Latest news and stories about expat rights in government in Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
Ventura says the current PSU proposal is a fraud against the Portuguese people's goals of moralising subsidies.
Portugal's updated nationality law has officially increased residency requirements for citizenship, extending the threshold from five to seven years for nationals of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa or CPLP). Immigrant associations have met with the Presidency to voice concerns regarding bureaucracy at the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo or AIMA) and the impact of these legislative changes.
The Community of Portuguese Language Countries (Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa or CPLP) is an intergovernmental organization of nine nations where Portuguese is an official language. It facilitates political, diplomatic, and cultural cooperation between member states, including Portugal, Brazil, Angola, and Mozambique.
Temporary residence is a limited residence permit that allows non‑EU nationals to live in Portugal for a set period (commonly one year, renewable) for study, work or other reasons. The Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (AIMA) launching an online form means eligible students who also work can apply or regularise their status more easily through AIMA’s process rather than only via consular services.
The Portuguese government is intervening to ensure the safety and repatriation of two Portuguese doctors detained by Israeli authorities after their vessel, part of the 'Sumud Global Flotilla' mission, was intercepted in international waters. Carlos Cortes, head of the Portuguese Medical Association (Ordem dos Médicos or OM), confirmed that while he has been unable to contact the clinicians directly, the state is actively working to secure their release and dignity.
The Ordem dos Médicos is Portugal’s professional medical association that registers doctors, enforces ethical rules and can discipline members. It issues formal opinions and can challenge health policies or laws, so its objections matter when a programme like the Waitlist Recovery Programme changes how patients are referred or treated.
Minister of the Presidency António Leitão Amaro announced that the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) has approved processes for approximately 385,000 immigrants. The minister stated that 458,989 residence cards have been issued to date, aiming to resolve long-standing administrative delays. Meanwhile, the government is also debating a new return law in the Assembly of the Republic to accelerate the removal of foreign nationals in irregular situations.
Temporary residence is a limited residence permit that allows non‑EU nationals to live in Portugal for a set period (commonly one year, renewable) for study, work or other reasons. The Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (AIMA) launching an online form means eligible students who also work can apply or regularise their status more easily through AIMA’s process rather than only via consular services.
The Patriarch of Lisbon, Rui Valério, has called for a minimum consensus regarding labour reform, urging political actors to prioritize human dignity in negotiations. Meanwhile, former President of the Assembly of the Republic Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues advised the PS to avoid preliminary negotiations with the government, suggesting the party should wait until the bill reaches Parliament.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva concluded his visit to Portugal this Tuesday, meeting with Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and President of the Republic António José Seguro. While the visit focused on strengthening bilateral ties and trade, Lula did not address specific changes to Portuguese immigration and nationality laws, disappointing some members of the Brazilian community. Montenegro highlighted that Portugal has regularized over 235,000 Brazilian immigrant applications in the last two years.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is the current President of Brazil, serving his third term since January 2023. A prominent figure in Brazilian politics, he previously served as president from 2003 to 2010 and is a founding member of the Workers' Party (Partido dos Trabalhadores).
Luís Filipe Montenegro Cardoso de Morais Esteves (born February 16, 1973, in Porto) is a Portuguese lawyer and center‑right politician who has served as Prime Minister of Portugal since April 2, 2024. A long‑time member of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), he is the leading figure of the post‑Troika generation of Portuguese conservatives. Montenegro was elected to the Assembly of the Republic in 2002 for the Aveiro district and remained an MP for 16 years, becoming PSD parliamentary leader from 2011 to 2017 during the bailout and austerity period under Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho. He was a prominent defender of strict austerity measures, arguing in 2014 that “the life of the people is no better, but the life of the country is a lot better,” a phrase that has followed his public image since. After an unsuccessful leadership bid against Rui Rio in 2020, Montenegro won the PSD leadership in 2022. He then forged the centre‑right Democratic Alliance (PSD–CDS‑PP and allies), which won a plurality of seats in the 2024 legislative election. Refusing to partner with the far‑right Chega, which he has called “often xenophobic, racist, populist and excessively demagogic,” he formed a minority government as head of the XXIV Constitutional Government on April 2, 2024. His first government fell in March 2025 after a no‑confidence vote linked to a conflict‑of‑interest affair, but fresh elections saw the Democratic Alliance increase its seat share, allowing Montenegro to return as prime minister leading the XXV Constitutional Government. His importance to Portugal lies in attempting to re‑center the traditional centre‑right after the crisis years, defending liberal‑conservative economics and EU alignment while drawing a sharp line against formal cooperation with the radical right, thus shaping how Portuguese democracy manages its new multi‑party era.
The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo or AIMA) has reopened its online portal for family reunification requests. The service is now available to citizens of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa or CPLP) seeking to bring minor children to Portugal. This development occurs ahead of the visit by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is expected to discuss immigration policy with Prime Minister Luís Montenegro.
Temporary residence is a limited residence permit that allows non‑EU nationals to live in Portugal for a set period (commonly one year, renewable) for study, work or other reasons. The Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (AIMA) launching an online form means eligible students who also work can apply or regularise their status more easily through AIMA’s process rather than only via consular services.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is the current President of Brazil, serving his third term since January 2023. A prominent figure in Brazilian politics, he previously served as president from 2003 to 2010 and is a founding member of the Workers' Party (Partido dos Trabalhadores).
Luís Filipe Montenegro Cardoso de Morais Esteves (born February 16, 1973, in Porto) is a Portuguese lawyer and center‑right politician who has served as Prime Minister of Portugal since April 2, 2024. A long‑time member of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), he is the leading figure of the post‑Troika generation of Portuguese conservatives. Montenegro was elected to the Assembly of the Republic in 2002 for the Aveiro district and remained an MP for 16 years, becoming PSD parliamentary leader from 2011 to 2017 during the bailout and austerity period under Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho. He was a prominent defender of strict austerity measures, arguing in 2014 that “the life of the people is no better, but the life of the country is a lot better,” a phrase that has followed his public image since. After an unsuccessful leadership bid against Rui Rio in 2020, Montenegro won the PSD leadership in 2022. He then forged the centre‑right Democratic Alliance (PSD–CDS‑PP and allies), which won a plurality of seats in the 2024 legislative election. Refusing to partner with the far‑right Chega, which he has called “often xenophobic, racist, populist and excessively demagogic,” he formed a minority government as head of the XXIV Constitutional Government on April 2, 2024. His first government fell in March 2025 after a no‑confidence vote linked to a conflict‑of‑interest affair, but fresh elections saw the Democratic Alliance increase its seat share, allowing Montenegro to return as prime minister leading the XXV Constitutional Government. His importance to Portugal lies in attempting to re‑center the traditional centre‑right after the crisis years, defending liberal‑conservative economics and EU alignment while drawing a sharp line against formal cooperation with the radical right, thus shaping how Portuguese democracy manages its new multi‑party era.
The SOS Racismo movement has condemned the Chega party for displaying “anti-immigration propaganda” at the Futurália education fair in Lisbon. The party's stand, visited by leader André Ventura, featured posters comparing Portugal to Bangladesh and referencing the “Great Replacement” theory. Those attending the fair should note that the movement has called on the Ministry of Education to clarify the rules for political participation in events aimed at young people.
Chega ("Enough") is a Portuguese far-right populist party founded in 2019 by André Ventura. It positions itself as an anti-establishment movement against what it calls a "rotten and corrupt system" of PS-PSD dominance. The party surged from 1.3% in 2019 to 22.8% in May 2025, becoming parliament's second-largest force with 60 seats. Chega's core platform emphasizes strict immigration control—ending automatic CPLP residency, deporting non-independent immigrants, implementing job-market quotas, and requiring five-year social security contributions before benefit access. It advocates radical constitutional reform, including reducing parliament to 100 members, abolishing the prime minister position for a presidential system, and dismantling public healthcare. Law-and-order policies include life imprisonment and chemical castration proposals.
The party is defined by inflammatory anti-Romani rhetoric, with Ventura convicted multiple times for discrimination. Chega maintains international alignments with European far-right figures including Marine Le Pen, Santiago Abascal, and Matteo Salvini. Mainstream Portuguese parties, including Prime Minister Luís Montenegro's government, have imposed a cordon sanitaire, refusing coalition with Chega despite its parliamentary strength.
André Ventura, born January 15, 1983, is a lawyer, academic, and Portugal's most prominent far-right leader. He founded Chega ("Enough") in 2019 after his PSD mayoral campaign attacked the Romani community. Chega surged from 1.3% in 2019 to 22.8% in May 2025, becoming parliament's second-largest party and making Ventura Leader of the Opposition.
His platform emphasizes immigration restrictions, law-and-order policies, constitutional reform, and contains inflammatory anti-Romani rhetoric that has triggered multiple discrimination convictions and investigations. Politically classified as far-right by international media, Ventura cultivates alliances with European far-right figures including Marine Le Pen and Santiago Abascal.
A military aircraft carrying 39 passengers, including 24 Portuguese nationals, arrived in Lisbon after evacuation from the Iran conflict zone. Authorities coordinated a military evacuation and repatriation effort for citizens and residents; details on onward support and consular assistance are being handled by the relevant services. Those with family or travel plans in the region should check consular updates and contact Portuguese diplomatic services if they need assistance.
Thousands of people demonstrated in Lisbon and Porto against changes to the labour law.
Thousands of people marched in Lisbon and Porto on Saturday in protests called by the CGTP trade union against the government’s labour package, known as Trabalho XXI. Demonstrators filled routes in central Lisbon (Cais do Sodré to Rossio), chanted for immediate withdrawal of the proposal and warned the bill could be defeated if pressure continues. The rallies directly target Prime Minister Luís Montenegro’s government and increase the political risk around the bill’s passage. Workers, commuters and anyone with plans in central Lisbon or Porto should expect local disruption and watch union bulletins.
Luís Filipe Montenegro Cardoso de Morais Esteves (born February 16, 1973, in Porto) is a Portuguese lawyer and center‑right politician who has served as Prime Minister of Portugal since April 2, 2024. A long‑time member of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), he is the leading figure of the post‑Troika generation of Portuguese conservatives. Montenegro was elected to the Assembly of the Republic in 2002 for the Aveiro district and remained an MP for 16 years, becoming PSD parliamentary leader from 2011 to 2017 during the bailout and austerity period under Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho. He was a prominent defender of strict austerity measures, arguing in 2014 that “the life of the people is no better, but the life of the country is a lot better,” a phrase that has followed his public image since. After an unsuccessful leadership bid against Rui Rio in 2020, Montenegro won the PSD leadership in 2022. He then forged the centre‑right Democratic Alliance (PSD–CDS‑PP and allies), which won a plurality of seats in the 2024 legislative election. Refusing to partner with the far‑right Chega, which he has called “often xenophobic, racist, populist and excessively demagogic,” he formed a minority government as head of the XXIV Constitutional Government on April 2, 2024. His first government fell in March 2025 after a no‑confidence vote linked to a conflict‑of‑interest affair, but fresh elections saw the Democratic Alliance increase its seat share, allowing Montenegro to return as prime minister leading the XXV Constitutional Government. His importance to Portugal lies in attempting to re‑center the traditional centre‑right after the crisis years, defending liberal‑conservative economics and EU alignment while drawing a sharp line against formal cooperation with the radical right, thus shaping how Portuguese democracy manages its new multi‑party era.
The General Confederation of the Portuguese Workers (CGTP – Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses) is Portugal’s largest trade-union confederation, grouping most unions in manufacturing, public services and many other sectors.
Founded clandestinely in 1970 as “Intersindical” under the dictatorship, it emerged publicly after the 1974 Carnation Revolution and was legalised in 1975. It has been central to virtually all major labour struggles since then, from defending collective bargaining and the 40‑hour week to leading general strikes against austerity and labour‑law rollbacks.
CGTP is historically close to the Portuguese Communist Party and has a class‑struggle, anti‑neoliberal profile, strongly critical of EU and government policies seen as undermining workers’ rights. It favours grassroots mobilisation and strikes over compromise, often refusing national social‑pact deals that the more centrist UGT is willing to sign.
In today’s Portugal, CGTP remains a key actor in wage bargaining, labour‑law debates and national protests; together with UGT it called the first joint general strike in years in December 2025, signalling its continuing capacity to organise mass action.
An Trabalho XXI (labour package) is the name given to a set of proposed changes to Portugal's labour laws put forward by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro's government. Thousands of people, organised by the CGTP union, marched in Lisbon and Porto calling for its withdrawal because they say it would reduce workers' protections; workers and residents should follow the debate since any approved changes could affect contracts, collective bargaining and workplace rules.
The Minister of Labour will meet UGT and four employer confederations at the Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security (Ministério do Trabalho, Solidariedade e Segurança Social) at 9:30 on Monday the 23rd to discuss proposed changes to labour law and to review technical talks held under the Social Concertation process. CGTP was not invited to the meeting, according to reporting. Workers, employers and union members should follow the talks for possible changes affecting contracts, collective bargaining and employment rules.
Update: Employers call revision 'balanced', urge dialogue
Armindo Monteiro, president of the Confederação Empresarial de Portugal (CIP), told media the government's draft is “balanced” and does not justify “all this conflict,” calling instead for continued talks between unions and employers and warning that taking the proposal to the Assembly without prior agreement risks politicising the process ahead of elections.
The General Union of Workers (UGT – União Geral de Trabalhadores) is one of Portugal’s two main national trade union confederations. Founded in Lisbon on 28 October 1978, it was created as a social‑democratic alternative to the more communist‑aligned CGTP after the 1974 Revolution, grouping unions close to the Socialist Party and moderate centre‑right currents.
UGT represents around 400,000 workers and is affiliated to the European Trade Union Confederation and International Trade Union Confederation, giving Portuguese labour a voice at EU and global level. Its principles stress union independence from the state, employers, churches and parties, internal democracy and active worker participation.
Historically, UGT’s hallmark has been “propositive” social dialogue: it is usually more willing than CGTP to sign tripartite agreements on wages, labour law and social policy with governments and employers, shaping minimum wage increases, working‑time rules and social protection reforms. This makes UGT a key centrist actor in Portugal’s industrial relations, often mediating between left and right while defending collective bargaining and incremental improvements to labour rights.
The Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security (Ministério do Trabalho, Solidariedade e Segurança Social) is the Portuguese government department responsible for labour policy, social welfare and pensions. It sets and enforces labour rules, negotiates with unions and employers, and is where the meeting on Monday the 23rd at 9:30 AM with UGT and employer confederations will take place, so workers and employers should note any changes discussed there.
CGTP (Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses – Intersindical Nacional) regularly publishes studies and proposals on labor market conditions, wages, working time, and employment rights. These reports are used to support the union confederation's negotiating positions with the government and employers.
CGTP studies typically cover topics such as minimum wage adequacy, working hours reform, collective bargaining trends, social security sustainability, and the impact of proposed labor law changes on workers. The confederation uses this research to advocate for positions in tripartite social dialogue (Concertação Social) alongside the UGT union confederation and employer groups.
These publications are significant because they often shape public debate ahead of labor reforms and can influence the pace and direction of legislative changes.
Parental leave (licença parental) in Portugal includes paid leave around childbirth that can be shared between parents plus a separate paternity quota, with eligibility usually tied to social‑security contributions or residency. Payments and administration go through Social Security (Segurança Social), so expat parents should check their contribution record, employment contract and register with Segurança Social to claim benefits and confirm exact leave length and pay rates.
Social Concertation (Concertação Social) is Portugal's tripartite dialogue between the government, trade unions and employer associations to negotiate labour, social and economic policies. Its agreements often shape government proposals but are not binding, so if talks fail the government can still submit the labour-law revision to Parliament and will need to secure votes there, potentially relying on support from opposition parties such as Chega.
The General Confederation of the Portuguese Workers (CGTP – Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses) is Portugal’s largest trade-union confederation, grouping most unions in manufacturing, public services and many other sectors.
Founded clandestinely in 1970 as “Intersindical” under the dictatorship, it emerged publicly after the 1974 Carnation Revolution and was legalised in 1975. It has been central to virtually all major labour struggles since then, from defending collective bargaining and the 40‑hour week to leading general strikes against austerity and labour‑law rollbacks.
CGTP is historically close to the Portuguese Communist Party and has a class‑struggle, anti‑neoliberal profile, strongly critical of EU and government policies seen as undermining workers’ rights. It favours grassroots mobilisation and strikes over compromise, often refusing national social‑pact deals that the more centrist UGT is willing to sign.
In today’s Portugal, CGTP remains a key actor in wage bargaining, labour‑law debates and national protests; together with UGT it called the first joint general strike in years in December 2025, signalling its continuing capacity to organise mass action.
Armindo Monteiro is the president of CIP - Confederação Empresarial de Portugal (Confederation of Portuguese Business). He said on Monday that the government's proposed labour-law revision is "balanced" and called for dialogue between employers' and workers' representatives, a position that matters because CIP represents major employers and can shape labour negotiations affecting companies and workers in Portugal.
Segurança Social is Portugal's public social security system, responsible for administering pensions, unemployment benefits, sickness pay, parental leave, family allowances, and other social support payments. It is funded through mandatory contributions from employers and employees.
Most services are managed online through Segurança Social Direta (SSD), where users can check contribution records, apply for benefits, submit declarations, and track payments using their NISS (Social Security Identification Number) and Citizen Card credentials.
Key interactions for residents include registering as a contributor (mandatory for all workers), claiming unemployment benefits, applying for parental leave, and accessing the minimum income scheme (Rendimento Social de Inserção). Self-employed workers (trabalhadores independentes) must also make quarterly income declarations through the platform.
The Ministry of Labour (Ministério do Trabalho) is the government department responsible for employment policy, labour law, collective bargaining and workplace inspections. It organises talks between employers and unions and can convene negotiations or propose changes to labour rules, so its meetings affect workers and employers directly.
A banked hours scheme (banco de horas) is a flexible working time arrangement under Portuguese labor law that allows employees to accumulate overtime hours and use them later as time off, rather than receiving immediate overtime pay.
Under the Portuguese Labour Code, banked hours can be established through collective agreements or, in some cases, individual agreements. The scheme allows employers to vary working hours based on demand — requiring longer hours during peak periods and compensating with shorter hours or days off later.
Banked hours schemes are a frequent topic in labor reform negotiations, with unions (particularly CGTP) pushing for tighter limits and greater worker protections, while employers argue for more flexibility. Proposed reforms have included extending eligibility to parents of young children and adjusting the cap on banked hours.
