Between January and August 2024, Portugal granted 22,121 job seeker visas, and 9,262 work permits according to data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MNE). This represents a 65% increase compared to the same period in 2023 when 13,429 visas were approved for job seeker visas and 15% for work permits.
Increase in Work-Specific Visas
In the first eight months of 2024, there was a 15% rise in work-specific visas, with 9,262 work visas issued compared to the same period in the previous year. This highlights a growing demand for foreign labor in Portugal.
Government Policies Impacting Visa Issuance
Despite the overall increase in immigrant entries and visa approvals earlier this year, new government policies have led to a decline in visa issuance in the months following their announcement from June to August.
In June 2024, the Portuguese prime minister introduced the Plan of Action for Migration, aimed at opening the country’s borders while ensuring greater control over skilled migration. One major change was the elimination of the “manifestation of interest” mechanism, which allowed foreign citizens to express their intention to work in Portugal before obtaining a visa.
As a result, those seeking employment in Portugal are now required to obtain a work visa from Portuguese consulates in their home countries prior to traveling, shifting the responsibility from the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA) to consulates.
Decline in Visa Issuance Following the Action Plan
In the three months following the introduction of the Action Plan, there has been a significant decline in the average number of visas issued.
Work-seeking visas saw a 24% decrease in monthly issuances, falling from an average of 1,666 in 2023 to 1,266 in 2024 (from June to August same period in both years).
Work visas experienced a similar drop, with the monthly average falling from 1,080 in 2023 to 733 following the policy changes.
Sharp Decline Compared to Early 2024
When comparing the three months following the Action Plan’s implementation with the first five months of 2024, the drop in visa issuance becomes even more pronounced. The average number of work search visas issued per month plummeted from 3,664 to 1,266.
It remains unclear whether the reduction in work search and work visas reflects a true decline in immigration to Portugal, a decrease in demand for labor, or simply inefficiencies in consulate processing.
What is the new Action Plan for Migration?
On June 3, Portugal’s cabinet introduced a decree aimed at tightening immigration policies. This proposal was abruptly approved by the country’s president and subsequently published in the official gazette. The government unveiled 42 new measures designed to manage migration flows more effectively.
Under the “Immigration Law 59/2017 Articles 81, 88, and 89”, which allowed immigrants who had been employed for at least a year and were contributing to social security to legalize their status, were repealed. Consequently, the legalization process through these articles is no longer possible. Anyhow, the applications submitted, and files locked before this date will be considered under the old law.