PORTUGAL IS MOVING TOWARD AN INCREASINGLY RESTRICTIVE IMMIGRATION SCENARIO

On May 7, the Portuguese Council of Ministers approved a bill that once again amends Portugal’s Immigration Law. Among the announced changes, one of the most significant is the end of the possibility of applying for a student residence permit from within Portugal after entering the country as a tourist.

According to the official statement, a prior consular visa will now be required in order to obtain a student residence permit, representing another restriction on internal regularization pathways in the country.

In practice, this mechanism had been widely used by many immigrants as a way to regularize their status while already living in Portugal, functioning as a kind of “new expression of interest,” especially for individuals who entered Portugal as tourists and later sought legal residency through studies.

Although the bill still needs parliamentary approval, the current scenario clearly demonstrates the tightening of Portuguese immigration policies.

In recent months, Dutra & Ferrari has observed a significant increase in:

• residence permit rejections

• notifications for voluntary departure

• difficulties scheduling appointments with AIMA

• sudden legislative changes

• deportation proceedings and administrative litigation

The situation is particularly concerning for students and individuals currently living in Portugal without a valid residence permit, as the possibilities for regularization are gradually becoming more limited.

For this reason, anyone who may qualify for legal regularization or immigration relief should act quickly and cautiously.

Today, more than ever, timing has become a critical factor in immigration processes in Portugal.