The Portuguese Parliament has preliminarily approved a bill that limits opportunities for foreigners to legalise their stay. The document is part of the immigration law reform.
Amy Castro, Investment Migration Expert, explains what changes await applicants and which ways remain to move to Portugal faster.
Context
Bill No. 75/XVII has passed its first vote in Parliament[1]Source: Bill 75/XVII/1, Parliament of Portugal. It will now be reviewed by the relevant committee. Parliament members will be able to propose amendments, after which the document will return to the plenary session for the final vote.
The new rules are expected to come into force in July 2026. Some residence permit procedures will become stricter.
New conditions for students of professional courses
Currently, foreigners can enter Portugal on a tourist visa, enrol in professional courses, and apply for a residence permit. The new bill cancels this opportunity.
Previously, foreigners who were already in Portugal could legalise their stay if they had a job or another ground under the manifestação de interesse, or “expression of interest”, procedure.
In 2025, the government had already announced the cancellation of ways that allowed foreigners to obtain a residence permit after entering the country[2]Source: Immigration law reform, Government of Portugal.
New rules for parents of schoolchildren
A child’s enrolment in a Portuguese school will no longer be an independent ground for parents to legalise their stay. Adult applicants will need another ground for a residence permit, such as:
The only exception will be parents of children with Portuguese citizenship.
New timeframes for applicants
The application processing period may be extended to 120 days. This will be possible only in exceptional cases, for example, if the case requires additional checks. The current standard period is 90 days.
Previously, a delay meant automatic approval of a residence permit. The applicant could demand that a residence card be issued. The new rules cancel this procedure.
Eymi Castro,
Investment Migration Expert
Currently, an application for a Portugal residence permit can be submitted remotely. Documents can also be submitted in person to the AIMA agency, but this option will gradually become a thing of the past. The application status can also be checked online.
The online process simplifies the path to a residence permit. Even if application processing times are extended, foreigners will only need to come to Portugal to submit biometrics.
Immigrant Invest lawyers help choose a suitable way to move to Portugal, taking into account income, family composition, tax plans, and personal goals.
We support the applicant at every stage: from preliminary checks and document preparation to submitting the application and obtaining a residence card.
