Early elections in Portugal after 2022 budget rejection
6 December 2021
The Portuguese Government missed having its 2022 budget approved by the majority of the Members of Parliament. For that reason, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the Portuguese President, dissolved the left-wing Parliament and called for early legislative elections on the 30th January 2022 (Sunday).
Although the state budget had been closely discussed with other left-wing parties, in the end these did not approve the budget and, with a minority stake of the Parliament, the Socialist Party led by António Costa since 2015, failed to have it approved last October. With no conditions to rule, dissolving the Parliament and scheduling new elections next year was the only way for the Head of State to move forward.
Foreigner citizens can be entitled to vote in Portugal, by complying with certain criteria that can be found by clicking here.
European Union citizens planning to stay in Portugal for over three months (90 days) must apply for a Certificado de Registo de Cidadão da União Europeia (CRUE).
Bringing children under Portugal’s ARI scheme is a strategic step that strengthens family unity while paving the way toward long-term citizenship and legal security.
Portugal remains one of the EU’s most accessible and welcoming countries, consistently attracting foreign nationals who seek residency and a fresh start.
A new National Unit for Foreigners and Borders (UNEF) has been created within the Public Security Police (PSP), taking over key responsibilities from the former SEF. UNEF will handle airport border control, visa issuance, foreign nationals oversight, and related operations.
If you invested €500,000 in property or used an outdated Golden Visa path and were approved before the cutoff, you're now seen as an Immigrant Entrepreneur.
Due to stricter AL rules in urban Portugal, many owners now turn to short-term residential leases to earn legal rental income outside tourist accommodation laws.
On 16 July 2025, the Portuguese Parliament approved major changes to the legal framework governing immigration (Law no. 23/2007). The reform ends the manifestação de interesse mechanism, tightens rules for job-seeker visas and family reunification, and sets a final deadline for transitional applications.
The Portuguese Parliament has decided to postpone the vote on the proposed amendments to the Nationality Law until September 2025. The decision was taken in a meeting of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees, following pressure from several political parties who requested more time to assess the implications of the proposed reform. The delay allows for additional hearings with legal experts, immigrant associations and civil society representatives before a final vote is held in plenary session. The proposed reform introduces significant changes to the current legal framework for acquiring Portuguese nationality. Among the most impactful measures is the extension of the minimum legal residence period required before applying for naturalisation. Under the new proposal, this period would increase from the current five years to seven years for nationals of CPLP countries (Community of Portuguese Language Countries), and to ten years for applicants from all other countries. Another major change concerns the introduction of mechanisms to revoke Portuguese nationality . According to the proposal, naturalised citizens who are convicted of serious crimes — defined as those resulting in prison sentences of five years or more , within ten years of acquiring nationality — could see their Portuguese citizenship revoked by a court decision, based on a proposal from the Public Prosecutor’s Office. In addition, the reform would tighten the requirements for acquiring original Portuguese nationality through birth in Portugal. For children born in Portuguese territory to foreign parents, it would become mandatory that at least one parent has been residing legally in Portugal for a minimum of three years , instead of the current two years. Although the government initially intended to approve these changes before the summer recess, political consensus has not yet been reached. Left-wing parties have raised concerns regarding the constitutionality of retroactive revocation of nationality and the potential impact on the rights of long-term residents and immigrant communities in Portugal. In response, the parliamentary committee agreed to postpone the process and schedule a new round of expert hearings in early September. A final vote on the reform is now expected to take place later that month. Until then, the current version of the Nationality Law remains in force , including the five-year legal residence requirement for naturalisation. Applicants who meet this requirement and wish to apply under the current rules may still do so in the coming weeks.
Law No. 53/2023 transposes the EU Blue Card Directive into Portuguese law, improving conditions for highly skilled non-EU nationals to live and work in the EU.
Hiring a contractor in Portugal should be simple, but unmet terms can lead to financial loss and legal issues, especially for clients unfamiliar with local rules.