Opinion. We have a new foreigners law in Portugal. And now?

Text Priscila S. Nazareth Ferreira*

Portugal has changed! For better or worse, the truth is that the country has changed. Once the most immigrant-friendly country in the entire European Union (EU), it now resembles countries like France, Italy and Austria, whose anti-immigration flag has advanced.

The President promulgated today, 16/10/2025, the new law, which once published becomes valid the day following publication in the Diário da República (DRE). Marcelo Rebello de Sousa’s statements over the months left no doubt that the disagreement was felt.

Close to 80 years of life, it is clear that he has in his memory like a living book all the most relevant events in the country in the last 60/50 years, and with the wisdom that is characteristic of teachers, he realized that the change in the law could cause unprecedented economic and cultural damage, and made statements to that effect months ago.

Without the contribution of immigration, social security regresses. Without the contribution of immigration, the birth rate in the country, one of the oldest in Europe, reaches numbers close to zero. Without the incentive for immigrants to come, the job market presents a shortage of labor and shortages in areas important to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), such as civil construction, tourism and agriculture.

The elderly, in their wisdom, know how to wait patiently for events to unfold. The direction of today’s Portugal may be to find a place in the next few years where no Portuguese would like to be, especially those who depend on reforms to pay for their basic needs. Who is left with this unpayable bill without contributions from immigrants? Taxes will increase to cover expenses whose revenues have gone…

Reality is harsh, but you have to face it head on. The politics that are made today do not attract young talent. Many university students do not even choose Portugal as a place to study, and see Erasmus as a gateway to other realities, and when they return to the country they are already planning what will become of their professional life: immigrating!

Luxembourg, Germany, Holland, France and Switzerland are the destination of thousands of Portuguese people. This contribution revenue does not reach the country’s Social Security, which today receives more than 60% of State subsidies to pay the so-called pensions and subsidies.

Look at what is real. Move away from the empty speech of xenophobia. In numbers, in finance, in cultural, academic and technological development, Portugal needs immigrants. These immigrants cannot count on Portugal as the friendly country of the past. And the economy loses!

With the end of this attractive legislation, we hope that the so-called failing services will return to normal levels. We hope so! But what if that’s not the case?

How was blame distributed?

How do you correct a decade of delay?

And when all the Portuguese who today shout slogans against immigration discover that they have been deceived?

You cannot combat the “Islamic” invasion so feared throughout Western Europe with laws like this. If the problem is access is limited by country. We observe the Islam of everyone in the UAE region, it is another Islam, whose commercial and cultural interest in Europe does not impose fear.

Who really are the immigrants whom Portugal fears? Let us speak the truth without hypocrisy. Changing a law because of xenophobic speech is not wise, and the future will take its toll.

Unfortunately, time doesn’t allow him to “return”, he only moves forward. And after this new law comes into force, and in the following years, it will be proven that the immigrant was never to blame. It’s about the terrible State policies, which don’t even manage to keep those who are already here, among qualified immigrants and young Portuguese who are starting out in the job market, to stay. And this is exactly why undesirable immigration is growing and that which offers growth is decreasing.

But it will be late. President Marcelo Rebello de Sousa has already warned you. And from the height of retirement he will be able to say, with the wisdom of the “elders”: I warned you!

*Priscila S. Nazareth Ferreira is a Private International Law lawyer working on immigration.