“Given the lack of opposition from a clear majority in the Assembly of the Republic, and despite doubts about the expectations that precede the new legal regime, the President of the Republic also promulgated the decree that amends Law No. 23/2007, of July 4, which approves the legal regime for the entry, stay, exit and removal of foreigners from the national territory”, says the note published on the official website of the Presidency of the Republic.

The note indicates that this new legal regime proceeds “with the implementation in the internal legal system of Regulation (EU) 2017/2226 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 30 November 2017, and modifying the temporal validity of residence permits for citizens of Member States of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries”.

The new legal regime for the entry, stay, exit and removal of foreigners from the national territory, approved in parliament on December 20, 2024, establishes a new concession of visas for CPLP citizens and makes the transition to the Portuguese legal system of the entry into operation of the Entry/Exit System (SES), an automated computer system for recording the entries and exits of citizens from outside the Schengen area.

Easier access

With this new legal regime, there will be new rules for granting visas to citizens of CPLP member states, who will have easier access to Portugal and will be able to apply for a temporary residence permit when they arrive in the country with a short-stay visa.

“When the applicant is covered by the CPLP Agreement and holds a short-stay visa or has legal entry into national territory, he or she may request a temporary residence permit,” according to the text approved in parliament.

In the case of Timorese, they can enter Portugal as tourists and then apply for a residence permit. In relation to other CPLP citizens, they must present visas upon entering the country and then apply for residence permits.

The new rules also set deadlines for the departure process of citizens who are in Portugal in an irregular situation, who now have between 10 and 20 days to leave the country voluntarily.

Under this new law, the Government intended to create the new National Unit for Foreigners and Borders within the PSP and change the regime for returning foreigners, but parliament rejected the proposal.