The President of the Republic has enacted a decree-law establishing a new visa regime for citizens of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), while expressing "doubts about the expectations" of this new law for foreigners.
"Due to the lack of opposition from a clear majority in the Assembly of the Republic, and despite uncertainties surrounding the expectations of the new legal regime, the President of the Republic has also enacted the decree amending Law No. 23/2007, dated July 4, which governs the entry, stay, exit, and removal of foreigners from Portugal," according to a statement on the official website of the Presidency of the Republic.
The statement explains that this new legal regime aligns with the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2017/2226 of the European Parliament and Council, dated November 30, 2017, and alters the duration of residence permits for citizens of Member States of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP).
Approved in parliament on December 20, 2024, the new legal regime for the entry, stay, exit, and removal of foreigners introduces new visa concessions for CPLP citizens and transitions the Portuguese legal system to incorporate the Entry/Exit System (SES), an automated system to track the entries and exits of non-Schengen citizens. This aims to provide easier access.
With the new legal regime, there will be updated rules for granting visas to citizens of CPLP member states, allowing them easier access to Portugal. They will be able to apply for a temporary residence permit upon arrival in the country with a short-stay visa.
According to the text approved by parliament, "When the applicant is covered by the CPLP Agreement and holds a short-stay visa or has legal entry into national territory, they may request a temporary residence permit."
For Timorese citizens, they can enter Portugal as tourists and then apply for a residence permit. Other CPLP citizens will need to present visas upon entry and then apply for residence permits.
The new regulations also establish deadlines for the departure of citizens in Portugal without legal status, giving them between 10 and 20 days to voluntarily leave the country.
While the new law aimed to create a National Unit for Foreigners and Borders within the PSP and alter the foreigner return process, parliament rejected this proposal.
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