Portugal recently approved a set of changes to immigration legislation that toughens…

Overview

Portugal recently approved a set of changes to immigration legislation that toughens access to the work search visa. Under the new rules, only highly qualified professionals will be able to apply for this type of visa, which excludes thousands of workers in sectors such as hospitality, commerce and construction, areas highly sought after by Brazilians and other immigrants. In addition, there are stricter restrictions on the CPLP visa, requiring candidates to obtain an employment contract before entry and ending the possibility of regularization after arriving in the country as a tourist. These measures are part of a broader effort to favor the entry of highly qualified professionals, while limiting routes used by those seeking internal regularization. Parliament also proposed new requirements for family reunification, which will now only be permitted after two years of legal residence, and toughened the path to Portuguese citizenship, increasing the minimum required residence time from 5 to 7 years for Brazilians.