Portugal’s Leader Signs Revamped Foreigners’ Legislation
(MENAFN) Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has officially enacted the revamped Foreigners' Law, the presidency announced Thursday on its website, concluding months of intense parliamentary debate following a Constitutional Court review.
The updated legislation imposes stricter limits on work visas, now confined to "qualified work," and tightens family reunification rules for foreign residents—though refugees are exempted from some restrictions.
The law also introduces changes to residence authorization criteria for citizens from the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP).
In the statement, Rebelo de Sousa highlighted that the law, which garnered approval from 70 percent of deputies, “minimally addresses the essential doubts of unconstitutionality raised by him and confirmed by the Constitutional Court.”
The president had earlier sent the original draft to the Constitutional Court for preventive scrutiny, expressing concern that the proposed family reunification limits were disproportionate and might jeopardize children’s best interests during family separations.
In August, the court struck down five provisions, ruling that they violated constitutional protections of family rights and the principle of legislative reservation for fundamental rights.
The revised decree preserves a two-year residence requirement for family reunification eligibility but exempts minor or incapable dependents and spouses or equivalent partners who co-parent minors or dependents.
For spouses or equivalent partners who meet cohabitation conditions, the required residence period is reduced to fifteen months.
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