A planned tightening of Portugal’s immigration law is still under review and will be examined by the Constitutional Court at the request of the president.

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced Thursday evening that he had referred the new immigration measures passed by Parliament, especially those related to family reunification rights, to the Constitutional Court for review.

Rebelo de Sousa requested an "urgent opinion" within 15 days, according to a statement published on the presidency's official website.

Law passed by government and far-right coalition

The president's decision comes after consultations with parliamentary parties regarding the law, which was passed on July 16 with support from the ruling right-wing coalition and the far-right party Chega, now Portugal’s second-largest political force since May.

The new measures focus on attracting highly qualified migrants and tightening rules on family reunification.

According to Rebelo de Sousa, family reunification "could take at least three and a half years," which would go against "the principle of family unity and the best interests of the child."

He also criticised the law for lack of legal clarity and legal security, citing a restriction on appeal opportunities for immigration applicants and several provisions that violate principles of equality and non-discrimination.

RTL

Le président portugais Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa (c) et le Premier ministre portugais Luis Montenegro (d) lors d'une réunion du Conseil d'État au Palais de Belém à Lisbonne, le 13 mars 2025. / © AFP

Chega stokes fear of 'migratory chaos'

Left-wing parties applauded the president’s decision, while the far-right Chega party warned of a potential "migratory chaos" if the law doesn't take effect.

"I hope this won't be used as an excuse to avoid border control," said André Ventura, Chega’s leader.

Government already toughened immigration in 2024

Soon after taking office in March 2024, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro's administration had already introduced stricter immigration regulations, reversing what had been among the most liberal policies in Europe.

One key change was the repeal of a rule that allowed undocumented migrants who had worked for at least one year and paid into social security to regularise their status, even if they had originally entered the country on a tourist visa.

By the end of 2024, Portugal had 1.55 million foreign residents (four times more than in 2017), making up around 15% of the total population, according to official data.