statements to the Central Registry Office. The purpose of this norm is to involve the recognised associations of immigrants, which are closer to their communities in Portugal.107 Regarding the Portuguese language test required for naturalisation, a system managed by the Minister of Education has been created, which includes an Internet site108 where potential citizens can find information about the places and dates where the language test will take place, to register for the test and to consult the results. The proof of holding Portuguese citizenship The acquisition of citizenship at birth for the descendants of Portuguese born in Portugal or abroad (if their father or mother are serving the Portuguese state), of those born in Portugal without a citizenship (or foundlings), and of those who were born in Portugal to foreign citizens who were residing legally in Portugal for two years is proven by the evidence of the birth record at the civil registry (art. 21(1) of the Nationality Act). Acquisition of citizenship at birth for the descendants of Portuguese born abroad, if their birth was registered at the Portuguese civil registry, is proven by the birth record at the civil registry or by the registry of the declaration required for the acquisition (art. 21(3)). The acquisition of citizenship for immigrants of the third generation is also proven by a birth record in the civil registry, which mentions that one of the parents was born and resides in Portugal (art. 21(4)). Acquisition of citizenship after birth by expression of intent (spousal and filial transfer) or through naturalisation, as well as the loss and reacquisition of citizenship are proved by the register (art. 22(1) of the Nationality Act). This registration is no longer made upon the request of the parties concerned. It is instead made by an entry or by registering an attachment to their birth records (art. 19 of the Nationality Act and art. 48 of the Nationality Regulation). Registration therefore plays a key role within the system of citizenship law. It allows the Portuguese state to know who their nationals are, and it allows those concerned to prove their possession of Portuguese citizenship (Ramos 1992: 206; Reis 1990: 48). 104 State Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, meeting of the Consultative Council for Immigration Affairs of 31 October 2006, ACIME. With regard to the impossibility of providing a registration of birth, the Nationality Regulation allows the mechanism of birth inscription, which is made during the nationality procedure itself (art. 9 of the Nationality Regulation). 105 Healey 2011: 97. 106 Healey 2011: 97. 107 State Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, meeting of the Consultative Council for Immigration Affairs of 31 October 2006, ACIME. 108 http://www.provalinguaportuguesa.gov.pt. RSCAS/GLOBALCIT-CR 2020/1 - © 2020 Author 35