LISBON:- The Portuguese government has approved a new proposed law aimed at speeding up the deportation process for illegal immigrants. The cabinet meeting held on Thursday, March 19, 2026, approved the draft law and sent it to parliament, where it will need the support of far-right parties, especially MPs from the Sega party, to ensure a majority. The proposed law provides for the accelerated deportation of foreign nationals who are staying illegally.

The proposed rules would pave the way for undocumented migrants in Portugal to complete the legal process and return home immediately. The move marks a major change in Portugal’s immigration policy. The long-standing “manifestation of interest” system, which allows people to obtain legal status based on employment, has been completely abolished. From now on, people will only be able to enter Portugal with the appropriate visa and work permit from their embassy in their home country before entering.

At a press conference after the cabinet meeting, Minister of State for the Presidency, Laitao Amaro, said the new law was “absolutely necessary.” He said it was a “very important reform” and had been widely discussed in Portuguese society.

Minister Amaro said that immigrants who arrive legally should be integrated, but those who enter the country through illegal immigration networks should face legal consequences. “Those who choose illegality should face consequences, which means a speedy deportation process,” he explained. According to him, compliance with the law is mandatory and those who violate it must face consequences, which is a fundamental rule of an effective immigration policy.

The new proposed law would eliminate the notification process for voluntary departure, which ministers have described as an unnecessary administrative step. It would also introduce incentives to prioritise voluntary returns. The period of detention in temporary accommodation centres would also be extended, with the government proposing to increase the maximum period to 18 months, saying the current 60-day period was unworkable.

Similarly, asylum or refugee status will not be used as a means to delay deportation, and the number of cases where appeals automatically halt the process will be reduced. The law provides for detention to be used only as a last resort, and the criteria used to prevent deportation will be reviewed and stricter proof of genuine and permanent residence will be required. The re-entry ban on those who are forcibly deported will also be extended.

According to Minister Amaro, the government received more than 100 suggestions during the public consultation, some of which have been incorporated into the law. “This legal provision will accelerate the process of returning foreign nationals found in illegal situations,” he said.

He cited the example of 38 Moroccan nationals who arrived illegally by boat in the Algarve region last summer, saying that the laws in place at the time were not sufficient to detain them and complete the return process. After their release, the individuals fled the country.

Amaro claimed that Portugal has one of the lowest return rates in Europe (less than 5 percent) due to the old law. “If there are border controls, police operations and monitoring within the country but the legal consequences are not implemented, it is meaningless,” he said.

Once the new law is passed, it will be implemented by the National Foreign and Borders Unit (PSP). The bill will now move forward with further discussions in parliament before being passed.