Immigration regulations temporarily postponed due to upcoming polls
In a recent gathering to evaluate the first year of the Diário de Notícias DN Brasil project, Rui Armindo Freitas affirmed that the changes announced on Monday were long-standing pledges.
The changes unveiled include alterations to the nationality law, foreigner law, harmonization of residence permits within the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), and new guidelines for highly qualified immigrants.
Freitas started the work in April of the previous year, but political decisions couldn't be halted, he said at the press conference. Had the legislature not been interrupted and elections not occurred in May 2025, these measures would have already been presented earlier, he explained.
Commemorating the one-year anniversary of DN Brasil's inception, the governor emphasized that this editorial project came to life around the same time as the previous administration presented its action plan for immigration in June.
For Freitas, in the current climate, it's essential that there are editorial ventures combating misinformation, as he strives to "deliver the truth to readers."
The chaotic scenario that greeted the project featured over 400,000 backlogged cases at the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA), in addition to issues with CPLP authorizations (which were not in sync with European rules) and documentation renewal, with "papers successively renewed since 2020."
To address these challenges head-on, the government established a mission structure that amplified the State's capacity to deliver services six-fold, as the expeditious entry recently meant that "the elasticity of State services couldn't keep up with demand."
Currently focused on attracting immigrants from the CPLP, the government's primary entry priorities also include welcoming talent and investment. Portuguese fluency is crucial for the immigrants' integration, Freitas stated, and an organized immigration system must be able to open and close doors adeptly in order to have the desired immigration and welcome newcomers in an appropriate manner.
The new migration policy aims for a "firm yet moderate stance, clear rules, leading the immigration debate, void of hate speech." Without clear, decisive rules, fragile ground may develop, allowing hate speech to thrive, he warned. Only democratic societies and accurate information, he believes, can forge a harmonious society capable of accepting newcomers warmly.
In the same session, the director of Diário de Notícias, Filipe Alves, highlighted the media's role in combating disinformation and upholding democratic societies. Meanwhile, Marco Galinha, the group's director, commended the DN Brasil project, appreciating its significance in providing a Brazilian editor's voice to the Brazilian populace residing in Portugal. Today, Diário de Notícias boasts a global online audience of five million per month.
Launched in June of last year, Diário de Notícias Brasil caters to the Brazilian community living in Portugal. The project includes multiple pages in the paper edition of Diário de Notícias, written in Brazilian Portuguese, as well as a supplement and a website.
Among the changes on the horizon, the Portuguese government aims to extend the residency requirement for citizenship, tighten eligibility criteria, and adopt stricter border controls. Additionally, the government plans to implement more language requirements, recreate institutional structures for immigration and border management, and revise family reunification and residence permit regulations.
- The changes in the immigration policy unveiled by the Portuguese government include plans to harmonize residence permits within the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), which is a significant shift in policy-and-legislation related to politics and foreign affairs.
- Commemorating the one-year anniversary of DN Brasil's inception, the governor emphasized the importance ofeditorial ventures like DN Brasil, particularly in the current climate of general-news, where combating misinformation and delivering the truth to readers is crucial.
