Legal Update — Portugal Approves Major Changes to Immigration Law

16 July 2025

On 16 July 2025, the Portuguese Parliament approved the final version of Proposal No. 3/XVII/1.ª, introducing substantial amendments to Law no. 23/2007, which governs the entry, stay, and residence of foreign nationals in Portugal.

This reform brings an end to the regularisation mechanism based on manifestação de interesse (expression of interest), imposes new limitations on job-seeker visas and family reunification, and sets a definitive deadline for pending transitional cases.


Key Measures Approved


  • Revocation of the “expression of interest” pathway
    The mechanism that allowed undocumented migrants to regularise their status based on proof of employment and Social Security contributions has been definitively eliminated.


  • Transitional deadline set for pending cases
    Foreign nationals who were registered with Social Security and working as of 3 June 2024 will still be allowed to apply for a residence permit — but must do so by
    31 December 2025, after which the transitional regime will lapse.


  • Stricter requirements for job-seeker visas
    This visa type is now limited to individuals with highly qualified skills, to be defined by ministerial ordinance. If the applicant fails to start employment within the 120-day period, they must leave Portugal and may only reapply after one year.


  • Family reunification conditional on two years of legal residence
    Foreign nationals will only be allowed to apply for family reunification after completing two years of legal residence in Portugal, with exceptions maintained for minor children already residing in the country.


  • Specific regime for vulnerable minors
    Children and young people placed under institutional protection will no longer fall under the general humanitarian residence category and will benefit instead from a visa-exempt residence regime tailored to their situation.


  • New time limits for decisions on residence applications
    The immigration authority (AIMA) must decide on residence applications within
    9 months, with a single possible extension in cases of exceptional complexity.


  • Entry into force
    The law enters into force on the day following its publication in the Official Gazette. It will apply to procedures initiated from that date onward.



At
LVP Advogados, we are closely monitoring the legislative developments affecting immigration in Portugal. We continue to assist individuals, families and companies in navigating this evolving legal landscape with clarity, rigour and strategic guidance.

Should you require legal advice on how these changes may affect your case or future plans in Portugal, please do not hesitate
to contact our team.

11 July 2025
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.
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