Portugal has approved a bill to tighten migration rules, including longer detention and faster deportations. The proposal by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro’s government now goes to parliament, where it may depend on far-right support to be voted through.
The Portuguese government approved new legislation on Thursday (March 19) aimed at strengthening its ability to remove undocumented migrants, marking another step in a broader shift toward stricter immigration policies under the current administration.
The bill, endorsed by the cabinet on Thursday, will now be debated in parliament. Although the government led by Social Democrat Prime Minister Luís Montenegro does not command a majority, it has previously relied on backing from far-right lawmakers, such as the Chega party, to pass similar measures.
Since assuming office in 2024, Montenegro’s government has introduced a series of reforms designed to tighten migration controls. This represents a departure from the approach of the previous Socialist administration, under which Portugal maintained one of Europe’s more relaxed immigration systems.
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What would the new legislation mean for migrants?
Montenegro had vowed to put an end to Portugal's "wide-open doors" policy, which led to putting an end to allowing non-EU migrants to move to Portugal without an employment contract and later apply for residency after paying social security for a year. Migrants now need an employment contract before moving to the country.
The newly approved proposal would considerably lengthen the maximum period migrants can be held in temporary detention centers, from the current limit of 60 days to as long as 18 months. The legislation also seeks to shorten procedural timelines for deportations and lengthen re-entry bans imposed on those expelled.
Government spokesman António Leitão Amaro defended the measures following the cabinet meeting, stating: "There must be consequences for illegality, and that implies removal, and faster removal."
"Portugal was among the European countries with the lowest removal rates," he added.
The legislation is expected to face debate in parliament, where its passage may again depend on support from parties outside the governing coalition.
By the end of 2024, Portugal had approximately 1.55 million foreign residents, accounting for around 15 percent of the total population. According to official data, the number of immigrants has increased fourfold since 2017.
With AFP