Portuguese immigration board SEF has finally implemented the new immigration law “New Regulation Act for Alianes Act”. This includes article 88, article 123, work visas, student visa, investment visa, startup visa, and job-seeking visa.
“Fast processing of applications submitted for residence permit and renewals. The residence permit system has been simplified”.
The government approved this law on 26.10.2019 in Portuguese cabinet and it is very similar to the Socialist Party’s program except for the thematical traditional organizations by the ministries that issued the programs according to the previous Portuguese government.
Easy regulations for foreigners
1- Foreign nationals already working in Portugal
Good news for illegal immigrants. Those who do not have supporting evidence of the legal entry in the country (Portugal), but comply with all the remainder requirements established in the law, and are working in Portugal for over one year, with contributions to Social Security (means who have been paying taxes for the last 12 months), may benefit from the exceptional regime for humanitarian reasons for a residence permit. According to latest news, the new residence permit will be of 2 years of duration instead of one. This new act will help applicants to apply for a legal residence in Portugal and enjoying the rights of article 88 instead of article 123. According to experts, the new law will help them to gain the residency after paying a tax for the continuous 12 months.
2- Foreign students from Portuguese-speaking countries
Excellent opportunity for those coming from Portuguese speaking communities. As residence permits, applicants submitted by such students of high education, are simplified through the waiver of the interview and the evidence of the means of subsistence.
3- Immigrants with qualifications and specific activities
Applications for visa or residence permit, submitted by foreign nationals with highly qualified activities, technologically entrepreneurial or developing cultural activities will now be fast-tracked and simplified.
4- Foreign nationals with specific regimes
Seasonal workers, workers transferred inside the companies, and students and investigators in mobility are able to have simpler proceedings.
“This new immigration act will help the country having more documented immigrants instead of illegal. The news system also aims to make the entry processes as simple as possible by quitting the real-time quota regime with issuing a short term residing permit that will make the immigrants able to pass Portugal’s borders legally and find a job,”
The key points of the new immigration act
- For residence visas, every time you inform SEF of the travel date, you will be informed of the appointment day for submitting the application for a residence permit at SEF;
- The scheduling of the appointment to any SEF’s directorate or regional delegation, regardless the area of residence will now be possible;
- SEF will have the possibility to reuse the documents already existing in the process, waiving your attendance in person;
- For residence visas, every time you inform SEF of the travel date, you will be informed of the appointment day for submitting the application for a residence permit at SEF;
- For renewing the Residence Permit or the Residence Card and the Extension of stay of holders of a valid visa, the appointments may be made online, by means of the register at SEF Portal in MySEF.
- Some of the proceedings will be digital, avoiding visits to the services.
Benefits of new Aliens act
Mobile services will offer the information and details related to immigrant’s regularisation in Lisbon as a capital city of Portugal with a huge number of workers outside of Portugal, with simplifying the procedures for residing permits, announced the government.
In the program, it is announced that in the deep battle without any prejudice related to illegal human trafficking and terrorism, it represents an emergency call for reconfiguring the deal related to the public services. Adding more human approach in comparison with the bureaucracy in order with the objective of regular employment in various sectors of activity.
The government’s announcement was for reviewing the scheme and schedule for fast-tracking investor residing permits called “golden visas”, preferred for low-density areas and regions for investing in cultural heritage and employment.
Knowing that Portugal is in need of immigration supporting related to economic increasing and demographic developing, the program reveals that the 22nd Portuguese government includes some measures in the hope to attract the people outside of Portugal and help them with the procedures since the Revolution of 1974.
The government’s desire is to implement the card for foreign citizens as the card for Portuguese citizens in the next 4 years dispensing with duplication in the presentation of documents issued by public entities.
Important links
Online appointment for Portugal residence permit
Portugal application submission for article 88 (only possible if you are in Portugal)