All articlesThis bill will allow citizens of the CPLP nations to enter Portugal on a tourist visa or without a visa, and then apply for resident permits while they are there. This will particularly affect Timorese and Brazilians, who are exempt from the visa requirement for entry into the Schengen Area.
These Are All the Changes
As with other residence permits, the format of CPLP permits will change; they will now be issued on cards rather than on A4 paper sheets. Because the new identification document is accepted by EU authorities, Brazilians and other CPLP nationals will now be able to travel to other European nations. Furthermore, the permit's one-year validity has been increased to two years. The document sharing alone should assist over 150,000 people.
In 2023, CPLP countries submitted around 150,000 visa applications to EU countries. Mozambique, Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe, Timor Leste, and Brazil are among the nations that are part of the CPLP. In 2023, 148,239 Schengen visa applications were submitted.
SchengenVisaInfo figures show that citizens of these nations primarily applied for visas to Portugal. According to the data, 75.6% of all visa applications submitted by Angolans in 2023 were for Portuguese visas. Of the 20,313 visa applications submitted by Mozambican applicants, 66% were for Portugal. 18,341 visa applications were submitted by applicants from Cape Verde, with 16,725 of those applications—91.1% of the total—being for Portugal.
The recent law signed by Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa simplifies entry and residency procedures for nationals of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP). This move allows CPLP citizens, particularly Timorese and Brazilians—who already enjoy visa-free entry into the Schengen Area—to enter Portugal as tourists and then apply for residency permits while in the country. By easing these regulations, Portugal aims to strengthen its ties with CPLP nations and provide smoother immigration pathways for individuals seeking opportunities within the country.
One of the most notable changes under this law is the introduction of residence permit cards, replacing the previous A4 paper format. These new permits, now valid for two years instead of one, will be recognized by European authorities, facilitating easier travel within the EU for Brazilians and other CPLP nationals. With over 150,000 people expected to benefit from these changes, Portugal continues to be the top European destination for CPLP migrants, as reflected in the high percentage of visa applications submitted by citizens from Angola, Mozambique, and other member states in 2023.
3 Feb 20252 min readsitemanager
The law for Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) nationals has been signed by Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, making it simpler for them to enter the country.
This bill will allow citizens of the CPLP nations to enter Portugal on a tourist visa or without a visa, and then apply for resident permits while they are there.