(Just a few of the places where Portugalist has been mentioned)
On 30 September 2025, Portugal’s Parliament approved a sweeping reform of the Foreigners Law. The new measures mark a major tightening of immigration rules, with decisive backing from the far-right Chega party and other right-wing factions.
The law now awaits presidential sanction and publication in the Diário da República before it takes effect, but here’s what’s changing — and what it means for you.
Important Pointers
Before we continue, there are a few things to be aware of.
- This refers to the immigration law, but the citizenship law changes (10 years, new tests, ancestry tweaks, Sephardic route ending) are still being debated. Watch this space as we will be covering this (this is the one everyone is waiting for).
- The final text of both laws hasn’t been published in full yet, so exact details remain unclear. Even after parliamentary approval, measures can still be:
- Challenged in the Constitutional Court.
- Sent back by the President before signing.
- Subject to delays in regulation (months before practical enforcement).
Key Changes in the New Law
We’ve cut through the noise to find the main changes that would affect Portugalist readers.
1. Family Reunification
Family Reunification
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss immigrants (those who move on a residency visa like the D7 or Digital Nomad Visa) must complete two years of legal residence before they can apply to bring family members through family reunification (D6).
Exceptions:
- Children under 18
- Dependents with disabilities
- Couples who can prove they were together for at least a year before moving
Portugalist Take: In reality, most couples and families move to Portugal at the same time — it’s rarer for one person to move to Portugal and then apply for family reunification for the other family members after.
In some cases, however, someone may move to Portugal to get everything setup while the other person stays back to sell the house or continue working. This will affect couples that are planning to do this. Two years is a very long time for a couple or family to be apart.
The exception for children under 18 and those with disabilities is a welcome one.
Couples
Couples must now essentially prove 12 months of being together before being eligible.
Portugalist take: Again, this won’t affect most couples. Most people moving together as a couple will have been with their partner for several years before making such a big decision.
Unmarried couples (those in a defacto union) would still need to show three years of living together (e.g., bills at the same address) to be eligible.
Most people who get married will have been together for at least a year before doing so.
Adequate housing requirement
Applicants must show adequate housing and can no longer rely on social welfare income for residence renewal under family reunification.
Portugalist take: The requirement for adequate housing (deeds to a property or a registered lease with Finanças) has long been a requirement in most instances. This just formalizes that.
Generally speaking, most Portugalist readers don’t rely on social welfare income for residence renewal.
2. Job Search Visas
- These visas are now limited to highly skilled professionals.
- Broader access for lower-skilled migrants has been eliminated.
Portugalist take: Portugal still offers two job visas (the D1 and the D3) which you can use to move to Portugal. You just need to have a job offer in order to qualify for one of these visas. Finding a job before moving to Portugal can be hard, but in reality, it probably makes sense to move to Portugal with a job offer rather than trying to figure things out when you land.
3. End of the Manifestação de Interesse
- The transitional regime allowing people to obtain residency based on past work and social security contributions is being abolished.
- Pending cases must be filed by 31 December 2025.
Portugalist take: For years, the manifestação de interesse offered a path to regularisation for those already living and working in Portugal. Its removal closes that door, leaving fewer options for those entering without visas.
As mentioned previously, it’s always probably been a better idea to move to a new country (especially one with a limited job market) with a job offer rather than without.
When Will the Law Take Effect?
The law must still be:
- Sanctioned by the President
- Published in the Diário da República
Once that happens, the changes will apply immediately (or very shortly thereafter) to all new procedures.
Final Thoughts from Portugalist
This law marks a clear pivot in Portugal’s immigration policy. The country that once had some of the EU’s most flexible residency and citizenship options is now tightening the rules significantly.
In most cases, this won’t be significant to Portugalist readers. However, there are a few instances (e.g., families thinking about moving separately) where this will require additional planning.
Portugalist’s advice is always to work with an immigration professional when planning a move to Portugal. Doing so means they can help you plan your move to Portugal and avoid getting caught out by any changes to immigration law.