Wednesday, June 5, 2024 Portugal ‘s government plans to create new visa priorities for individuals from Portuguese-speaking countries, students, and high-skill workers. Under the new regulations, most foreigners will be required to obtain a work visa before arriving in Portugal, marking a departure from the current practice where individuals can enter on a tourist visa and subsequently apply for a residence permit after securing employment. The announcement came from Presidency Minister Antonio Leitao Amaro during a press conference near Lisbon following a cabinet meeting where the plan received approval.
Leitao Amaro emphasised the necessity of regulated immigration, highlighting that rules without proper supervision can lead to uncertainty and challenging conditions for many immigrants. This policy shift comes in response to a dramatic rise in the number of foreign residents in Portugal. Government data reveals a 33% increase in 2023, with the foreign population reaching a record one million, accounting for about 10% of the country’s total population.
Immigrants from countries such as India, Nepal, and Bangladesh are expected to be most affected by these changes. To address the 400,000 pending regularisation processes, the government will hire more staff and establish a special task force. Portugal has become an increasingly attractive destination for various reasons.
One of the key factors is its high quality of life combined with a relatively low cost of living compar.
