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Portugal has overhauled its immigration system by abolishing the long-standing job-seeker visa and replacing it with a more restrictive highly skilled work-seeking visa. The change, which took effect on October 23, 2025, led to the immediate cancellation of all scheduled job-seeker visa appointments.
The reform aims to attract professionals with advanced technical competencies, though the exact definition of “highly skilled” is yet to be determined. With the new regulations still under development, thousands of applicants are now in limbo, unable to apply until the legal framework is finalized.
The new skilled visa maintains a 120-day validity period, but unlike its predecessor, it cannot be used for Schengen travel and only allows residence within Portuguese territory. If applicants fail to find employment within this timeframe, they must leave Portugal and wait 12 months before reapplying.
The overhaul also ends the Manifestation of Interest program, a pathway that had allowed non-EU nationals to stay in Portugal, find employment, and later apply for residency. The program, which contributed to a backlog of around 400,000 cases, will officially close on December 31, 2025.
Employers in sectors such as tourism, hospitality, and agriculture have expressed concern that these restrictions could worsen ongoing labour shortages, with over 58,000 job vacancies currently reported nationwide.
Applicants with cancelled appointments are advised not to reapply until further notice. All pending applications made before October 23, 2025, should be verified directly with the relevant Portuguese consulate.
Source: Schengen Visa Info
Portugal Ends Job-Seeker Visa and Introduces New Skilled Work-Seeking Route
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