Portugal: Significant Immigration Reforms in Effect

New job seeker visa:  

• In October 2025, the country’s job seeker visa was replaced. This visa had allowed eligible foreign nationals to enter Portugal and look for work.  

• It will be replaced with a still-to-be-implemented “highly skilled work-seeking visa” for highly-qualified professionals that will: 

• The visa will grant eligible foreign nationals 120 days to find employment (which can be extended for 60 days). If they do not find employment, they will be required to leave the country and wait one year before re-applying. 

• The visa will only be valid for Portuguese territory, with no automatic right to Schengen Area access. 

• The visa will only be issued to people who perform what are considered “specialized technical activities,” as established by a still-to-be-announced ministerial order.  

• No applications for this visa can currently be submitted as necessary implementing regulations remain to be established, and it currently remains unclear when the application window will open.  

This reform will have a restrictive effect on Portugal’s immigration landscape. Even when implemented, the replacement job seeker visa will only be available to highly-qualified professionals. 

Family reunification restrictions. In October 2025, the following restrictions, among others, on family reunification went into effect:  

• Minimum residence requirement. Sponsors must now have resided legally in Portugal for at least two years before applying for family reunification, with limited exceptions (e.g., families with minor children). Previously, there was no general minimum residence time (it varied depending on factors including the permit in question and the relationship type) 

• Legal entry requirement. Only family members who have entered and remained in Portugal legally may be eligible for reunification.  

• Enhanced Assessment Criteria. Family unification applications are now subject to more detailed scrutiny, including requirements for adequate housing, sufficient means of subsistence without social security and compliance with integration measures such as Portuguese language acquisition and understanding of constitutional values. 

This reform aims to increase the uptake of the family accompaniment residence visa which guarantees that the principal holds sufficient funds to provide for all family members.  

Removal of “Manifestation of interest” regularization pathway. The “manifestation of interest” regularization pathway was abolished on December 31, 2025. In theory, this pathway allowed non-EU nationals to enter as tourists, find employment, make 12 months of Social Security contributions, and then apply for residence authorization. In practice, individuals still had to wait approximately four years to apply for their residence permit. 

This change in law means foreign nationals must apply for the applicable residence visa in their country of origin in order to reside in Portugal and eliminates a fairly common pathway for foreign nationals to enter Portugal.  

Ineligibility for prior irregular stay. Since October 2025, foreign nationals who have previously entered or remained in Portugal illegally are likely to have their visa applications refused. Previously, visa refusals after illegal stays were possible, but discretionary; now the law clearly states that illegal entry or overstay will lead to a visa refusal for up to seven years.  

This change means that entering or staying in Portugal in irregular status now has clearer legal consequences. While refusals were already possible before, the law now explicitly states that visas should be refused for a defined period, reducing flexibility and increasing the impact of irregular stays on future visa applications.