A New Pathway for CPLP Citizens to Work in Portugal: What's Next?

Introduction

The streamlined process for CPLP citizens to obtain residency in Portugal is currently waiting for regulation before it can be fully implemented. This "green pathway" will allow citizens from Portuguese-speaking countries to work in Portugal, but only once the necessary rules are established.

Current Status

In an interview with the Diário de Notícias, the Secretary of State for the Presidency, Rui Armindo Freitas, confirmed that no specific dates have been set for when this CPLP channel will become operational. He emphasized that it will not be a new expression of interest. "This possibility will only see the light of day once it is properly regulated, and that is what we are working on," he stated.

Legal Framework

According to Article 75 of the law, citizens from CPLP countries with a short-term visa or those who have legally entered Portugal can apply for a temporary residency permit. While Brazilians and Timorese citizens can apply without a visa due to bilateral agreements, they must still adhere to other regulations like other citizens from Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, and São Tomé.

Recent Developments

Recently, a decree-law took effect that modifies the validity of CPLP visas, aligning them with other residency permits. This change includes transitioning from a paper A4 document to a card format. The Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA) is set to begin processing around 220,000 applications for CPLP residency in order of submission, with initial appointments expected to start next week.

Government’s Position

While the migration department has not confirmed whether a new regulation will be presented soon, the Secretary of State indicated ongoing work on it. The Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, highlighted the necessity of this regulation, clarifying that it will not resemble a previous expression of interest regime.

Conclusion

The anticipated CPLP channel will not be operational immediately, according to Armindo Freitas. He advised that anyone wishing to work in Portugal should arrive with the appropriate visa for their intended activity until clearer guidelines are established. Despite assurances that this does not represent a new expression of interest, the potential for CPLP citizens, especially Timorese and Brazilians, to apply for residency without a work visa resembles the previous regime that was deemed too lenient by the government. The upcoming regulation is expected to clarify the circumstances under which this new pathway can be utilized and its limitations.

Background

Since June, the government has introduced stricter immigration measures, requiring individuals to apply for work visas at consulates. The previous expression of interest regime allowed individuals without a work visa to request residency if they had contributed to Social Security for 12 months, which the government considered to have opened the floodgates to immigration.

The CPLP visas have been in place since March 2023 for those who expressed interest in 2021 or 2022, but they did not grant the same privileges as regular residency permits, such as travel within the Schengen Area.