Published
27/10/2025 às 18:43
The Portuguese government has suspended new work visa applications for Brazilians, introducing the “skilled work visa.” Learn what’s changing, why, and how this impacts Brazilians who planned to work in Portugal.
Last Wednesday (October 22, 2025), the government of Portugal announced that all consulates and visa centers will no longer accept applications for the work visa for job seekers from Thursday (October 23).
The decision especially affects the Brazilians who were looking for this path.
According to information from NA+, the change takes place in Portugal and was motivated by the publication of the Law No. 61/2025, which changes the regime for entry and stay of foreigners in the country and replaces the old visa with a new one: the “qualified work visa”.
Since October 23, old requests for work visa for job search will no longer be accepted at Portuguese consulates or visa centers such as VFS Global.
In place of this model, a new type of visa will be opened — the visa for seeking qualified work — which, however, there is still no defined practical regulation.
In other words: anyone who has not yet filed an old application will be prevented from using the previous model, and will be left in uncertainty until the Portuguese government publishes the specific rules for the new visa.
Furthermore, one of the law’s objectives is to restrict the entry of foreigners without technical qualifications, in order to prioritize “highly qualified” activities.
Why did Portugal adopt this change?
The country argues that the measure is justified because the previous model allowed mass applications for job-seeking visas, many by Portuguese-speaking citizens, such as Brazilians.
The new law aims to make the immigration regime more “strategic” and aligned with the need for qualified labor.
Another reason is the desire to give greater clarity and selectivity: only workers with specialized skills, to be defined by ordinance, will be able to apply for the new skilled work visa.
Who will be affected — and how Brazilians fit into the picture
Os Brazilians are directly impacted by this change.
Until then, most job-seeking visas granted in Portugal were for Brazilian citizens. According to data, in 2024, approximately 40% of work visas in Portugal were issued to Brazilians.
With the suspension, anyone who has not yet submitted the old application will be prevented from doing so until the new type is regulated. Those who filed before the law was published will be able to maintain some rights under the old rules.
Portuguese companies that relied on foreign workers may be impacted, as the change reduces the pool of potential candidates to whom the old visa applied.
What happens to ongoing work visa applications and new appointments?
For registered orders before October 22, the old regime still applies in many cases — Portuguese consulates have indicated that requests under these conditions will continue under the previous rules.
However, from October 23, new applications under the old modality will not be accepted, and all appointments have already been canceled by the visa centers.
The new modality — skilled work visa — can only be requested once its regulations are published, and there is still no public timeline defined.
What interested parties should do now
Given this situation, Brazilians who planned to use their work visa in Portugal should take some precautions:
Check whether the request was already filed before the move or whether it is still in the scheduling phase.
Wait for the publication of the regulations that will define the professions, requirements and conditions of the new skilled work visa.
Consider legal entry alternatives, such as study visas, direct employment contracts, or other migration modalities, until the new regime comes into effect.
Avoid risking attempts at irregular entry or requests under conditions that are no longer valid, as these may lead to immigration complications.
Potential impacts and next steps
The measure brings uncertainty both for Brazilians who were planning to migrate to Portugal in search of employment and for Portuguese companies that depend on foreign recruitment.
Until the new visa is regulated, there is an operational “vacuum” in the migration process.
On the other hand, Portugal gains room to define priorities and focus on workers with specific qualifications, aligning itself with economic development strategies.
The next essential step will be the publication of ordinances or regulations defining which “specialized technical skills” will be accepted, as well as the deadlines, fees, and obligations for the new visa. Without this, the status quo remains on hold.
With information from the ND+ website.