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Today the Law no. 18/2022, of 25th of August, that amends the Law no. 23/2007 (Law of Foreign Citizens) was published.
In what concerns the types of visas to Portugal, the main changes were the following:
1) Streamlining of visas for citizens of CPLP countries
The granting of a short-term, temporary stay or residence visa for a citizen covered by the Agreement on Mobility between the CPLP Member States is now exempt from a prior opinion of the SEF, which corresponds to a procedure carried out by the Consulate before SEF, after the submission of the visa application.
2) Visa to search for a job in Portugal
A new specific visa is created for those who want to enter the national territory to look for work. This visa lasts for 120 days, extendable for another 60 days, and is limited to the national territory.
With a view to simplifying procedures, the visa encompasses the scheduling with the competent services in charge of the granting of residence permits, within the 120-day duration of the visa, conferring the right to apply for a residence permit, after the establishment and formalization of the labour relationship in that period.
3) Streamlining of the residence visa for attending higher education studies
Whenever the applicant is admitted to a national higher education institution, the granting of a residence visa to attend a higher education study program is hereinafter exempt from a prior opinion from the SEF.
4) Temporary stay and residence visa for digital nomads
The possibility of granting a temporary stay visa and a residence visa is extended to professionals who carry out either a subordinate or an independent professional activity remotely, outside the national territory, or who are entrepreneurs.
5) Automatic assignment of temporary NIF, NISS and SNS numbers within the scope of the residence visa
With the granting of the residence visa, a pre-authorization for residence is issued, which contains information on obtaining the residence authorization and the provisional allocation of tax, social security and national health service identification numbers.
6) Temporary stay or residence visas for family members with their own titles
Possibility of temporary stay or residence visas for the purpose of accompanying family members who already possess their own titles, allowing families to enter the national territory together and on a regular basis. The law provides for the possibility that applications for visas by family members of an applicant for a residence visa are made at the same time as the latter's visa application.
7) Elimination of quotas related to the visa for the exercise of a subordinate professional activity
The quota regime for residence visas for subordinate work was eliminated. It was an anachronistic regime, which was not applied in the last three years under the State Budget Law.
8) Streamlining the issuance and renewal of residence permits for British beneficiaries of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement
In addition to the SEF, public entities that collect biometric data for the purposes of civil identification, namely the Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado, I.P., and Espaços Cidadão, are now competent to issue and renew residence permits for British citizens benefiting from the United Kingdom's Withdrawal Agreement from the European Union.
We also inform you that this diploma enters into force on the 26th of August.