Correio da Manhã/CMTV coverage finds unusually high motivation among emigrant voters this election, with TV crews following voting at Portuguese consulates and polling stations abroad. Higher turnout overseas could be consequential in a close race and may strain consular services on busy days. Those voting from abroad should check consulate arrangements and confirm their polling location and required ID well ahead of time.

Update: Reports from London show many Portuguese travelled up to around two hours to vote at the Consulate‑General, with voters complaining there is no remote voting option and describing long queues at peak times. Portuguese living abroad should confirm consular opening hours, travel arrangements and allow extra time if going in person.

A concise, analytical guide to voting in Sunday’s presidential election: who is eligible to vote, when polling stations are open, what you need to bring, whether you can use your own pen, what to do if you make a mistake on your ballot, and rules about bringing children or carers into the polling station. Also covers guidance for expat voters and common FAQs to help you vote confidently and correctly on election day.

Público summarises practical voting information for the presidential ballot: polling stations are open from 08:00 to 19:00 across Portugal and voters must bring a photo ID such as the national ID card (cartão de cidadão), citizen card/identity document (BI), passport or driving licence. Voters can confirm their polling location via the electoral register (recenseamento.pt), by sending SMS to 3838 or contacting the official helpline. Residents who are unsure where to vote should check recenseamento.pt before heading to the polls.

Update: By 16:00 official figures cited by CNN Portugal put turnout at about 45.51% — the fastest participation rate at that hour since 2006 — and multiple outlets note more than 11 million voters were called to the polls today with 11 candidates on the ballot. Polling stations opened at 08:00 in mainland Portugal and Madeira, with the Azores starting an hour later; candidates and party leaders repeatedly urged citizens to vote. Voters and volunteers should expect extended coverage and local queuing at busy sections.

Reporting from Público finds many emigrants must travel hundreds of kilometres to reach Portuguese diplomatic missions to vote, using consulates (consulados) for passports, citizen cards and electoral participation. The piece profiles voters who combine document services and ballots at consular posts and highlights the travel burden for residents abroad who lack nearby polling locations. Those living overseas should check their designated consulate and travel plans well ahead of polling days.

Many emigrants are effectively disenfranchised because presidential voting is strictly in person, forcing citizens abroad to travel hundreds of kilometres to reach polling stations. As a result, abstention among the diaspora consistently exceeds 90%. The practical burdens—time, cost and mobility—raise equity and representation concerns, skew electoral participation towards residents and those with resources to travel, and may distort mandates. The situation highlights a policy trade‑off between electoral integrity and accessibility and strengthens arguments for reforms such as postal ballots, expanded consular voting, secure electronic options or mobile polling. Any reform would need to weigh logistical complexity, security and public trust against the democratic imperative to include citizens abroad.

The official gov.pt app now allows users to request replacement documents and manage dependants' cards, widening online access to common citizen services. RTP reports the update aims to simplify routine bureaucracy by moving some 2.ª via (replacement documents) procedures to mobile. Residents who need a replacement ID or must update dependants' paperwork should check the app and their local services for eligibility and required documents.

Público reports that Portuguese citizens living in Brazil who want to vote in Portugal's presidential election must attend Portuguese consulates (consulados) or the embassy (embaixada) in Brazil to cast their ballot. The note highlights consular voting procedures for expatriates rather than postal or remote voting alternatives. Portuguese nationals abroad, especially dual nationals in Brazil, should confirm their consulate's opening hours and required ID before election day.

Experts told Lusa and national outlets that emigrant voting could have a larger impact than in previous presidential contests, as turnout patterns and narrow margins make overseas ballots more decisive. Historically lower in influence, emigrant turnout this time could tip close races or affect which candidates progress to a second round. Portuguese citizens abroad should confirm registration and polling or postal-vote arrangements with their consulate or local authorities well before Sunday.

Diário de Notícias reports that unclear guidance from the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo) has stalled online residence‑permit renewals, creating insecurity among immigrants whose renewals are due. DN says AIMA has not responded to requests for clarification, leaving some migrants unsure how to complete or prove renewals. Those awaiting renewal should contact their local consulate or municipal immigration desk and keep evidence of attempts to renew; legal or immigration advisers may be needed if deadlines approach.

Expresso reports that Portuguese diplomatic efforts secured the release of two brothers detained abroad amid unrest tied to the Maduro regime; the family only revealed the detentions after the arrest and fears of reprisal remain. The case highlights active consular engagement and possible follow‑up protection or repatriation needs for the released individuals. Portuguese citizens travelling or living abroad should note that consular assistance can be mobilised in crises and follow official travel and safety guidance.

A proposal to create 'Social Golden Visas' — a fast-track residency pathway modelled on investor golden visas but targeted at people with urgent social needs. Analytically, the policy could deliver rapid legal protection and access to services for vulnerable migrants and expats, but it requires clear eligibility criteria, safeguards against abuse, and alignment with broader immigration and welfare systems to avoid unintended consequences.

The EU's new Entry-Exit System (EES) — which now obliges over a third of non‑EU nationals entering the Schengen area to submit extra personal and biometric data — has provoked a standoff between airports and Brussels. Airports warn of operational strain, higher costs and longer processing times amid limited staff and technical readiness; EU institutions argue the measure is necessary to improve border security, migration management and traveller rights. The dispute highlights tensions between security aims, data‑protection concerns and practical implementation challenges that could affect expats, short‑term visitors and airlines alike.

An opinion piece warns that, in this presidential election, some Portuguese living abroad will be prevented from voting — suggesting the next president may not represent all Portuguese. The report signals concerns about overseas voting access rather than new official rules. Expats eligible to vote should double-check registration status and polling arrangements well ahead of election day.

The piece analyses rhetoric and policies that treat any measure as acceptable in the fight against immigration. It considers how such an approach can erode legal safeguards, bypass due process and civil rights, and normalise discriminatory or ad hoc enforcement under the guise of national policy. The article argues for clearer legal frameworks, independent oversight and rights-based reforms to balance legitimate border and public-order concerns with rule-of-law protections.

The latest episode of the weekly podcast 'Ao trabalho!' examines lingering uncertainty over tuition fee refunds and the implications for pay awards that recognise qualifications. Finance Minister Joaquim Miranda Sarmento’s response on the pay-award question is discussed alongside fast-moving items on labour policy, employment law and the state budget, with analysis of what these developments mean for workers and expats. The short, under-five-minute episode aims to distil key takeaways and policy consequences for those following workplace rights and public spending.

The Union of Workers of Large Supermarkets, Warehouses and Services of Portugal (STGSSP) has accused Revolut of pressuring and 'exploiting' around 1,200 employees in Portugal by imposing 'unrealistic' productivity metrics, after receiving multiple complaints about the digital bank’s labour practices. Revolut rejects the allegations, saying it complies with Portuguese labour law. The dispute highlights tensions between fintech productivity models and workplace rights, and could prompt closer scrutiny from unions and regulators.

Registrations for early voting in the presidential election on 18 January close this Thursday. Voters registered in the national territory who opt for early voting will cast their ballots on 11 January; registrations can be completed online at www.votoantecipado.pt or by sending a letter to the General Secretariat. The deadline is final, so eligible voters — including citizens abroad who qualify under the rules — should register now to ensure their participation. The short deadline raises potential administrative and turnout implications for campaign planning and electoral logistics.

Applications for advance (early) voting in the presidential election are now open. Allowing voters to request advance voting is likely to improve accessibility and convenience—potentially raising turnout among busy voters and expatriates—but also places new demands on election administration. Clear communications on eligibility, registration deadlines and verification procedures, plus monitoring of uptake and administrative capacity, will be important to assess the policy’s effectiveness and integrity.

CTT said the suspension of the reimbursement service for the Mobility Allowance for residents in the Azores and Madeira is due to 'reasons beyond the company's control'.

A family providing foster care for two children has been ordered by Social Security to repay more than €5,500 after losing their parental allowance. The parents call the demand an injustice and cite contradictory information and a lack of support from official services. The case highlights administrative confusion around parental-benefit eligibility, potential gaps in guidance for foster and expat families, and wider questions about transparency and appeals in welfare policy.