New Residence Permit Rules come into force

The decree-law that changes the rules for immigration in Portugal, within the framework of the Action Plan, has been in force since midnight on June 4, following its publication in the Diário da República. The “revocation of residence permit procedures based on expressions of interest” is consummated.

The decree-law now in force amends Law no. 23/2007, of July 4, revoking residence permit procedures based on expressions of interest.

The government felt that the possibility of regularizing immigrants who were not in possession of a consular residence visa was an ill-considered measure that ended up undermining the principles assumed by Portugal and its European partners in the Schengen area. There was an amendment to the 2017 law that allowed people to regularize their stay in Portugal by exercising a subordinate or independent professional activity, without a valid visa, through an expression of interest. A new amendment to articles 88 and 89, introduced in 2019, allowed the regularization of immigrants with “a situation regularized before Social Security for at least 12 months”.

Once in Portuguese territory, immigrants could enter the “general regime for obtaining residence permits, with the registration of an expression of interest and the mere promise of a work contract being sufficient for this purpose”. This is no longer possible, although the situation of foreign citizens who have already started residence permit procedures under those instruments is safeguarded.

It was considered urgent to reverse this situation, combat illegal immigration routes and improve legal immigration channels, so that foreign citizens are protected during the regularization and documentation process in Portugal and the country once again becomes an example of good practice in welcoming and integrating foreign citizens.

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