On October 16, the Portuguese Republic enacted the new Portuguese Immigration Law (Aliens Act), introducing significant changes to the regulations governing international immigration. The reform has raised numerous questions and concerns among sector professionals and interested citizens.
We will analyze the main modifications introduced by the new law, focusing on the most relevant issues and their implications for workers, companies, and non-EU citizens. To clarify the legislative developments, we will examine the most critical aspects and opportunities arising from this reform, in order to better understand how these changes will affect immigration policies and the economic and social context in Portugal.
Expiration of residence permits
According to recent statements from representatives of AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum), the right of residence remains valid for six months after the expiration of the residence document. For those who have not yet submitted their renewal application, an irregular migration situation will only be considered in the following cases:
- For permits expiring up to 30/06/2025, it will be possible to reside legally until April 15, 2026.
- For permits expiring after 30/06/2025, it will be possible to reside legally for another six months from the permit’s expiration date.
The six-month period is deemed sufficient to complete the renewal process at AIMA. However, given the high volume of applications and possible organizational challenges within the Agency, citizens who have not yet scheduled an appointment for their residence permit renewal are strongly advised to do so as soon as possible to avoid inconveniences, irregular status, or even rejection of the application.
The new visa for highly qualified job seekers: what has changed?
The recent reform of immigration legislation has caused concern among non-EU citizens who were planning to apply for the job-seeking visa in Portugal. This type of authorization was introduced by the government to meet the growing demand for labor, particularly in the hospitality and construction sectors. However, the October amendments have led to the suspension of consular appointments for job-seeking visas, as this permit, previously widely used, has been replaced by the new “highly qualified job seeker visa.”
The Portuguese government has chosen to focus on an economy centered around highly qualified professionals, although it remains unclear which professions will be included in this new category. The publication of a joint ministerial order defining the eligible professions is still pending.
For highly qualified workers choosing Portugal as their destination for job seeking, there will be several benefits. AIMA has announced the creation of a specific department dedicated to the management and processing of these applications. We await further ministerial instructions to fully understand the scope and applicability of these new measures.
More restrictive rules on family reunification
The regulations governing family reunification in Portugal have become more restrictive. Foreign residents will no longer be able to immediately reunite with family members residing abroad; they must now complete a period of two years of continuous legal residence in Portugal before submitting a family reunification application.
However, there are some exceptions to the new regulation:
- Families with minor or dependent children;
- Reunification applications submitted by holders of residence permits for investment, highly qualified professionals, or EU Blue Card holders;
- De facto partners who have lived together abroad for at least 18 months may apply for family reunification after 15 months of legal residence in Portugal.
Nationality
We conclude by referring to the recent reform of the Nationality Law, which introduces new requirements and, in particular, new limitations for obtaining Portuguese citizenship.
For citizenship by residence, the new regulation increases the required period of residence from five to ten years. An exception applies to citizens from Portuguese-speaking countries, for whom the requirement is set at seven years.
In the case of children born in Portugal to foreign residents, the parents must have resided legally in the country for at least three years for the child to obtain Portuguese nationality.
Our support
At Feliu N&I, we continuously monitor legislative developments affecting the international mobility of professionals, both in Spain and across the European Union and the world. Our commitment is to ensure that our clients are always informed and able to make strategic decisions based on up-to-date knowledge of current regulations.
We offer our clients a specialized, multidisciplinary team with extensive experience in managing international assignments, visas, and work permits, providing support at every stage of the process to ensure personalized and efficient solutions. At Feliu N&I, our priority is to facilitate professional mobility safely and in full compliance with the law, contributing to our clients’ success in a dynamic global environment.
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