Portugal’s parliament has approved a contentious bill that will drastically restrict immigration, creating some of the most stringent regulations within the European Union. Backed by the center-right ruling coalition and the far-right, the new law is designed to curb the significant inflow of migrants, a move that critics warn could have severe economic consequences.
The legislation passed with the combined votes of the governing coalition and the influential far-right Chega party, overcoming unified opposition from the left. Defending the law, government minister António Leitão Amaru declared that the “time for irresponsible immigration policies has passed,” arguing the bill strikes a “proper balance” between welcoming migrants the country needs and managing its capacity to integrate them.
Among the law’s most restrictive measures is a new requirement for most immigrants to reside legally in Portugal for at least two years before applying for family reunification. While exceptions are made for minors, highly-skilled professionals, and wealthy “golden visa” investors, the bill also curtails a popular program that allowed foreigners to search for a job in the country for 120 days, now limiting this opportunity to only highly qualified specialists.
The government’s push for stricter controls is fueled by official data showing the number of legal foreign residents has doubled in just three years, reaching over 1.5 million in a nation of roughly 10.5 million people. This demographic shift, largely driven by arrivals from Brazil, the UK, Cape Verde, and India, has also prompted the government to recently tighten citizenship rules, extending the residency requirement from five to ten years and revoking automatic birthright citizenship for the children of migrants.
However, economists are sounding the alarm, arguing that reducing immigration could damage the Portuguese economy. Foreign workers play a vital role in offsetting the country’s rapidly aging population and are significant contributors to the social security and tax systems. Economic models predict that a complete halt to immigration could force a nearly 8% tax increase, costing the average taxpayer an additional €1,700 per year.
The bill now awaits the signature of President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. Although he previously vetoed an earlier version of the law on constitutional grounds, he has indicated he is unlikely to block the revised text. With little chance of another constitutional challenge, the path appears clear for the new restrictions to become law, signaling a major policy pivot for Portugal and another victory for Europe’s ascendant anti-immigration movements.