Portugal has abruptly canceled all work-seeking visa appointments following the enforcement of Law No. 61/2025, which took effect on October 23, 2025. The law fundamentally changes how Portugal manages immigration, replacing the former job seeker visa with a new “highly skilled work-seeking visa.”

Announced in Portugal’s Official Gazette on October 22, the new law abolishes the previous job seeker visa that allowed foreigners to stay in Portugal for up to 120 days while searching for employment. Under the revised system, only applicants with “specialized technical competencies” will qualify once regulations are established — but as of late October, no such regulations exist.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that all previously scheduled appointments for work-seeking visas have been automatically canceled, leaving thousands of applicants in limbo until the new framework is finalized. No timeline has yet been announced for when applications will reopen.

A rapid legal shift leaves a gap

Law No. 61/2025 was approved by parliament on September 30, signed by the president on October 16, and came into effect one day after publication. It amends Article 57-A of Portugal’s Foreigners Law, replacing the open job seeker visa with a highly selective alternative.

The new visa, valid for 120 days, will be issued only to individuals with “specialized technical competencies,” as defined by a future ministerial order from the departments of foreign affairs, immigration, education, and labor. Unlike the previous visa, it will be valid only within Portugal — removing the Schengen-wide access that had made the country a popular entry point for workers aiming to relocate within Europe.

Applicants who fail to secure employment within 120 days must leave Portugal and wait one year before reapplying.

End of the “manifestation of interest”

The law also officially ends Portugal’s “manifestation of interest” system — a pathway that allowed non-EU nationals to enter as tourists, find jobs, and regularize their status after 12 months of social security contributions.

This route, which created a backlog of roughly 400,000 pending cases, will close permanently on December 31, 2025. Applications not submitted by that date will be forfeited.

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro previously called for an end to what he described as “abuse of hospitality by migrants,” signaling the government’s intention to tighten migration controls.

Green route remains open — but few qualify

An alternative pathway, the Via Verde or “Green Route,” remains in place for foreign workers with pre-arranged employment. Introduced in April 2025, it promises a 20-day visa processing period but imposes strict requirements on sponsoring employers.

Eligible companies must have at least 150 employees, an annual turnover of €25 million, no outstanding debts, and must provide adequate housing and job-specific or Portuguese-language training. These conditions effectively exclude most small and medium-sized businesses.

The program targets labor shortages in agriculture, construction, tourism, services, and industry — sectors that rely heavily on migrant workers.

Legal experts warn of labour shortages

Immigration lawyers and business leaders have warned that the immediate cancellation of job-seeking visas will worsen existing labor shortages.

According to Eurostat, Portugal currently faces 58,000 job vacancies across eight industries, including 70,000 needed workers in construction and nearly 50,000 in tourism and hospitality.

Law firm LVP Advogados noted that “sectors dependent on lower-skilled workers, such as hospitality and agriculture, may face acute shortages as the new visa focuses exclusively on highly skilled professionals.”

Madeira Corporate Services highlighted that “some measures depend on secondary regulations from AIMA and the Ministry of Interior,” emphasizing uncertainty around implementation.

Centuro Global added that since April 2025, Portugal has adopted a “zero-defect” policy for immigration paperwork — applications must be 100% complete at submission, leaving little room for error.

What visa applicants need to know

Applicants who had work-seeking visa appointments scheduled at VFS Global, BLS International, or TLScontact do not need to cancel them manually — all appointments have been voided automatically.

Officials advise applicants to monitor official embassy and consular websites for updates on when new applications will be accepted under the revised “highly skilled work-seeking visa.”

Until the required regulations are issued, the program remains on hold — leaving thousands of aspiring workers waiting, and employers across Portugal facing growing concerns over labor shortages.