Lisbon 12 June, 2026 — Portugal’s centre-right Democratic Alliance government has succeeded in approving a bill that ends the granting of residence permits to foreign students who arrive in the country without a prior visa.
With the support of the far right, which abstained, the government secured parliamentary approval to end the regularisation route for foreign students who do not hold a long-stay study visa.
The measure is expected to affect immigrants mainly Brazilians, enrolled in vocational and professional training courses. Brazilian students form the largest foreign student community in Portugal, across training courses, basic and secondary education, and universities.
Another change to the Foreigners Law also ends the possibility of regularising foreign parents through their children who are resident in Portugal. Until now, children could obtain residence authorisation because they were enrolled in school, which could also benefit their parents.
The changes approved to the Foreigners Law also alter return procedures and border screening processes. Portugal has approved faster deportation procedures and stricter detention measures for immigrants.
These recent restrictions have become known as Portugal’s anti-immigration package. Until recently, Portugal had one of the most flexible immigration systems in Europe, but the government has tightened the rules amid growing political pressure from the far right.
For students without a prior long-stay visa, regularisation through enrolment in a vocational course had become one of the last relatively accessible routes to apply for a residence permit.
Under the new wording of Bill No. 75/XVII, a residence permit for students enrolled in ISCED 2011 level 4 courses will only be granted to those who already hold a residence visa, are enrolled in an educational institution, and are covered by Portugal’s National Health Service or by health insurance.
The new rule closes one of the remaining doors for Brazilian tourists who hoped to regularise their stay after arriving in Portugal. The government had previously suggested that this route would remain available, but has now changed course. From now on, only migrants who obtain the correct visa before entering Portugal will be able to receive a residence permit through this study route.
Another important change ends the possibility of regularising foreign parents through children who are resident in Portugal. Until now, children could obtain residence because they were enrolled in school, and this could help their parents regularise their own situation. That route is now being closed.
The package also changes return and border procedures. Portugal approved measures for faster deportation of immigrants, new screening procedures at the border, and stricter detention rules for people subject to removal or return procedures.
These measures are part of what has been described as Portugal’s anti-immigration package. Until recently, Portugal had one of the most flexible immigration systems in Europe, but the current government has moved to tighten the rules under growing pressure from the far right.
The government had previously indicated that some study-based regularisation routes could remain open, but it has now changed course. In practice, foreign students who want residence in Portugal will need to obtain the correct visa before entering the country.
The proposal had already been approved by the Council of Ministers before passing through Parliament. It still needs to be promulgated by the President before it can come into force.