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Immigration

Immigration policy, visa changes, and the expat experience in Portugal.

Portugal's Immigration 'Green Lane' Delivers 3,328 Work Visas in First Year — Mostly Agriculture and Construction

Portugal's Immigration 'Green Lane' Delivers 3,328 Work Visas in First Year — Mostly Agriculture and Construction

Portugal's Via Verde para a Imigração (Immigration Green Lane), a fast-track visa scheme launched in April 2025, processed 5,183 applications in its first year and approved 3,328 work visas—a 64% success rate. Agriculture absorbed 60% of new...

Portugal's Asylum Backlog Doubles to Nearly 9,000 Cases as AIMA Transition Stalls Processing

Portugal's Asylum Backlog Doubles to Nearly 9,000 Cases as AIMA Transition Stalls Processing

Portugal's asylum system is groaning under mounting pressure, with pending applications nearly doubling to approximately 8,800 cases—a backlog officials attribute to the chaotic two-year transition from the dissolved border service SEF to the new...

Bank of Portugal: Immigration Has Driven Employment Growth, But the Trend Is Reversing Under New Rules

Bank of Portugal: Immigration Has Driven Employment Growth, But the Trend Is Reversing Under New Rules

The central bank's March economic bulletin reveals that foreign workers accounted for most employment growth since 2018, but stricter immigration policies and slower economic growth are now reducing their contribution—with major implications for Portugal's labor market and productivity.