Recent news regarding proposed changes to Portugal's immigration policy has significant implications for holders of the Portugal Golden Visa. The country plans to tighten immigration restrictions in 2025, limiting work visas and family reunification, but the Portugal Golden Visa program continues to offer valuable benefits to investors and their families.

New restrictions on work visas and family reunification
On July 16, 2025, the Portuguese parliament approved a series of immigration restrictions. Now, work visas will only be granted to highly skilled migrants, reducing opportunities for less skilled workers. Family reunification rules have also been tightened, affecting many immigrants who intend to bring family members to Portugal.

Furthermore, Brazilian citizens will no longer have automatic approval for residency permits — a significant change considering the historical ties between Portugal and Brazil.

Application and deportations:
Parliament also authorized the creation of a new police unit dedicated to facilitating the deportation of undocumented immigrants and combating irregular migration. This measure follows a major expulsion campaign launched in May 2025, which targeted approximately 18,000 foreigners living in Portugal without legal authorization.

Context and political change:
Portugal was once seen as an exception in the European Union for its permissive immigration policy. However, under the center-right government of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, the country has adopted more restrictive immigration controls. Since his appointment in March 2024, there has been a clear political agenda to "close the wide-open doors" to uncontrolled migration.

By the end of 2024, foreign citizens represented about 15% of Portugal's population—a number that has quadrupled since 2017. These demographic changes, coupled with broader European political trends, influenced the new direction of the government.

Impact on migrants and the Golden Visa:
Although the new rules affect many migrants, the Golden Visa program remains an important channel for attracting foreign investors. It still offers preferential family reunification rights and residency-by-investment benefits, although the tightening of immigration policies shows the government's intention to balance economic interests with greater immigration control.

Protests by migrants have arisen in response to these new policies, highlighting concerns about family reunification and the rights of workers who contribute heavily to sectors such as agriculture.

Conclusion:
Stricter immigration laws represent a significant policy shift, reflecting a European trend towards greater control of migration. For migrants, workers, and investors, understanding these changes is essential as Portugal redefines its migration landscape. The government needs to balance economic dependence on foreign talent and investment with pressures for migration regulation. However, following the Constitutional Court's decision, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa vetoed the changes that would have further restricted family reunification, reinforcing the importance of constitutional protections—even though the proposal itself marks a clear shift in the direction of Portuguese migration policy.

Source: Portugal tightens immigration restrictions further – InfoMigrants

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