PORTUGAL IMMIGRATION REFORM 2026: PARLIAMENT APPROVES FINAL TEXT – LAW NOW AWAITS PRESIDENTIAL REVIEW
Lisbon | 18 July 2026
Portugal’s Parliament approved the final text of immigration reforms affecting DGERT vocational students, Article 92 applicants and certain parents of foreign minor children. The proposal now awaits presidential review and is not yet in force.
Portugal’s Parliament approved the final text of the 2026 Immigration Law reform on 17 July. The proposed changes affect vocational-course residence applications and certain parents of foreign minor children. The law is not yet in force and must still receive presidential review, promulgation and official publication.
The Portuguese Parliament has approved the final text of the proposed Immigration Law reform during its final plenary session before the summer recess. The proposal includes significant changes affecting DGERT vocational students, Article 92 applicants, and certain residence pathways for parents of foreign minor children.
Current Legal Stage
The legislative process has now reached the following stage:
- Government proposal completed.
- Submitted to Parliament.
- Approved in first reading.
- Committee examination completed.
- Amendments considered.
- Final committee text prepared.
- Final Parliamentary Vote completed (17 July 2026).
- Next Stage: Presidential review.
- Presidential promulgation.
- Publicação the Diário da República.
- Entry into force on the date specified in the published law.
Main Proposed Changes Approved by Parliament
The final parliamentary text includes proposals to:
Introduce further amendments to several immigration procedures and residence permit rules. Programme remains available. The principal concern for many investors is the longer, less predictable route to Portuguese nationality.
End regularisation through enrolment in certain vocational or professional training courses.
Restrict the residence route to those who are the parent of a foreign minor child residing in Portugal.
PORTUGAL IMMIGRATION REFORM 2026
The proposal must still undergo presidential review, promulgation and publication in the Diário da República before becoming legally effective. One of the biggest proposed changes is that foreign nationals would no longer be able to regularise their stay by enrolling in vocational or professional training courses (the route commonly associated with vocational students/Article 92). The government’s aim is to stop people from using vocational courses primarily as an immigration pathway.
Crown Portugal will continue to monitor the official process and share verified updates.
On 17 July 2026, the Portuguese Parliament approved the final revision of the TVDE law (final global vote). This is official parliamentary approval, but the law still has to undergo final drafting and be sent to the President of the Republic for promulgation before it enters into force.
Possible Impact on the Immigration Community
If the proposed law completes the remaining legislative stages and enters into force, it may have a significant impact on members of the immigration community who previously planned to enter Portugal on a short-stay (Schengen) visa and later apply to regularise their stay through vocational or professional training programmes.
Individuals considering this pathway should closely monitor the legislative process and seek updated information before making travel or immigration decisions. The final legal effect will depend on the text that is ultimately promulgated by the President of the Republic and published in the Diário da República.
Crown Portugal will continue to monitor all official developments and provide timely, verified updates to help immigrants and international students understand the legal changes and their potential implications.
It is important to emphasise that the parliamentary vote does not by itself bring the law into force. The proposal must still undergo presidential review, be promulgated, published in the Diário da República, and enter into force on the date specified in the final legislation.
Until those constitutional steps are completed, the existing legal framework continues to apply. Individuals with pending applications or those considering moving to Portugal should closely follow official announcements and obtain up-to-date professional advice before making immigration, study, or investment decisions.