Portugal has enacted one of the most significant changes to its immigration policy in recent years, signaling a decisive shift toward attracting only pre-vetted, specialized talent. Effective October 23, 2025, the country officially discontinued its standard Job-Seeking Visa category, immediately canceling all pending appointments and applications for this pathway. This move, mandated by the publication of Law No. 61/2025 on October 22, 2025, replaces the previous general system with a more restrictive model, creating both a regulatory vacuum and new uncertainty for potential immigrants.
The Immediate Legal Effect
The core of this policy change lies in the amendment of Article 57-A of the country’s foundational immigration statute, the Foreigners’ Law (Law No. 23/2007). As officially confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MNE) and reported across visa processing centers like VFS Global, the traditional job-seeking visa is obsolete.
The official communication from the Vistos.mne.gov.pt portal states unequivocally that consular posts and external service providers will no longer accept applications for the old visa type. Applicants who had appointments scheduled on or after October 23, 2025, have been advised not to attend, as their applications will be refused under the new legal framework.
The New Skilled Job Seeker Visa: A Targeted Approach
In place of the abolished visa, Portugal intends to implement a new Skilled Job Seeker Visa. However, authorities have cautioned that applications for this new category cannot be accepted yet, as officials have not issued the necessary complementary regulations. This regulatory gap means that the pathway for foreign professionals to legally enter Portugal specifically to seek work is currently on hold.
The key features of the incoming visa, based on Law No. 61/2025, underscore Portugal’s new focus on “highly qualified activity”:
- Focus on Skill: The visa will be restricted to applicants possessing “specialized technical competencies,” a criterion that is still awaiting definition by a joint ministerial order.
- Territorial Limitation: The new Skilled Visa will be valid only for Portuguese territory. This crucial change means that visa holders will not have the automatic right to travel freely throughout the Schengen Area until a residence permit is successfully obtained.
- Strict Departure Mandate: If the applicant fails to secure a job and formalize their residence documentation before the visa expires (120 days plus the possible 60-day extension), they must leave the country. A one-year waiting period will be imposed before they can reapply for the same visa category.
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Broader Immigration Context
This change is not an isolated measure but part of a larger, comprehensive reform of the Foreigners’ Law (Law No. 23/2007) aimed at transitioning Portugal from a post-entry regularization model to a pre-vetted entry system. The most notable accompanying policy shift is the permanent discontinuation of the controversial Manifestação de Interesse (Manifestation of Interest) pathway, which previously allowed non-EU nationals to regularize their stay after entering the country and securing employment.
By simultaneously abolishing the general Job-Seeker Visa and closing the Manifestação de Interesse, the government is signaling a clear intent to manage migration strictly at the source (i.e., at the consulate) and to mitigate administrative backlogs and prevent irregular entries.
Applicants and employers are strongly advised to monitor the official Portuguese Government portal for visas Vistos.mne.gov.pt for the release of the specific regulations and application procedures for the new Skilled Job Seeker Visa.
