Following the most recent legislative amendments and governmental guidelines, Portugal is expected to further strengthen the conditions for entry and residence of foreign nationals wishing to attend educational institutions in the country, by requiring the prior issuance of a residence visa or a study visa, depending on the applicable legal framework.
These changes form part of a broader trend towards the reinforcement of migration control mechanisms and the closer alignment between immigration law and the education system, with a direct impact on the interpretation and application of Law No. 23/2007 of 4 July, as well as on the administrative practice of consular posts and AIMA.
In practical terms, these changes may have significant legal consequences, particularly in the way the admissibility of entry into Portugal for study purposes is assessed, as a stricter prior verification of legal requirements is expected before the student travels to Portugal. This implies that the Portuguese State will, as a rule, require the prior issuance of a consular residence visa for study purposes for students enrolled in Portuguese educational institutions, making it no longer possible, in principle, to enter Portugal with the intention of later regularising one’s status before AIMA. This therefore places stricter conditions on both the timing and the legal pathway for accessing the Portuguese education system.
In an increasingly complex regulatory environment and with continuously evolving administrative procedures, a prior and individual legal assessment of each situation is of particular importance, in order to ensure the correct legal framework from the outset of the process.
Specialised legal assistance helps mitigate common risks, such as visa refusals due to incorrect legal classification, use of inappropriate procedural routes, or failure to comply with essential formal requirements.
Source: https://www.publico.pt/2026/05/08/sociedade/noticia/portugal-vai-exigir-visto-residencia-estudo-estrangeiros-entram-escolas-portuguesas-2173972
