Latest news and stories about legal reforms in government in Portugal for expats and residents.
Seven answers explaining the changes the government plans for dismissals and what to expect next

Patrícia Barão, the new head of the largest association of estate agents, praises the Government's measures but says they were “poorly communicated”. She calls for changes to the law to give landlords more “confidence”.

ECO reports the Bar Association proposed that complex, high‑profile trials will now have substitute court‑appointed lawyers — effectively assigning two appointed defenders as backups. The measure was presented after issues in recent high-profile cases and is intended to ensure continuous legal representation during lengthy proceedings. Defendants and legal observers should note possible changes in courtroom procedure and representation; the Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados) is leading the proposal.
The Ordem dos Advogados (Bar Association) is Portugal’s professional body for lawyers, responsible for regulating legal ethics, licensing and discipline and for representing the profession in public debates. Its proposal to change how substitute counsel are appointed in complex trials matters because the Bar’s views influence courtroom procedures, standards of defence and legal reform discussions.
A court‑appointed lawyer is an attorney the court assigns to represent someone who cannot afford private counsel, typically under Portugal’s legal aid system (assistência judiciária). These lawyers provide defence in criminal and other eligible cases, and if the defendant meets the income and eligibility rules the state pays the lawyer’s fees.

A police officer previously implicated in torture had access to unauthorised ammunition from batches not assigned to the PSP; these rounds were untraceable to the force and could facilitate serious firearms offences. The case exposes weaknesses in ammunition control, record-keeping and oversight within the PSP, increasing public safety risks and underscoring the need for stricter inventory procedures, forensic tracing and accountability measures.

It is a legacy of 25 April and of a democracy that was taking its first steps, but the day of reflection has become a restriction on freedom of expression. And Sócrates continues trying to halt the trial.

The leadership of the PSP says it will be even more committed in response to allegations of torture, adding that the alarm bells have sounded louder.

The Bar Association and the Superior Council of the Judiciary are moving ahead with a 'task force' to prevent trials from dragging out. A pool of court-appointed defence lawyers will include 2 to 3 people per case.


Blasco has spoken publicly for the first time about accusations that two officers from the Public Security Police (PSP) committed torture, describing the situation as one of 'consternation' and 'concern'.

An appellate court has upheld the conviction of an activist who threw green paint at Luís Montenegro.

This concerns a decree-law approved by the Council of Ministers on 11 December 2025.

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.
Renewal of a residence permit means applying to the immigration authority to extend your existing authorization to live in Portugal (autorização de residência), usually by submitting ID, your passport, proof of address, proof of means or employment, a criminal-record check and paying a fee. Start the process well before the permit expires because processing can take weeks or months; missing the deadline risks fines, loss of legal status and difficulty with work, banking or travel.
Renewal of a residence permit means applying to the immigration authority to extend your existing authorization to live in Portugal (autorização de residência), usually by submitting ID, your passport, proof of address, proof of means or employment, a criminal-record check and paying a fee. Start the process well before the permit expires because processing can take weeks or months; missing the deadline risks fines, loss of legal status and difficulty with work, banking or travel.
The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo) is the national body that manages immigration, asylum and integration services in Portugal, including information, application processing and support programmes for newcomers and refugees. Expats should use its website and local offices for practical matters such as residency procedures, integration courses and up‑to‑date guidance on rights and obligations.

The presidential campaign skirted constitutional debate, focusing on policy and partisan positioning more suited to a head-of-government race than a head-of-state contest. António José Seguro — the Socialist-backed candidate — presents himself as the moderate alternative and argues the Constitution need not be revised, only respected; meanwhile Luís Montenegro will run as his party’s candidate. The piece argues the Republic needs a president who acts as a moderator, respects institutional limits and upholds the separation of powers.

Reportage says the new Civil Protection law has been finalised and is expected to enter into force this year, marking a legislative update to how disasters and civil emergencies are managed. Outlets note the law's timing is politically sensitive given calls from firefighters for prioritisation and structural changes in emergency command. Residents in areas prone to wildfires or floods should watch for new local procedures and official guidance once the law is published.
Emergency associations argue that a single command structure in the Civil Protection law would centralise decision‑making during major incidents, reducing confusion between municipal, regional and national responders and improving the speed and efficiency of operations. They say this clearer hierarchy would help volunteers and professional services coordinate on the front line, which is why they want that change included before the health framework law is finalised.
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.

Press reviews report the Portuguese state has paid about €1.5 million in compensation to prisoners since 2016, while roughly 854 compensation claims remain pending, with individual awards noted in reports between about €12,000 and €144,000. The figures underline ongoing legal and human-rights concerns over prison conditions and backlog in resolving claims. Expats working in social services, law or advocacy should watch for potential reforms and budgetary consequences as the justice system responds to mounting claims.

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.

A proposed measure in a housing-supply package due for a parliamentary vote this Friday would make the absence of a required licence a ground for invalidating property sales. Analytically, the change could introduce significant legal uncertainty for buyers, sellers, lenders and conveyancers, risk delaying transactions and cooling market activity unless clear transitional rules and enforcement guidance are set out. Stakeholders will be watching for details on compliance requirements, liability allocation and any safeguards to avoid unintended disruption to the housing market.

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has promulgated the government’s health reform while formally requesting improvements to three related decree-laws. His interventions focus on the decree-law that centralises emergency services regionally and on the new regime for hiring locum doctors, where he identified unclear requirements and potential incompatibilities. The request for clarification signals legal and policy concerns that could prompt amendments, highlighting tensions between centralised emergency planning and the need for a flexible medical workforce.

Companies are increasingly sensitive to competition issues as competition law enters a phase of expectation and apparent transformation, according to Sara M. Rodrigues, senior associate and co-ordinator of Eversheds Sutherland’s Competition, Trade and Foreign Investment Department. Rodrigues warns that investigations have ongoing consequences and that regulators — and firms — must recognise that processes do not end with the initial investigation conclusion, heightening the need for robust compliance, legal preparedness and attention to reform and enforcement trends.

This analysis examines how demands for transparency from presidential hopefuls in the run-up to the 18 January election have become a tactical weapon between rivals. It explores the tension between legitimate public interest in candidates’ backgrounds and the risk of intrusive exposure of private life, reviews the legal and ethical boundaries, and argues for clearer, proportionate rules and safeguards to balance accountability, privacy and fair campaigning.

An analytical update on the protracted Sócrates trial, framed as a slow-motion courtroom drama punctuated by unexpected or seemingly choreographed incidents that lend a surreal air to proceedings. Journalist Luís Rosa outlines how procedural delays, political overtones and episodic disruptions have complicated the legal narrative, raising broader questions about the judiciary’s capacity to deliver timely justice and the need for legal and policy reform to protect public trust. The piece examines implications for corruption cases and systemic reform in Portugal’s judicial and political spheres.

Maria de Fátima Carioca argues that Portugal needs a substantial overhaul of its labour legislation, saying flexibilisation of labour relations is unavoidable but must not undermine social protections. She warns the proposed new law is not a magic wand for boosting wages — structural reform is required alongside measures to safeguard workers. Her remarks come as the Government prepares a wide-ranging review of labour rules and the social safety net.

Justice is a central theme in the campaign of the five leading presidential candidates ahead of the 18 January election. Proposals range from Luís Marques Mendes’s call for structural reform, faster proceedings and cross‑institutional pacts to modernise courts, to competing ideas on statutes of limitations and the scope of presidential intervention in judicial matters. The debate frames trade‑offs between efficiency and safeguards, and highlights the need for parliamentary and judicial buy‑in to implement meaningful legal and procedural change.

The Portuguese president says he will soon sign into law the legislative measures for the National Health Service (SNS) that were returned to the Government for reconsideration.

Jornal de Notícias reports that at least 108 people were intentionally murdered in 2025, marking the highest number of homicides since 2018. Separately, the President of the Republic returned three decree-laws to the Government that sought to implement reforms in the health sector, a move with legal and political implications for emergency services, public safety and ongoing healthcare policy changes. These developments highlight rising concerns about violent crime alongside contested attempts to reshape healthcare governance.

Live update (3h): President Marcelo has returned several decree-laws (diplomas) on the health sector to the Government, asking for improved formulations rather than vetoing the measures outright. The Government says it will identify opportunities to refine the texts and will not abandon the reform agenda; the move delays implementation and creates scope for legal, political and technical adjustments to the planned healthcare reforms.
