Portugal New Immigration Rules: What Businesses Need to Know

Portugal is taking firm steps to reduce immigration and shift its focus toward attracting highly qualified professionals. In a recently approved set of proposals, the government has outlined measures that will significantly affect global mobility, employee immigration, and relocation plans for businesses operating in or sending talent to the country.

Here’s what companies and HR and Global Mobility experts need to keep in mind.

A clear preference for highly qualified professionals

The government’s goal is to reduce the overall number of immigrants entering Portugal, particularly those coming for jobs in sectors like hospitality and construction. Moving forward, the focus will be on attracting highly qualified professionals.

One of the most immediate changes is the restriction of job-seeker visas. These visas were mainly requested by nationals from Portuguese-speaking countries looking for work in sectors that don’t require high levels of qualification. Under the new rules, only professionals with higher qualifications will be allowed to apply.

Similarly, citizens of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) will no longer be able to request their permits after arriving in Portugal without a visa. This affects individuals from countries such as Brazil and Timor-Leste who had been planning to regularize their stay once already in the country.

Faster processing for qualified talent

Professionals considered highly qualified will be given advantages within the immigration system. A dedicated department will be created within AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo) to speed up processing for these cases. Partnerships with universities and large companies are also planned to support this talent-focused strategy.

The goal for these incentives is to make Portugal more competitive in attracting skilled international talent, supporting long-term economic goals like wage growth and increased investment in high-value industries.

This change is expected to affect companies that currently rely on foreign workers to fill lower-skilled roles. The Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, said the market will need to adapt, noting that if businesses continue to depend on roles the government no longer supports through immigration, it may be time to rethink their workforce model.

Stricter Family Reunification rules

The right to family reunification will also face new limits. Except in certain cases — including family members of EU citizens and holders of investment residence permits — spouses and parents will no longer be allowed to join their family members immediately. Instead, they will need to wait two full years and make their request through consular channels from outside the country.

The government says this change is needed to avoid overwhelming public services like healthcare, housing, and education, which are already under pressure. An exception will be made for highly qualified professionals, as well as applicants for residence through investment and EU citizens' families. These groups will be exempt from the two-year waiting period.

For corporate immigration teams, this change could impact how companies plan for employee relocation packages that involve accompanying family members.

Nationality Law Overhaul

Beyond visas and immigration controls, Portugal is also proposing major amendments to its nationality law. Highlights include:

• Residency requirements for citizenship: Increased from five to ten years for most applicants. Portuguese-speaking nationals will face a reduced requirement of seven years.
• Children born in Portugal: At least one parent must have resided legally in the country for three years before applying for nationality on behalf of their child.
• Loss of nationality: Proposed for individuals convicted of serious crimes with sentences exceeding five years.
• End of nationality by Sephardic Jewish descent: This historic program is being closed under the updated rules.

These changes will apply retroactively to applications submitted after June 19, 2024.

AIMA backlog continues

Portugal’s immigration agency, AIMA, is already facing a serious backlog. There are now over 54,000 legal cases brought by immigrants awaiting decisions on residence permits. Just six judges are assigned to handle these cases, significantly delaying outcomes.

The government has acknowledged this pressure and says the new rules are partly intended to prevent future overload. By limiting applications and setting clearer requirements, they hope to reduce the current strain on services and avoid the legal limbo many applicants have found themselves in.

This situation adds to the urgency for businesses to rethink their global mobility strategies and work with experienced immigration partners who understand the evolving rules and can help reduce uncertainty.

What this means for business immigration

For companies involved in global mobility or looking to hire international talent, these changes signal a more selective approach to corporate immigration in Portugal. Employers will need to focus on hiring qualified professionals who match the new criteria and work with immigration experts to manage compliance under the updated rules.

As the situation evolves, staying informed and adjusting your relocation strategies will be essential to keeping your workforce plans on track.

For expert local support, talk to our team.