But president points to “doubts about expectations”
The new visa regime for citizens of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) has been rubber stamped by the President of the Republic, who says nonetheless that he has “doubts about the expectations” behind it.
“Taking into account the lack of opposition from a clear majority in the Assembly of the Republic, and despite doubts about the expectations that precede the new legal regime, the President of the Republic also promulgated the decree that amends Law No. 23/2007, of July 4, which approves the legal regime for the entry, stay, exit and removal of foreigners from the national territory”, states a note published on the official website of the presidency.
The new legal regime establishes a new concession of visas for CPLP citizens who will now have easier access to Portugal and will be able to apply for a temporary residence permit when they arrive with a short-term visa.
In many ways, it is a revival of the ‘expressions of interest’ mechanism that generated a flood of arrivals from India/ Bangladesh/ Pakistan, etc, but for a much more restricted group of countries.
In the case of people from East Timor, they will be able to enter Portugal as tourists and then apply for a residence permit. In the case of other CPLP citizens, they will have to present visas when they arrive, and can then apply for residence permits.
According to Público this morning, the promulgation of this new regime will require authorities to substitute over 150,000 A4-type residency permits currently held by citizens of CPLP countries, replacing them with the credit-card sized plastic permits.
The new rules also set deadlines for the departure process of citizens found to be in Portugal in an irregular situation, who will now be given between 10 – 20 days to voluntarily leave the country.
Under the new law, the government intended to create the new National Unit for Foreigners and Borders within the PSP and change the regime for the return of foreigners, but parliament rejected the proposal.
This new legal regime was approved in parliament on December 20 with votes in favor from the PSD and CDS/PP, abstentions from BE, Livre, IL, PS and CHEGA and votes against from PAN and PCP.
Source material: LUSA
