Portugal tightens migrant labour laws: End of work permits for these workers

Portugal has ended the practice of allowing illegally arrived migrant workers to stay in the country while applying for a work permit, as per reports.

This change is simply an alignment with European regulations, says the country’s Deputy Minister Rui Armindo Freitas, who is in charge of immigration policy.

“The possibility of entering the country first and then obtaining the necessary papers attracted many illegal migrant workers,” said Freitas.


This loophole needed to be closed quickly, he told DW, because of a "backlog of around 400,000 legalization applications" at the immigration agency AIMA.

"The processing of these applications, some of which were submitted two years ago, should be organized by June of next year at the latest. We aim to solve problems that have built up over many years," said Freitas, as per the DW report.

Since June, migrants seeking employment in Portugal must apply for their residence permits at a Portuguese embassy or consulate located outside the country.

This requirement is frustrating for many abroad, as several traditional source countries for foreign workers lack a Portuguese embassy or consulate. For instance, farm workers and harvesting assistants from Nepal or Bangladesh must now apply for their visas at the Portuguese embassy in New Delhi, India, as per the report.

Portugal's economy heavily relies on migrant workers, primarily from Asian countries, who are engaged in agriculture, harvesting broccoli and olives for low pay and picking berries for export to other European nations. Many Brazilians, for instance, find employment in the hospitality industry, working in restaurants and cafes, while a significant number of African workers are essential to the construction sector.

Migrant laborers in Portugal typically arrive without the required documentation. Although they often wait years for their residence permits, they have been permitted to work and contribute to taxes and social security during this time.

Similar to other European countries, illegal immigration has become a contentious topic in Portugal, with discussions intensified by far-right populist parties.