The Lisbon Meeting of Ministers for Immigration, who meet every Wednesday, discussed the possibility of Portugal introducing a new Immigration Law in the future. This is the first official meeting of the Ministry of the High Commission for Immigration with the Portuguese Parliament. The ministers discussed the possibility of a law that would create a dual citizenship category for immigrants to the country. Under this system, immigrants would have two national identities – one British and one Portuguese. This means that if someone chooses to live in the UK and use British citizenship, he or she would be able to live in Portugal also.
There are mixed opinions on the possibility of a dual citizenship law for Portugal. Some experts believe that it is not feasible because of the way the Portuguese law system works, which makes it difficult for a foreign national to have two identities at the same time. The process of applying for Portuguese citizenship is much more complicated compared to other European Union countries. There are many procedures to be fulfilled before immigrants can finally receive their permanent residence in Portugal.
In response to the issue, the Government decided to introduce a new immigration law that would address some of these concerns of the EU. The law is scheduled to be introduced in the future but there is no specific date set aside for when it will take effect. The Minister of Justice, Joaquim de Queiroz, said that the introduction of such a law would help both Portugal and the EU distinguish between people who are lawfully present in one country and those who are not. By doing so, they would be able to tackle the root cause of crime in both regions.
Currently, there are seven categories of immigrants in Portugal. Those from Nigeria, Morocco, Germany, Italy, Spain, Eastern Europe are all recognized as immigrant categories. According to the new law, each of these immigrant groups would have a different right to reside and work in Portugal. The new law would also specify the circumstances under which an immigrant might lose his or her citizenship. However, the minister expressed his willingness to consider the proposal put forward by the Parliamentarians, stating that, he would like to study the proposal and review its impact on the country.
The law would also require that immigrants to register with the Portugal authorities so that they can avail of public services such as health care, education and unemployment benefits. The law would also state that dual citizenship could be allowed if the immigrant has citizenship of another country. Additionally, immigrants who have no right to reside or work in Portugal would be required to give up their foreign nationality and become a Portuguese citizen. If, after five years, the immigrant does not return to Portugal, he or she would lose his or her citizenship.
The main reason why the new law is being introduced is because most of the illegal immigrants from developing countries have left Portugal over the last few years due to high unemployment rate, poverty and other reasons. The new law will surely increase the country’s security in the wake of the current global economic crisis. The new law states that anyone who enters Portugal without a valid permission will be fined or imprisoned depending on the maximum penalties that are present.
There is no doubt that the introduction of this new immigration law has brought hope to many illegal immigrants in Portugal. They feel secure now that they know that they will not face any punishment or jail time for the crime of entering Portugal illegally. However, the Minister for Home Affairs, Lisbon, stated that those immigrants who have lived in Portugal for more than three years and have not been eligible for naturalization will be granted stay status. The law would also state that children of immigrants who have been born in Portugal will be granted the right to reside here permanently. Lastly, the Minister for Justice, Joao Vieira, stated that all criminal records of immigrants will be kept by the police. This new law has proven to be a relief to the many illegal immigrants in Portugal.
Immigration to Portugal has been a hot topic for years and many people were apprehensive about moving to this European country due to previous laws that restricted immigration. With the implementation of the new immigration law in 2021, the fears were put to rest as everyone can now legally migrate to Portugal. If you or someone you know is currently an immigrant, you may want to take the time to review your options now that the new law has become a reality. It is important to understand the process required for eligibility and all the requirements involved.
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