The President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, promised speed to sanction the changes in the Foreigners Law, approved by Parliament a week ago. One of the main innovations is the creation of new work visas that benefit Brazilians and other citizens of the CPLP (Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries).
“It will be promulgated immediately. I have no doubt, there was no vote against in Parliament and had an overwhelming majority voting in favor. It represents a national consensus”, justified the head of state on Thursday afternoon (28), in a statement. published in the newspaper Expresso.
The expectation is that the text approved by the deputies will reach the Palace of Belém by the beginning of next week. After the presidential sanction, the text will still need to be published in the Diário da República, the Portuguese Official Gazette, before it enters into force.
The project for a broad change in the regime for foreigners in Portugal was accelerated in Parliament, where it was approved in three rounds on 21 July.
The creation of a special visa for those who want to go to the country to look for a job, an old demand of associations that work with immigration issues, will be the most significant change for Brazilians.
Foreigners will have a period of 120 days, extendable for another 60 days, to get a place. If this does not happen within the established period, immigrants are obliged to leave Portugal and can only make a new application after one year of the expiry date of the previous visa.
Professionals who work remotely for other countries – including digital nomads – were granted a special visa, which will require proof of income earned abroad.
The changes also simplify some bureaucratic processes and make it easier for families to move together.
In an interview with Sheet this week, the minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Ana Catarina Mendes, highlighted the strategic importance of immigration to Portugal.
“We have a problem of demography and the need to revitalize the economy, but above all, as a State and as human beings, we have to respond to those who seek new opportunities in their lives here. misery or the effects of climate change”, he said.
