Back in June 2024, the Portuguese government introduced a new Plan to mitigate the country’s current migration situation. The plan tackled several points of interest, including, but not limited to the extension of the Portuguese passport’s validity and a possible revamp of the Golden Visa programme. Some of the policies are already starting to produce interesting results for the Portuguese immigration landscape, giving indication that the government’s aim to improve the quality and speed in the services provided for expats will bring a positive outcome.
Residency Applications in Portugal Fall Around 80%
One of the Portuguese Migration Plan’s hottest points of contention was the repeal of the “Manifestação de Interesse” or Expression of Interest via Policy nº1.
This Expression of Interest essentially allowed immigrants that had arrived on a tourist visa to transition into Residency through a specific mechanism. Speaking on a panel entitled “Sovereign Portugal,” the Minister for the Presidency, Mr. António Leitão Amaro, stated that: “(...) We needed to close some of the wide door policies and so, just a few weeks into our term, we made the most difficult decision straight away and close that gigantic gated called expression of interest. To give you an idea, since we made that decision, the number of applications for residency has fallen by around 80%.”
Since it is no longer an option, anyone seeking Portuguese Residency, including prospective Golden Visa & D2 Visa investors, must apply beforehand. This particular update reflects the new Portuguese government’s doubled efforts in curbing irregular immigration and facilitate the legal migration process.
Creation of a New Borders and Foreigners Unit
Continuing the trend of taking action when executing the Migration Plan, the Portuguese government also announced the formal creation, in late September 2024, of a new National Unit for Borders and Foreigners under PSP (Polícia de Segurança Pública - Public Security Police). This particular action had already been formalised in the Migration Plan’s Policy nº33. This new taskforce unit will be exclusively dedicated to returning and removing foreign nationals who currently reside illegally in the country.
On the matter at hand, the Minister for Presidency, Mr. António Leitão Amaro commented the following during a press conference after a meeting of the Council of Ministers: “One of the tragic mistakes of the previous government in terms of migration was the way in which SEF [Borders and Foreigners Service] was abolished. There was a void in the return, in the removal of illegal citizens, in the lack of supervision and in a lot of entry control tasks. We had promised, and today we are delivering, with the creation of the National Unit for Borders and Foreigners.”
The Portuguese PSP, which works mostly in the big urban areas, will work in tandem with GNR (Guarda Nacional Republica – National Republican Guard), Portugal’s gendarmerie police force, whose jurisdiction falls more so on the Portuguese countryside to remove and return illegal foreigners living in Portugal. Besides the new Unit, a wholly new regime for the expulsion of illegal aliens will be drafted and sent to Parliament for appreciation.
This will also affect any and all foreign nationals coming from the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, (CPLP), including Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Mozambique, revealing there is no preference being given. “If any foreign citizen is in an illegal situation, that is, because they did not take advantage of or could not fulfil any of the requirements, if they are in an illegal situation they all have the same fate, they are treated as equals before the law,” said the Minister.
New Immigration Policies, New Difficulties?
The enactment of these policies reflect a common theme: stopping and preventing illegal immigration to Portugal. However, on all occasions, the Portuguese government have supported and defended that Portugal needs skilled labour force, and actively continues making itself attractive for foreign investment.
The Minister for Presidency, Mr. António Amaro Leitão, said that “Portugal needs immigrant workers and needs those that may truly be escaping from situations of humanitarian aggression,” highlighting that these moves by the government are to tackle the waves of irregular immigration. What this means is: foreign nationals seeking to move to Portugal by legally obtaining Residency will face no issue whatsoever and will find the country with its arms wide open and ready to receive them.
In fact, the Portuguese government and AIMA are already hard at work to regularise expats & immigrants who have legally requested for Residency, having recently enlisted the help of the Portuguese Bar Association and the Order of Solicitors and Enforcement Agents to handle the current backlog of pending cases.
Getting Residency by Investment via programmes like the Golden Visa or the D2 Visa are and will continue to be an excellent, legal mechanisms to obtain residency in Portugal. Let us not forget: the June 2024 Migration Plan, which is now starting to produce results, included the expansion of the Golden Visa programme with a new option, Furthermore, the government is currently considering bringing back the Non-Habitual Residency (NHR) regime status.
With Portugal’s evolving immigration landscape, if you are seeking long-term residency and looking to establish yourself in Portugal, you may find in the Golden Visa and D2 routes the best way to achieve it. Residency by Investment provides a more structured and steadfast pathway and remain completely unaffected by the new actions being taken by the Portuguese government.
Why You Should Choose Portugal Homes as Your Residency Partner
The best time to apply for Portuguese Residency was yesterday, and the second-best time is now. Currently, the situation is stable for the Residency by Investment programmes, but this should not be taken for granted. While it is unlikely that any significant upheaval could occur in the near future, it is always best to play it safe.
The truth is that getting Portuguese Residency and Citizenship, either through the Golden Visa or the D2 Visa is a rather uncomplicated, albeit a bureaucratic, lengthy process. Not to mention, there are factors always that are out of control and that can lead to delays. It is something you can do on your own, but why worry and stress about it when someone else can do it for you?
Portugal Homes leads the Portuguese Real Estate & Residency by Investment market, and our teams are composed both by Portuguese, who have lived in Portugal all their lives, and by expats who have decided to make Portugal their home. This combination of unique experiences props Portugal Homes as the best partner you can find to provide the tailored, custom-made support you need to successfully navigate the Portuguese immigration landscape and obtain Portuguese Residency & Citizenship. Besides, we are proud to claim we have never had a Residency application rejected.
