New measures facilitate entry for foreign workers and their families, CPLP citizens, higher education students and digital nomads.

The Government announced this Wednesday several legislative changes to make it easier and faster for immigrants to obtain visas to enter Portugal, for foreign workers and their families, CPLP citizens, higher education students and digital nomads.

The quotas for the entry of immigrants into Portugal are over and a new type of visa is created: the work-seeker visa.

The measures were announced, in a press conference at the end of the Council of Ministers, by the Minister of State and Parliamentary Affairs, Ana Catarina Mendes, who is in charge of migration

In relation to the Gold Visas, and the reported lack of regulation that is paralyzing the requests for this type of entry into the country, the Secretary of State of the Presidency André Moz Caldas explained that for the Government the current legislation is fine as it is.

André Moz Caldas assured journalists that the chaos in health and the contingency plan announced by Minister Marta Temido was not discussed by the Council of Ministers. The question was put several times to the Secretary of State, who always gave the same answer.

Learn about the changes in the granting of entry visas to Portugal

New visa for seeking work. It allows the entry into Portuguese territory of nationals from foreign states who come to look for work for a period of 120 days, extendable for a further 60 days, for a total of 180 days.

The quota regime for residence visas for subordinate work is definitively eliminated.

Residence visa facilitation for foreign students attending higher education in Portugal. The SEF's prior opinion for this type of visa is now waived, provided that the applicant has already been admitted to a higher education institution in Portugal.

Digital nomads. A temporary stay visa and a residence visa for the exercise of subordinate or independent activity will now be granted to professionals who work remotely outside national territory. A residence or temporary stay visa will be granted to digital nomads.

In addition, procedures are simplified and the validity of documents is increased, the European Union regulations regarding the establishment, operation and use of Shengen information, which in 2018 dictated the reconfiguration of the second generation Shengen system, are implemented in the national legal order.

Regarding the residence permit for British beneficiaries of the Brexit agreement with the EU, it is now foreseen that public entities that collect biometric data will be able to issue the British Citizen Card.

It is now also foreseen that temporary stay or residence visas will have the purpose of accompanying family members. "Until now, a foreign citizen would come to Portugal and only later, when the process was regularized, would it be possible for the family to come. Now this barrier is eliminated and the whole family can come together to Portugal while the members of the couple look for work," explains Ana Catarina Mendes.

Citizens of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP). Facilitation of the granting of short-term temporary stay visas and residence visas. Consulates can directly consult the Shengen information system.

Under the CPLP agreement, for temporary stays and residence visas for foreign citizens, the SEF's prior opinion is waived.

Citizens covered by the CPLP's labor mobility agreement who are already in national territory are provided with the possibility of applying for a temporary residence permit in national territory.

It is also foreseen that holders of a temporary stay visa or who have legally entered national territory may apply for a CPLP residence permit.

Source: (RR)