New Portuguese Law Ends Visa-Free Path to Residency for CPLP Citizens, Mandating Consular Visas
The Portuguese government has approved new legislation that will fundamentally alter the immigration process for citizens of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), including Brazil and Angola. The new law, passed by the Assembly of the Republic in July, eliminates the ability for these nationals to enter Portugal as tourists and subsequently apply for a residence permit from within the country. Under the new regulations, all CPLP citizens seeking to live in Portugal must first obtain an appropriate residence or work visa from a Portuguese consular post in their country of origin.
This legislative change brings an end to the widely used "manifestation of interest" process, which had allowed many individuals, particularly from Brazil, to regularize their status after arriving in Portugal. The Consulate General of Brazil in Lisbon has already issued an alert to its nationals, advising them to pay close attention to the new immigration requirements and to ensure they have all necessary documentation, including the correct visa, before traveling. The previous system, especially for Brazilians and Timorese, permitted visa-free entry for tourism, which was then used as a gateway to apply for residency.
The Portuguese government has defended the measure as a necessary step to control and organize immigration flows. Emídio Sousa, the Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities, conveyed this position to Brazilian officials during a recent visit to Brasília. He stated that the "completely unregulated process" of recent years, which saw a large influx of immigrants, was unsustainable and detrimental to both the new arrivals and the country's infrastructure. "Portugal felt the need to look at the immigration situation with great urgency," Sousa explained, emphasizing that the law aims to create a more orderly system, not to block Brazilian immigration.
The Brazilian government has responded with caution and concern. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through Ambassador Carlos Sérgio Sobral Duarte, stated that it is monitoring the situation "with special attention" and holds the "expectation that any changes will preserve the rights of immigrants." The Brazilian government also reminded Portugal that Portuguese citizens enjoy a "privileged status" in Brazil, implying a desire for reciprocal treatment for the large Brazilian community in Portugal, which is the second largest in the world.
The law is currently awaiting promulgation by the President of the Republic to come into effect. Once enacted, it will standardize the entry requirements for all CPLP nationals, aligning them with the procedures for citizens from most other non-EU countries. The change is expected to have a significant impact on immigration patterns from Portuguese-speaking nations, requiring prospective residents to undergo a more formalized and lengthy application process before they can relocate. The move is part of a broader government strategy to reform its management of immigration amidst growing social and political pressure.
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