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The Portuguese Government Suspended New Work Visa Applications for Brazilians, Instituting the “Qualified Work Visa.” Learn What Changes, Why, and How This Affects Brazilians Who Planned to Work in Portugal.
On Wednesday (October 22, 2025), the government of Portugal announced that all consulates and visa centers will stop accepting applications for work visas for job searching starting from Thursday (October 23).
The decision particularly affects Brazilians who have been seeking this route.
According to information from ND+, the change takes place in Portugal and was motivated by the publication of Law no. 61/2025, which alters the entry and stay regime of foreigners in the country and replaces the old visa with a new one: the “qualified work visa.”
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What Changes with the New Work Visa Regime
As of October 23, old applications for work visas for job searching will no longer be accepted at Portuguese consulates or visa centers like VFS Global.
In place of this model, a new type of visa will be introduced — the qualified job searching visa — which, however, still does not have defined practical regulations.
In other words: those who have not yet submitted an old application will be prevented from using the previous model, and will remain uncertain until the Portuguese government publishes specific guidelines for the new visa.
Additionally, among the objectives of the law is to restrict the entry of unqualified foreigners in order to prioritize activities of “high qualification.”
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 migration regime more “strategic” and aligned with the needs for qualified labor.
Another reason is the desire to provide greater clarity and selectivity: only workers with specialized skills, to be defined by regulation, will be able to apply for the new qualified work visa.
Who Will Be Affected — and How Brazilians Fit into the Scenario
Brazilians are directly impacted by this change.
Until now, a large portion of the job-seeking visas granted in Portugal were for Brazilian citizens. According to data, in 2024, about 40% of work visas in Portugal were issued to Brazilians.
With the suspension, those who have not yet submitted the old application will be prevented from doing so until the new type is regulated. Those who submitted before the law was published will be able to retain some rights under the old rules.
Portuguese companies that relied on foreign labor may be affected, 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 applications registered before October 22, the old regime still applies in many cases — Portuguese consulates indicated that requests under these conditions will continue under the previous rules.
However, as of October 23, new applications under the old modality will not be accepted, and all scheduled appointments have been canceled by the visa centers.
The new modality — qualified work visa — can only be requested once its regulation is published, and there is currently no defined public timeline.
What Should Interested Parties Do Now
In light of this situation, Brazilians who planned to use the work visa in Portugal should take some precautions:
- Check if the application has already been submitted before the change or if 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 qualified work visa.
- Consider legal entry alternatives, such as student visas, direct work contracts, or other migration modalities, until the new regime is operational.
- Avoid risking attempts at irregular entry or applications under no longer valid conditions, as they may lead to immigration complications.
Potential Impacts and Next Steps
The measure brings uncertainties for both Brazilians who planned to migrate to Portugal in search of work and for Portuguese companies that depend on foreign recruitment.
Until the new visa is regulated, there is an operational “gap” in the migration process.
On the other hand, Portugal gains room to set priorities and focus on workers with specific qualifications, aligning with economic development strategies.
The next essential step will be the publication of regulations that define what “specialized technical skills” will be accepted, as well as the deadlines, fees, and obligations for the new visa. Without this, the status remains one of waiting.
With information from the ND+ website.
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