However, understanding when the system ended—and which transitional protections applied—is essential. The closure of the route should not be confused with the cancellation of every application previously submitted under it.
For anyone affected, the next steps depend on their application history, immigration status, and eligibility for another residence pathway.
When Was the Expression of Interest Abolished?
The Expression of Interest mechanism was abolished by Decree-Law No. 37-A/2024, which took effect on 4 June 2024.
Previously, qualifying non-EU nationals could apply for residence based on employment or self-employment without first obtaining the corresponding residence visa.
Transitional provisions protected certain existing cases. Law No. 40/2024 subsequently extended protection to qualifying individuals who, before 4 June 2024, were already registered with Social Security and making contributions through employment or self-employment, with a view to completing the required contribution period.
Law Nº 61/2025, published on 22 October 2025, introduced further changes, including a submission deadline for that additional transitional category.
What Did the 31 December 2025 Deadline Cover?
The deadline did not require every pending Expression of Interest case to be approved or completed by 31 December 2025.
It applied specifically to residence applications under the transitional provision covering qualifying individuals already registered and contributing to Social Security before the abolition of the mechanism.
Those applications had to be submitted by 31 December 2025, under penalty of expiry of the entitlement provided by that provision.
The distinction matters:
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Submitting an application is different from receiving an appointment or decision.
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An eligible application submitted in time should not be treated as having expired solely because AIMA had not decided it by the deadline.
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Missing this deadline does not, by itself, establish that every other immigration option is unavailable.
Anyone uncertain about whether they submitted a qualifying application should review their receipts, payment records, correspondence, and procedural history.
What Else Changed Under Law Nº 61/2025?
The law also amended job-seeker visas, family reunification, and certain residence procedures.
It introduced two limited 180-day transitional windows:
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Certain holders of employment or self-employment residence permits could request conversion to a permit for teaching, highly qualified, or cultural activity, provided they met the relevant requirements.
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Eligible sponsors could request residence for family members already in Portugal who had entered legally and met the applicable family reunification conditions.
These were temporary provisions, rather than a general obligation for all residents to change their permits. The original windows have now elapsed.
What Are the Current Family Reunification Rules?
Under the general framework, the sponsor must have held a valid residence permit for at least two years.
A shorter 15-month period applies to a spouse or equivalent partner who lived with the sponsor for at least 18 months immediately before the sponsor entered Portugal.
The waiting period does not apply to specified categories, including:
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Dependent minors or persons lacking legal capacity;
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A spouse or equivalent partner who is, together with the sponsor, the parent or adoptive parent of a dependent minor or person lacking legal capacity;
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Family members of holders of qualifying highly qualified activity permits, Golden Visa permits, or EU Blue Cards.
Exceptional reductions or waivers may also be available. Other requirements, including accommodation and financial resources, still need to be assessed.
See our guide to Portugal’s family reunification rules.
Does the Skilled Job Seeker Visa Replace the Old System?
It is a different mechanism.
The amended Article 57-A provides for a skilled job seeker visa aimed at applicants with specialised technical skills. The framework allows a stay of 120 days, extendable by a further 60 days, and links the route to highly qualified professional activity.
Unlike the former Expression of Interest mechanism, this is a visa route to be pursued before travelling to Portugal for that purpose.
The law requires the relevant specialised technical skills to be defined through implementing regulations. Applicants should confirm the current availability, eligibility criteria, and submission procedures directly with the competent Portuguese consulate before relying on this option.
What If You Missed the Transitional Deadline?
The first step is to establish exactly which provision applied to you and whether a valid submission was made.
If no qualifying application was submitted in time, potential alternatives should be assessed individually. Depending on your circumstances, these may include employment, highly qualified activity, entrepreneurship, family-based residence, or another statutory route.
However, an alternative visa category is not automatically an in-country regularisation mechanism. It may require an application abroad, and previous immigration breaches or removal decisions can affect the assessment.
A job offer, Social Security registration, or tax payments should not be assumed to create a residence entitlement on their own.
Can Companies Still Recruit Foreign Workers?
Yes. Portugal continues to provide legal routes for recruiting foreign workers.
Employers and candidates should identify the appropriate visa or residence procedure early and prepare the necessary contracts, qualification evidence, and supporting documents.
The closure of the Expression of Interest route makes it particularly important to establish the immigration pathway before relocation, rather than assume that employment after arrival will resolve the worker’s status.
Are the D7 and Golden Visa Still Available?
The closure of the Expression of Interest route did not abolish the D7 visa or the Golden Visa programme.
These remain separate pathways with their own eligibility requirements. Their availability does not mean that every person already in Portugal can switch into them without completing the relevant procedures.
Residence eligibility should also be distinguished from nationality eligibility.
Since 19 May 2026, the ordinary residence-based nationality route generally requires seven years of legal residence for nationals of Portuguese-speaking countries and EU Member States, or ten years for other nationals. Nationality applications already pending when the amendments entered into force remain subject to the previous rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can I Submit a New Expression of Interest in 2026?
No. The mechanism was abolished with effect from 4 June 2024. The submission deadline for the additional Social Security-based transitional category also passed on 31 December 2025.
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Did Every Pending Application Have to Be Approved by 31 December 2025?
No. The deadline concerned submission under a specific transitional provision, rather than approval of every pending case.
If you submitted an eligible application in time, retain proof of submission and respond to subsequent requests from AIMA.
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What Happens If I Missed the Deadline?
You should first confirm whether the deadline applied to your circumstances and whether you have evidence of a qualifying submission.
If you cannot rely on the transitional provision, another immigration route may be available. However, it may involve different requirements or an application from abroad.
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Does Having a Job or Paying Social Security Give Me Residence Rights?
Not automatically. Employment and contribution records may be relevant evidence, but they do not independently replace a visa or establish eligibility for a residence permit.
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What If I Am Already in Portugal Without Valid Immigration Status?
Your options depend on your entry history, previous applications, family connections, professional circumstances, and any official decisions affecting you.
Obtain an individual assessment before applying, travelling, or relying on another route. A job offer alone should not be treated as a guarantee of regularisation.
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Is the Skilled Job Seeker Visa Currently Available?
Confirm this directly with the competent Portuguese consulate. The existence of a visa category in legislation does not, by itself, establish that applications are being accepted or that all implementing requirements have been finalised.
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Can I Still Apply for Family Reunification?
Yes, provided the applicable conditions are met. The general waiting period, shorter spouse-related period, and exemptions must be assessed against your residence category and family circumstances.
The expiry of the original transitional window did not abolish family reunification.
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Does the Closure Affect the D7 Visa or Golden Visa?
It did not abolish either programme. Both remain separate routes with their own requirements, and neither should be assumed to provide automatic regularisation for someone already in Portugal.
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Is Citizenship Still Available After Five Years?
The ordinary residence-based route now generally requires seven or ten years, depending on nationality.
Applications already pending on 19 May 2026 remain subject to the previous rules. Other nationality routes have separate eligibility conditions.
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Can Portuguese Companies Still Hire Foreign Workers?
Yes. Employers and candidates must follow the appropriate immigration procedure. An employment contract alone does not guarantee permission to enter, remain, or work in Portugal.
Final Thoughts
Portugal’s Expression of Interest mechanism has closed, but the consequences depend on the individual case.
The essential questions are whether a protected application was submitted, which transitional provision applied, and whether another lawful residence route is available.
At Visas.pt, we help applicants review their immigration history, understand the applicable requirements, and identify the appropriate next steps.
General information, not legal advice. Updated 6 October 2026.