Portugal News

Portugal’s snap national election on Sunday 18 May 2025 – the third general election in as many years – was called after Prime Minister Luís Montenegro’s minority government lost a confidence vote this spring. The vote came amid a decade of “fragile governments, only one of which had a parliamentary majority but which collapsed halfway through its term last year”. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa dissolved parliament following allegations (the so‑called Spinumviva scandal) involving Montenegro’s family firm, and called early elections for stability.

The protocol, a flagship of the Government's migration policy, provided for the issuance of visas within 20 days, but its implementation continues to be blocked by bureaucratic obstacles and a lack of clarity in procedures

Among the threats is the increase in the minimum residence permit to apply for citizenship, a proposed government campaign for the election to parliament, Sunday.

Brazilian lawyers working in Portugal try to prevent Brazilians from losing rights in the country. The warnings were given after the government decided to tighten immigration rules.

Priscila Corrêa created a petition for the maintenance of the five years of residence in Portugal as a requirement to apply for citizenship.

According to government, most immigrants who are targeted by the authorities come from Asian countries.

Foreigners living in Portugal were surprised at the beginning of the month by the announcement of a new wave of deportations, led by the Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, responsible for political articulation. In the first few weeks, 4,500 court notifications are planned. In the coming months, the total is expected to reach 18,000.

False surveys from companies not accredited by the ERC have been circulating on social media.

Professors and academic researchers in the field of disinformation and political communication consider, to Lusa, that in the current electoral campaign, immigration and the circulation of fake polls are the main themes of disinformation.

The Head of State, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, spoke about the thousands of notifications that are being issued by the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum for the abandonment of national territory of foreign citizens in an illegal situation.

The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, made a surprise visit to Ovibeja this Sunday, where he was questioned about the more than 4,500 notifications for abandonment of national territory by foreign citizens in an illegal situation, which are part of a first group of 18,000  rejections already decided.

António Leitão Amaro, Minister of the Presidency, confirmed this Saturday

The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) will begin notifying 4,574 foreign citizens next week to voluntarily leave the country within 20 days, the Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, confirmed this Saturday.

“The Government was informed this week by AIMA that it is issuing 4,574 notifications for foreign citizens in an illegal situation to leave national territory,” said Leitão Amaro, in statements to journalists, at the Government headquarters, in Lisbon.

The coordinator of the Left Bloc (BE ), Mariana Mortágua, criticized the "policies of hate" against immigrants and stressed that "they are not enemies" and contribute almost half a million euros to Social Security. "They are not enemies. Just because they have a different skin color or because they come from another part of the world. 

Leitão Amaro says that "the time when people turn a blind eye to the lack of criminal records in immigrants' countries of origin is over", warning that immigration policy has changed and is regulated.

The Minister of the Presidency responded this Wednesday to the immigrants who demonstrated in Porto demanding “documents for everyone” with the phrase documents for “all those who comply with Portuguese law”.

Lisbon – The Chega party has included proposed changes to Portugal's Nationality Law in its electoral program for the upcoming May 2025 elections, emphasizing cultural integration over specific residency duration.

According to the program, Chega aims to grant nationality only to applicants demonstrating a "real connection" to Portugal. This would involve assessing knowledge of the country's history, identification with Portuguese culture and traditions, and proficiency in speaking and writing Portuguese.