Portugal tightens the rules for the entry of migrants into the country: these are the changes

The program includes 41 measures and the main one is the end of the “expressions of interest” regime, which according to the Executive allows the permanent regularization of those who enter illegally and which “has been used as an open door”.

In practice, this system made it possible to arrive in Portugal with a tourist visa and then apply for residency, or legalize the situation of immigrants who had at least one year of Social Security contributions.

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There will be a transitional regime for applications that have been submitted before this legislative modification.

Foreigners will need, from now on, to process work visas in their countries of originso the capacity of Portuguese consular posts abroad “considered a priority” will be strengthened.

Among these are those from the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), who will have more facilities than foreigners of other origins, due to their “comparative ease of linguistic, professional, social and cultural integration.”

The special visa for CPLP citizens will be extended and Their holders will be allowed to move freely through the Schengen area.
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Family reunification situations, young students and qualified professionals will also have priority.

Montenegro defended that Portugal needs more human capital “in almost all sectors of activity” and they are not going to close the door to those looking for an opportunity in the country not only because of “humanism”, but also because of “pragmatism”.

For this reason, the “labor needs” of Portugal will be studied to “align the supply and demand” of foreign workers and have a scheduled reception.
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“We have to have rules,” insisted the prime minister, who nevertheless wanted to make it clear that “there is no direct relationship between the increase in immigrants and the increase in crime.”

Portugal has seen the arrival of immigrants grow exponentially in recent years and, recently, restructured its border service following the death of a Ukrainian citizen at Lisbon airport.

These two factors have caused the new entity in charge of regularizations, the Agency for Migration and Asylum Integration (AIMA), to accumulate more than 400,000 pending processes and long queues in its offices.
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To unblock the situation, the Executive is going to create a temporary structure to speed up the procedures and respond to them, and is going to restructure the AIMA.

A specific unit will also be created in the Public Security Police (PSP) dedicated to border control and inspection in national territory.and a team made up of different forces to combat networks of human trafficking, exploitation and aid to illegal immigration.

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The Migration Plan will also reinforce the temporary stay and reception centers for refugees and unaccompanied minors.