Man in a suit speaking and pointing during a speech at a podium with the text Limpar Portugal and a blue background with the word Chega repeated — With support from the right-wing party, Portugal's parliament approved a major law against illegal immigration | La Derecha Diario

Camara — With support from the right-wing party, Portugal's parliament approved a major law against illegal immigration | La Derecha Diario

Portugal tightens its migration policy in response to the rise of illegal immigration

Portugal's Parliament has approved a law that allows for a much more rigorous and strict process regarding migration issues

16/07/2025 21:04:00h

Editorial Team

The Parliament of Portugalapproved a tightening of the country's migration policies this Wednesday. The vote was driven by the center-right government led by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, who managed to push the measure forward thanks to the support of the right-wing party Chega.

This temporary parliamentary alliance marks a radical shift in the Portuguese approach to immigration, contrasting with the permissive stance of previous socialist governments.

Among the newly approved provisions, significant restrictions on the visa and residency granting system stand out. From now on, work visas will be limitedexclusively to highly qualifiedimmigrants.

Additionally, the conditions for family reunification have become stricter, making it more difficult for already established immigrants to bring their relatives to legally reside in the country.

Man in a blue suit sitting with his hands clasped and a serious expression in front of a wooden background

The project was promoted by the Social Democratic Party in government | La Derecha Diario

Portugal seeks migration order

One of the communities most affected by the new rules will be the Brazilian community. Until now, Brazilian citizens benefited from a policy that allowed them to obtain residency after their arrival, without the need for a specific visa. This measure has been repealed.

Moreover, Parliament approved the creation of a new unit within the national police, tasked with combating illegal immigration and carrying out deportations of immigrants in irregular situations.

Not all aspects of the reform were approved immediately. One particularly difficult point, which sought to restrictaccess to Portuguese citizenship, was postponed for further debate due to legal concerns about its constitutionality.

People protesting in the street waving Portuguese flags under a sunny sky in a European city

Illegal immigration has been a major problem in Portugal in recent years | La Derecha Diario

Socialist policies are reversed

Since taking office in March 2024, Montenegro's right-wing government has reversed an inherited open-door policy from the previous Socialist Party government.

Thus, a 2018 provision that allowed immigrants to apply for residency after one year of work and social security contributions, even if they had entered the country as tourists, has been revoked. This rule was considered one of the most permissive in Europe regarding migration.

By the end of 2024, Portugal had approximately 1.55 million foreign residents (3,417,165 people), representing about 15% of the total population and quadrupling the figure recorded in 2017, according to official data.

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