The Government of Portugal is working “hard” to help Portuguese emigrants to return to Portugal in the summer, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recently told the local media.

The Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva said that they are working to achieve the freedom of movement for all the citizens, 

“As far as we are concerned, this possibility, this return from these visits is guaranteed, is their right and will be a very important contribution to revive our entire territory, be it from an economic point of view, be it from a social and cultural point of view,” he stressed.

However, so that these trips happen, the country needs to lift some of the restrictions that have been imposed to stop the spread of COVID-19.

“We need to work together with the other member states of the European Union so that the restrictions that currently exist in circulation in the Schengen area can be lifted until the summer. That’s what we work on ”, the minister pointed out.

Regarding the issue, the Minister of Internal Administration, Eduardo Cabrita, had already clarified that “there is still no date for lifting the restrictions at the borders and that the criterion will start with the countries with the greatest number of Portuguese”. The opening of the border with Spain will depend on the number of infections in the Portuguese and Spanish territory.

Contrary to what happened at Easter, when the Government asked emigrants not to come to Portugal, this Tuesday, in a parliamentary hearing, Augusto Santos Silva explained that they are working to achieve this freedom of movement.

Last month, Portugal announced that it supports the joint work of the Member States, the European Commission and other European Union institutions in their attempt to find an ambitious European recovery plan to recover from damages caused by the Coronavirus.

Amid the Coronavirus outbreak, last month, the Portuguese Council of Ministers decided to temporarily grant all migrants and asylum seekers currently in the country with full citizenship rights.

Where to live retirement after the coronavirus? Forbes says Portugal is one of the best places in the world. 

The American magazine chose three international destinations for a retired person to live abroad. The Algarve is one of the elected.

It is not yet known when, but a coronavirus pandemic will be controlled and global markets and taxes can be recovered. From a post-crisis perspective, what places in the world will be the best option for a foreigner to experience retirement? Forbes chose three main destinations and the Algarve, in Portugal, is on the list, followed by Mazatlan, in Mexico, and Cayo, in Belize.

The North American magazine says that “on the coast of Portugal you can wake up every morning to the sound of local fishermen, announce the morning fishing and the bicycle campaigns for those who start the daily routine”. The North American magazine considers a region of the Algarve that is not one of the best places in the world to renovate, but one of the best places in the world to live.

It highlights sunlight all year round and, of course, security in the country. “Portugal is considered the third safest country in the world”, writes a publication, which leaves no references, also, “important investments in infrastructure”. But there are many more advantages, according to Forbes. From health care, “high quality”, great beaches, the language, since “English is widely spoken”, the affordable cost of living, the lowest of any other country, and healthy eating.

“The Portuguese are the biggest consumers of fish per capita in Europe, and fresh fish of great variety is available in the daily markets. Year-round sunshine and fertile soil in this part of the world also mean fresh produce. Meanwhile, as pollution rates are low and the streets, cities, and beaches are clean and without garbage ”, it is also read.

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Morar e se aposentar no exterior após o coronavírus – três principais opções (Forbes)

The citizens of 54 world countries will benefit from the reopening of the European Union external borders, which is expected to happen by the beginning of July.

According to sources of Euronews, EU officials failed to agree on a common list of the countries that would definitely be banned from entering the block upon the border reopening but managed to create a list of the countries with a better epidemiological situation, the citizens of which will be able to enter Europe by the end of next week.

The same sources have also confirmed that citizens of Brazil, Qatar, the US, and Russia will only be able to enter Europe at a later date when the epidemiological situation in these countries improves.

Nationals of the following countries are listed in this draft list:

1. Albania
2. Algeria
3. Andorra
4. Angola
5. Australia
6. Bahamas
7. Bhutan
8. Bosnia and Herzegovina
9. Canada
10. China
11. Costa Rica
12. Cuba
13. Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
14. Dominica
15. Egypt
16. Ethiopia
17. Georgia
18. Guyana
19. India
20. Indonesia
21. Jamaica
22. Japan
23. Kazakhstan
24. Kosovo
25. Lebanon
26. Mauritius
27. Monaco
28. Mongolia
29. Montenegro
30. Morocco
31. Mozambique
32. Myanmar
33. Namibia
34. New Zealand
35. Nicaragua
36. Palau
37. Paraguay
38. Rwanda
39. Saint Lucia
40. Serbia
41. South Korea
42. Tajikistan
43. Thailand
44. Tunisia
45. Turkey
46. Turkmenistan
47. Uganda
48. Ukraine
49. Uruguay
50. Uzbekistan
51. Vatican City
52. Venezuela
53. Vietnam
54. Zambia

“The European Union has an internal process to determine from which countries it would be safe to accept travelers,” EU Commission spokesman Eric Mamer said last Thursday, adding that its decisions are “based on health criteria.”

On June 11, the Commission presented its recommendation on the reopening of internal Schengen borders June 15, so that Europeans can travel within the borderless area freely, just as they did pre-pandemic.

At the same time, the Commission recommended that the Member States should start allowing third-country nationals to enter the EU starting from July 1, gradually and partially, based on the epidemiological situation in each third-country.

The Commission recommended the following objective criteria for the Member States, when drafting the list of countries, the citizens of which may visit the EU after July 1:

• epidemiological situation and coronavirus response in that country,
• the ability to apply containment measures during travel, an
• whether or not that country has lifted travel restrictions towards the EU.

Based on these conditions, the Commission recommended that the nationals of the six Western Balkan countries should be the first to benefit from the abolishment of travel restrictions, all of which are in the above list.

Yesterday Prime Minister Costa announced the measures that are to be put in place following a Meeting of the Council of Ministers, which will shortly be published as a Decree Law.

These are subject to renewal/change at the end of their implementation period. As there are now three different levels of measures in place, to make it easier to understand, the team at Safe Communities have translated these into English in a table format.

In view of the increase in the number of infected with COVID-19 in certain municipalities in the metropolitan area of ??Lisbon, the Government decided on special measures for 19 parishes, involving the municipalities of Amadora, Odivelas, Sintra, Loures and Lisbon. These specific parishes remain in a calamity situation; in the Metropolitan Area of ??Lisbon, they are on the contingency status. The rest of the country moves down to the status of alert (the “softest” of those established in the Basic Civil Protection Law). The mitigation measures will take effect from 1 to 14 July.

The well-known Noélia & Jerónimo restaurant, in Cabanas de Tavira, Algarve, has been closed since last weekend, after several employees tested positive for the novel coronavirus, which gave rise to the small localized outbreak announced on Thursday by the city council of Tavira.

the parish of Cabanas de Tavira with at least eight new cases associated with this outbreak so far. “The Tavira Health Centre has identified the chain of transmission and is conducting tests on all direct contacts of the people involved in this chain,” explained the council.

Last Sunday, the restaurant had already announced their temporary closure due to the possibility of contagion. “Dear customers, we will be closed indefinitely. We had a client with COVID-19 at our restaurant and we are going to be quarantined. It is for your and our safety”, announced the restaurant through Facebook. “We are all going to do tests, do our quarantine and as soon as everything is in order, we will be back,” added the same note.

During the week, it was confirmed that the restaurant had been the site of the spread of the virus. Speaking to press, the mayor of Tavira, Ana Paula Martins, revealed that the first three confirmed cases were three residents of the parish “who worked together” and who later transmitted the disease to five other people, either in the workplace, or in a family context. “Direct contacts have all been tested. But tests are still being carried out on other people,” said the mayor. “The number could still grow, although I very much hope that it doesn’t.”

The Praia de Faro campsite may “open this summer” after the extensive renovation works that it is currently undergoing, Rogério Bacalhau, Mayor of Faro, revealed.

Although there are still no certainties, given the delays the project suffered due to the ongoing pandemic, the council is convinced that “if things go well”, it will be possible that the opening will take place within this summer season.

“We believe that we will be able to have the Camping Park open this summer,” he said. “What the contractor tells me is that next month, it will be ready. If that happens, it is likely that we will be able to open in August”, he added. The initial objective of the council “was to open now”.

But, with COVID-19, the new tourism project was delayed, as there were “other more priority measures that we had to take, related to the pandemic”.

Something that will not be a hindrance, in the case of the Faro camping site, are “conditions of work”, says Bacalhau. “We will take all the necessary measures so that the reopening is done safely”. “We will see if we have conditions for that. If there are, we will do that”, concluded the Mayor of Faro.

5. Support a global standard of traveller health insurance, or at least minimum requirements, defined with private sector insurance companies

This latest WTTC initiative comes on the back of a series of measures designed to rebuild global consumer confidence and encourage the return of safe travel, in order to regain the large sums of money lost by numerous businesses, small and large, in the tourism sector.

The protocols were developed with a focus on measures to drive business to car hire companies, airports, tour operators, attractions, short-term rentals among many other travel sectors, to enable them to follow strict health and hygiene regimes to re-opening for business.

The welfare of travelers and the millions of people employed throughout the travel & tourism sector was at the heart of the protocols and was backed by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

According to WTTC’s 2020 Economic Impact Report, during 2019, Travel & Tourism was responsible for one in 10 jobs (330 million total), making a 10.3% contribution to global GDP and generating one in four of all new jobs.

Services will resume for specific visa categories for Belarus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, South Korea, Turkey, UAE, and United Kingdom.

VFS Global, an outsourcing and technology services provider for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide, said on Wednesday that visa application services will resume for specific visa categories for Belarus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, South Korea, Turkey, UAE, and United Kingdom.

VFS said it would re-open Visa Application Centres in limited cities, with the approval of respective Embassies/Consulates in India, and operate under strict health and safety guidelines. Customers will have to schedule appointments online, through the website, prior to visiting the Visa Application Centre.

However, it said outbound international commercial flights have not yet resumed as of this date.

“After specific Embassies/Consulates, as well as local authorities have given their approval, VFS Global’s centres will accept visa applications for select countries and visa categories in specific cities,” said VFS Global in a media conference.

As per the visa outsourcing firm, U.K. visa services will resume in limited locations in South Asia and travellers from 11 cities in India can submit their visa applications at the U.K. Visa Application Centres from 06 July, 2020.

“From 6th July U.K. Visas and Immigration is beginning a phased resumption of services in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru (Global Tech Park only), Chandigarh, Chennai (subject to local lockdown regulations), Jalandhar, Kochi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai (Mahalaxmi only), New Delhi (Shivaji Metro Stadium only), and Pune.,”’ it said.

On passport collection arrangement VFS said, “If a decision has been made on a visa application, VFS Global staff will contact customers to arrange for the delivery of the passport.”

As on May 31, VFS has processed over 223 million visa applications in 144 countries through its 3390 centres.

Portugal has facilitated its existing air traffic measures to allow flights to and from its territory to countries of Schengen Zone, European Union and the United Kingdom, following the recommendation of the European Council.

The Portuguese government stressed that European Council recommendation also foresees the authorisation of the flights from “countries with a positive epidemiological evaluation and subject to confirmation of reciprocity,”

Countries that will be permitted to enter Portugal outside of EU include Algeria, Canada, South Korea, Morocco, Tunisia and China. Exceptions for essential journeys contain “flights from Portuguese-speaking countries” and the United States. However, when it comes to Brazil, only flights to and from  Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro will be allowed.

Citizens of the European Union and Schengen Area, as well as their families, are included in “essential trips.”

Other cases are the journeys of “third-country nationals travelling for work, study, family reunification, health or humanitarian reasons and following the principle of reciprocity”.

Travellers on flights from Portuguese-speaking countries and the USA are required to present a proof of a negative COVID-19 test, at the time of departure.

Yesterday (July 1), Portugal and Spain have reopened their shared border, after three and a half months, as it remained closed due to Coronavirus situation.

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister António Costa met with Spain’s King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to commemorate the reopening of their shared border. They also symbolically crossed the border between Badajoz in Extremadura and Caia in Portugal.

Portugal has also begun welcoming tourists from 15 “safe” countries outside of the European Union, upon a recommendation of the EU Council, which considers these countries to have a lower rate of Coronavirus infection.

In May, Portugal announced that would soon open its borders for tourists from a selected number of countries, mostly for the EU Member States and Portuguese speaking countries.

“Tourists are welcome in Portugal, [this summer],” the Minister of Foreign Affairs Augusto Santos Silva pointed out in an interview, despite not giving any specific date when that would happen.

Portugal’s government is fining anyone arriving in the country from the United States, non- European Union/non-Schengen zone countries who don’t carry a negative RT-PCR test, not older than 72 hours.

According to the new rules approved by the government, persons who do not carry a negative test will face fines between €500 to €2,000 while airlines transporting passengers without a test risk be fined up to  €3,000, 

Besides, the temperature of passengers must be taken upon their arrival. If anyone coming from these “high risk” countries who do not comply with this rule could also be fined between €2,000-€3,000.

Portugal’s airports’ authority ANA  is obliged to provide infra-red temperature testing for all incoming passengers and be ready to ‘contain’ any that display signs of having a fever.

The latest rule does not include the airports in the autonomous regions of Madeira and Azores.

Local authorities in Portugal stressed that compliance with these obligations would be enforced by the National Civil Aviation Authority ANAC and Borders Control Agency SEF.

Earlier this month, Portugal decided to facilitate its existing air traffic measures to permit flights to and from its territory to countries of the European Union, Schengen Zone Area, and the United Kingdom, following the European Council recommendation.

Portugal’s government also stressed that the European Council recommendation foresees the authorization of the flights from “countries with a positive epidemiological evaluation and subject to confirmation of reciprocity.”

The country has also opened its doors for tourists coming from 15 “safe” countries which are not part of the European Union, upon a recommendation of the European Union Council on June 30. Most likely, Portugal will also comply with the new recommendation which excludes two countries, due to the rise in infections in both.

The Portuguese Government has introduced new rules for travelers using air transport, the initial place of origin of which is the United Kingdom or Brazil, due to the situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The decision is valid for all persons who stopped or made a transit through countries whose airports are authorized by Portugal as well.

The decree published in Diário da República ensures that all passengers coming from the United Kingdom or Brazil will be treated equally, just like those coming to Portugal using direct flights from their origin country.

The Portuguese Government announced that all flights coming or going to the United Kingdom and Brazil will be suspended until March 16. The only allowed flights are the essential ones and the instances when people are returning to their homeland, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Therefore, starting from March 7 until March 16, 2021, passengers flying from the United Kingdom and Brazil that have made stopovers or transits through airports of the countries authorized by Portugal are required to:

–          Present a negative PCR test conducted no longer than 72 hours before arrival. Exceptions are only made for children younger than 24 months.

–          Follow the rules of Portugal for self-isolation for a period of 14 days. The self-isolation can be done at home, in a place indicated by the health authorities, or in an adequate place inside the airport if they have to wait for a transit flight.

The announcement also highlighted that the airline companies have to submit a list of passengers using the United Kingdom or Brazil’s airports as ?”|transit, to the health authorities.

Previously, Portugal warned it would present a proposal to EU authorities to recover the freedom of movement within the European Union.

Portuguese Minister of State for the Economy and Digital Transition Pedro Siza Vieira asserted that the new measures would be proposed for short, medium, and long terms in order to restore the movement within the EU under a short period.

Furthermore, the European Commission’s Vice-President Margaritis Schinas said that the Commission would present a proposal to establish a free-transit digital passport and introduce the proposal on March 17.

Earlier in February, Czechia added Portugal to the red list of countries with a high risk of Coronavirus spread. In comparison, Lithuania eased the rules for all arrivals from Portugal.

Up to this date, Portugal had a total of 810,459 Coronavirus cases, 16,565 deaths, 732,346 recovered inhabitants, and 61,548 current active cases.

While some citizens spend time in front of visa consulates and other offices that offer such services to obtain a visa to move to another country, others who have higher monthly income can gain the right to reside or even citizenship in some of the most famous world countries by investing a considerable amount of money in specific programs, such as the Golden Visa schemes.

In Europe, Golden Visa Programs, known as Citizenship-by-Investment programs, which permit internationals to gain citizenship, is run by some of the most popular countries in Europe, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Besides, by gaining citizenship in one of Europe’s Schengen Zone countries, the beneficiaries are able to travel to all 26 Schengen area countries without being obliged to obtain a visa.

Based on a recent report published by Henley & Partners, a global citizenship and residence advisory firm based in London, Malta, Austria, Portugal is World’s Best Investment migration program.

The sixth edition of the firm’s annual publication analyzes the world’s most notable investment migration programs.

A panel of experts has evaluated the 12 citizenship-by-investment programs and 24 residences-by investment programs, taking into account many factors.

“Investment Migration Programs 2021 is an invaluable tool for international investors and entrepreneurs looking to hedge volatility and create short-term value as well as long-term yield through enhanced global mobility. It is also highly relevant to policymakers and governments wishing to manage these programs to achieve greater fiscal autonomy and economic growth,” the international immigration and citizenship law expert and Chairman of Henley & Partners, Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, pointed out.

Regarding the issue, the CEO of Henley & Partners, Dr. Juerg Steffen, has stressed that “demand for RCBI programs is at an all-time high because of the undeniable advantages they provide, including giving families alternative relocation options in a time of crisis or global volatility.”

The Global Citizenship Programs Index (GCPI) has ranked Malta on top of the list, followed by Austria Private Residence Program and the Portugal Golden Residence Permit Program that share the top spot in the Global Residence Programs Index (GRPI). Such a conclusion has been based on Investment Migration Programs 2021, conducted by Henley & Partners.

Malta ranks as the world’s top country for offering citizenship and residence in exchange for investment. Austria’s Private Residence Program and Portugal’s Golden Residence Permit Program have scored 75 out of 100 as top Residence-by-Investment Programs.

Italy’s RBI program and Swiss Residence Program have been ranked in second place, followed by Greece, which has been listed in the third place for its Golden Visa Program, with a score of 72 out of 100.

Malta

This is the sixth consecutive year that Malta ranks as the world’s top country for offering citizenship and residence in exchange for investment, with its Granting of Citizenship for Exceptional Services by Direct Investment process recording 80 out of 100.

All interested persons in gaining a Golden Visa must invest €738,000 (or €888,000 by exception) based on the residence status length (36 or 12 months, respectively).

Persons must obtain Maltese residence status for 36 months (or 12 months by exception) before filing an application for citizenship.

Even though it brings many financial benefits to the country, Malta’s Golden Visa Program and other countries’ similar schemes often are criticized for the way they work.

In a report published in 2018,  the German non-governmental organization by Transparency International and Global Witness on its report named “European Getaway – Inside the Murky World of Golden Visas” addressed Malta’s government’s accusations for several irregularities detected during the granting of Citizenships for internationals.

However, Malta authorities claimed that the report had elements “which do not seem to be accurate or adequately researched.”

Portugal

Portugal’s Golden Residence Permit Program has scored 75 out of 100 as top Residence-by-Investment Programs.

According to Portugal’s Golden Visa statistics, SEF (Foreigners and Borders Service) authorized 100 residence permits in February this year. While 89 authorized golden visas were granted for the real estate investment, 11 permits were issued for the capital transfer investment option.

Based on the same source, in February there have been granted 2021,46 permits to nationals of  China.

Under the current Portugal’s Golden Visa Program, investors must follow the below-mentioned investment requirements to obtain Portugal’s Golden Visa.

• At least € 250,000 investment in national arts, heritage, and culture
• At least € 280,000 investment for properties over 30 years old, planned for rehabilitation or in low-density zones
• At least €350,000 investment required in investment funds, research, existing businesses, or real estate
• At least € 400,000 investment in real estate in low-density zones
• At least €500,000 investment in new properties in urban zones
• € 1,000,000 capital transfer to Portugal in order to qualify for the Golden Visa program

In January this month, authorities in Portugal previously announced that they updated their residency-by-investment program to attract more international investors towards other residency areas.

In addition, Portugal’s authorities decided to prolong the deadline to exclude investments in Lisbon and Porto from the country’s Golden Visa Scheme until January 2022.

Austria

Austria has been considered among the most favorite countries in Europe for its Residence by Investment program, offering many possibilities to all persons who want to obtain a visa by making an investment in the country.

All persons who wish to invest in Austria’s Residence by Investment Program will be required to invest an amount of €40,000 and wait for one to three months to submit the application to approval.

The Golden visa program permits wealthy internationals to grant residency in some countries that run this scheme by investing a respective amount of money.

However, the program has been criticized many times by the European Union Commission and other organizations as, according to them, it is related to some criminal activities such as money laundering and other illegal activities.

Portugal’s government has tightened its border controls, prolonging its frontier restrictions along with other European Union Member States, amid the third wave of the Coronavirus pandemic.

In this regard, Portugal’s Interior Ministry pointed out that all travellers from the EU countries, where the incidence rate has surpassed 500 cases per 100,000 population, may be eligible to enter the country for essential business reasons and follow two weeks mandatory quarantine rule, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Based on Portugal’s government announcement, the following 11 EU Member States countries will be subject to the border restrictions:

• Bulgaria
• The Czech Republic
• Cyprus
• Slovenia
• Estonia
• France
• Hungary
• Italy
• Malta
• Poland
• Sweden

Citizens of countries in which the incidence rate is greater than 150 per 100,000 are permitted only for essential trips, but they must follow quarantine rules.

Such a decision is applied to arrivals from the following countries, Austria, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Croatia, Finland, Latvia, Greece, Luxembourg, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, and Switzerland.

Travellers, whether by air or land, must show a negative result of the PCR test not older than 72 hours. In case those persons have not taken one, they will be obliged to undergo testing upon their arrival at the airport.

Authorities in Portugal have clarified that flights from the United Kingdom and Brazil will remain suspended.

Based on the announcement of authorities in Portugal, passengers will be required to follow the same COVID-19 rules introduced for Portuguese citizens once in the country. At present, travel is not allowed between different zones of the country until at least April 16.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has revealed that the average 14-day incidence rate for the EEA’s countries is currently at 434 cases per every 100,000 population.

Portugal has registered 820,716 cases of Coronavirus cases and 16,843 deaths, Worldometers’ figures show. The same source reveals that 775,849 persons have fully recovered from the Coronavirus, while there are 28,024 active cases.

The third wave of the Coronavirus pandemic has pushed governments of many European countries to tighten their controls in order to contain the virus from spreading.

Portugal’s neighbouring country, Spain, also decided to prolong its restrictions imposed on unnecessary travel from countries that are not part of the European Union and the Schengen Zone until April 30.

Both countries previously agreed to reintroduce internal land border controls, which are set to last until April 6, in order to help citizens of both territories be more protective from the deadly virus.

The police internal border controls between Spain and Portugal have been extended until April 17 in an effort to contain the further spread of the COVID-19 in both countries.

Based on the measures published by the Spanish Foreign Ministry regarding the Easter holidays, it was pointed out that all persons wishing to cross the border between Spain and Portugal will only be able to pass through authorized border checkpoints and during the working hours determined by the Ministry.

“The epidemiological situation in Spain and Portugal suggests that we should keep the preventive measures restricting mobility between both territories in place. After consultation with Portuguese authorities, it has been decided that we maintain controls at the internal land border between both countries after Easter,” the press release of the Spanish Government reads.

According to the Government’s press release, the list of authorised people to cross the border includes citizens of Spain, their spouses, children, or parents, anticipated that they are travelling with the intention of meeting their family members, AtoZSerwisPlus.Pt reports.

The Spain-Portugal border has been closed since the end of January. Earlier in February, the Spanish Minister of Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, explained that the country is considering to re-establish land border checks to keep under control the further spread of the Coronavirus by deciding to extend the measures until February 10.

However, after considering the increased number of the COVID-19 cases, Spain authorities decided to extend the measures until April 6, which now are further extended until April 17.

According to the Ministry, the group of people allowed to cross the border includes:

• Spanish residents who are able to present residency proof
• Students who are studying in Spain
• European Union or Schengen Area nationals who are returning to their home country
• Cross-border workers
• Members of diplomatic or humanitarian missions

The cross-border workers have openly criticized the Spanish Government for causing them difficulties in doing their job due to the imposed border closures. Therefore the Government decided to open another two border checkpoints in Vinhais close to Zamora and Ponte da Barca in Galicia back in March.

Additionally, people who prove that they need to cross the border due to an unexpected circumstance are allowed to cross the border as long as they possess the necessary documentation to prove their purpose of entry.

Last week, the Spanish authorities extended the restrictions on non-essential travel from countries outside of the EU and Schengen Zone until April 30 in a bid to control the further spread of the virus. On the other hand, the authorities announced that the restrictions had been lifted for all passengers flying from the United Kingdom after considering the COVID-19 situation in the territory of the latter.

From 7 September 2020, the Portugal Visa Application Centre in South Mumbai (India) will resume accepting D (long stay) and E Temporary stay visa applications by prior appointment only. The centre will operate every Monday from 10 AM to 2 PM only. Once the application has been processed, passport and documents will be returned by courier only, as mandated by the Consulate General of Portugal, Goa.
The Portugal Visa Application Centre in London (UK) has resumed operations.
The centres in Luanda (Angola), Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo (Brazil), Johannesburg, Durban and Pretoria (South Africa), Rabat (Morocco), Abuja and Lagos (Nigeria), Maputo (Mozambique), Dubai and Abu Dhabi (UAE) are now accepting limited long stay category applications.
The centres in Manchester and Edinburgh (UK), Al Khobar, Jeddah, Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) are now accepting limited short stay category applications.
The centre in San Salvador (Brazil) is now accepting Categories C, D and E applications.
The centre in Alexandria and Cairo (Egypt) have resumed operations.
The centres in New York and Washington DC (USA), are now accepting limited short and long stay category applications.

Spain and Portugal have again prolonged their border controls, this time until at least May 3, in an effort to stop the further spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Until May 3, only persons who have justified cause will be permitted to enter the country, AtoZSerwisPlus.Pt reports.

All persons who need to cross the border between the two nations will be permitted to do so only at specific border checkpoints and during the opening hours established.

“The epidemiological situation in Spain and Portugal suggests that we should keep the preventive measures restricting mobility between both territories in place,” Spain’s official government bulletin clarifies.

The statement pointed out that Spanish citizens and their spouses, partner or children are among people permitted to cross the border if they are travelling to meet with any of these family members.

“All caution is too little,” Portugal’s Prime Minister Antonio Costa pointed out regarding the border closure.

However, Portugal’s Government on Thursday announced that it approved the rules for its third stage of the deconfinement plan that is set to last until May 3, meaning that the reopening of the border with Spain could happen soon.

Land Border Controls Have Been in Place Since February 2021

Once the Coronavirus outbreak started to spread in European countries widely, Portugal and Spain introduced tighter controls to protect the lives of their citizens.

In March last year, Spain and Portugal decided to close their shared border for the first time due to the high infection rate of COVID-19.

In July 2020, Spain reopened its doors to citizens from Portugal after three and a half months. Such a decision was commemorated by Spain’s King Felipe VI and the country’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in a meeting with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister António.

However, due to the rapid spread of the Coronavirus and its new strains, both countries’ authorities agreed to bring back land border controls in February 2021.

The Coronavirus pandemic situation pushed both countries’ governments to extend their border controls between territories until March 1. Since then, border controls between both countries have been extended several times, until April 6, then again until April 17, and now the rules will be kept in place until May 3.

Based on the statistics published by Worldometers, Spain is the 9th most affected country by the virus, with 3,407,283 reported cases and 76,981 deaths. In comparison, Portugal has reported 829,911 cases of COVID-19 infection since the pandemic’s beginning, while the 30th most attacked country by the disease.

The Portuguese Government has decided to prolong air traffic restrictions due to the epidemiological situation prevailing in other countries caused by the COVID-19.

On the other hand, the country has lifted the restrictions for essential purposes for flights from the United Kingdom and Brazil.

“The suspension of flights with origin or destination in Brazil and the United Kingdom is lifted, only for essential trips – similarly to what already happened with flights from third countries,” the Government’s press release reads.

The new measure became effective on April 16, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Under those rules, Portugal has suspended air traffic to and from its territory for all flights except for some flights from the European Union or Schengen Area countries, including Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland. However, Portugal tightened restrictions with other EU countries.

In a press release issued by the Portuguese authorities, all persons entering Portugal from South Africa, Brazil or any other country where the COVID-19 rate is higher than 500 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, also known as the dark red list, must self-isolate for 14 days at a location indicated by the health authorities. The rules apply to all persons entering the territory through air or land transport.

The dark red list currently includes the following countries: South Africa, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czechia, Cyprus, Croatia, Slovenia, Estonia, France, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden.

Portugal allows trips for the citizens of the countries mentioned above only for essential purposes.

Similarly, passengers from countries with an incidence rate of more than 150 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, known as the red list, are subjected to the same rules as the countries placed on the dark red list.

The red list currently includes Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Slovakia, Spain, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Romania, and Switzerland.

According to the Government, essential journeys that allow a person to enter Portugal include transiting through its territory, travelling for professional purposes, for study purposes, to reunite with other family members, and for health or humanitarian purposes.

All persons entering Portugal through air transport must present a negative PCR or rapid test results carried out not any longer than 72 hours before departure. Children under 24 months are exempt from such measures.

Last week, Portugal and Spain decided to extend their border controls again until May 3 in order to contain the further spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Citizens of India are eligible to work legally and safely in Portugal, as both countries’ authorities have signed a bilateral agreement that would help Indians to “carry out a professional activity” in the European country, Portugal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced through a statement.

“This bilateral instrument will facilitate legal and safe labour migration flows between the two countries, establishing procedures for the admission of Indian citizens to carry out a professional activity, under an employment contract, in Portugal. Furthermore, it will apply to recruitment for any labour activity and whatever the duration of the employment contract, Indian workers benefiting from all the rights guaranteed by Portuguese law,” the statement published by the same Ministry reads.

The Ministry also has stressed that from the moment that the new agreement takes effect and whenever employers plan to hire workers from India, they will be required to inform the Employment and Vocational Training Institute (IEFP), which will transmit such a proposal to the authorities in India, AtoZSerwisPlus.plreports.

Through the selection process, it will be signed the employment contract while the recruited workers will be granted a visa, permitting them to travel to Portugal and carry out professional activities in the Southern European country.

Such agreement was reached during the visit of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Culture of India, together with the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Francisco André, and Portuguese authorities.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Portugal clarified that the ratification process would come behind while the so-called “instrument” would be put in place 30 days after the last notification.

Earlier this month, the Union Cabinet approved the agreement between Portugal and India regarding the recruitment of citizens of India to work in the European country.

According to India’s Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the agreement would strengthen cooperation and partnership between both parties’ citizens.

“It will provide new opportunities for skilled Indian workers and professionals,” the government pointed out through a statement.

Besides the recent agreement between both territories that would help to bring Indian citizens to work in the European country, Portugal is also known for its Golden Visa program that has continued to attract many wealthy Indian investors for over eight years now.

Through the Golden Visa Program, wealthy international investors are eligible to obtain permanent residency in Portugal if they invest at least €500,000 in ecotourism, organic agriculture, renewable energy, or other projects.

There has been marked a notable increase in the number of Britons seeking residency in Spain through the Golden Visa program, according to home builder Taylor Wimpey Espana.

The firm believes that an important role in this regard plays both Brexit as well as the situation caused by the Coronavirus and its new strains, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

“A Spanish Golden Visa provides not just residency in Spain but also access to the rest of the Schengen Zone. It’s something that Britons haven’t had to worry about previously, but Brexit has driven a notable rise in enquiries from families seeking to use a residential property purchase to maintain access to the Eurozone,” Taylor Wimpey Espana.

According to the company, the fact that working from home on a terrace in Spain has become more desirable due to the pandemic situation is likely to be pushing more families down to the Golden Visa program.

Besides the Spanish Golden Visa Program, Britons are also interested in Portugal’s golden visa scheme.

According to the director of the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce in the United Kingdom, Christina Hippisleystressed the increase in the number of UK citizens interested in the Golden Visa program comes due to the implications of spending time in Portugal following Brexit.

“People who used to spend four months straight in their homes are suddenly realizing they can’t anymore. (…) Many Brits who had never thought about it are looking at the golden visa option to have unrestricted access to Portugal,” she pointed out, as reported by Lusa.

The Golden Visa program permits third-country nationals to remain in Spain, provided they make an investment of at least €500,000 in Spanish real estate and meet specific requirements. By making such an investment, internationals may then be permitted to live and work in Spain in a legal way. In addition, they will also be eligible to move freely within the Schengen zone countries.

Despite the fact that the Golden Visa Program attracts a larger number of internationals, this program has often been considered an open the door to money laundering, corruption, and other unlawful affairs by the Commission of the European Union as well as many organizations who have often urged countries that run such schemes to terminate them.

In this regard, earlier this month, the Commission of the EU issued a recommendation outlining specific changes that the Member States who offer such schemes must impose in order to prevent persons involved in criminal affairs from benefiting from them.

The European Commission has issued a recommendation earlier this week, outlining a number of changes that the Member States operating residence-by-investment programs must impose in order to prevent criminals from benefiting from them.

The programs, often known as Golden Visas, are operated by a number of countries, including here Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Malta, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland.

The schemes permit third-country citizens to obtain residence in one of these countries in exchange for investment in the territory of that country.

“Investor residence schemes raise inherent security, money laundering, tax evasion and corruption risks for the Member States and for the EU as a whole. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has once again underlined these risks,” the Commission notes in a press release issued regarding the recommendation.

The changes proposed are focused on preventing people that are involved in money laundering, tax evasion, and other crimes, as well as Russians and Belarusians supporting the war in Ukraine, from benefiting from such visas. The main proposed rules include:

• The Member States operating the schemes must conduct strict checks on the applicants for a Golden Visa before issuing them one
• Carrying out checks related to the conditions of residence and security before granting such residence permits
• Verifying whether the residence in the issuing Member States is continuous
• Immediate withdrawal or refusal of the renewal of the residence permits granted under an investor residence scheme to nationals of Russia and Belarus targeted by the EU sanctions for supporting the war in Ukraine
• Suspending the programs for all Russians and Belarusians

“All measures need to be applied in compliance with the principle of proportionality, with fundamental rights and with Member States’ national law,” the Commission recommends.

Highlighting the risks that may be brought from granting residence permits to people involved in criminal activity or those supporting the war in Ukraine, the Commission has also pointed out that those holding such permits have the right to reside in the issuing Member State and the right to travel throughout the whole Schengen area freely.

Through the same recommendation, the Commission has urged Malta and Cyprus to end their citizenship-by-investment programs, through which foreigners gain the citizenship of these two countries by making an investment in exchange and, as a result, also gain EU citizenship. Bulgaria has also been part of the countries issuing such passports, but last month, the same abolished the scheme entirely.

At the same time, the Member States have been urged to review all Russian and Belarussian beneficiaries of the Golden Passport and Golden Visa Schemes in order to make sure that they aren’t part of the EU’s list of sanctions in connection to the war in Ukraine.

The test certificate has to be performed 72 hours before travelling (PCR test) or 42 hours before arrival for those performing a rapid antigen test. In addition, all EU Member States and Schengen Area countries are permitted incoming and outgoing air traffic, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Moreover, the following countries are also allowed air activity with Portugal:

• Liechtenstein
• Norway
• Iceland
• Switzerland
• Angola
• Brazil
• Cape Verde
• Canada
• United States of America
• Guinea-Bissau
• Mozambique
• United Kingdom
• Sao Tome
• Principe
• Saudi Arabia
• Bahrain
• Chile
• Colombia
• Indonesia
• Kuwait
• New Zealand
• Peru
• People’s Republic of China
• Qatar
• Rwanda
• Saudi Arabia
• South Korea
• United Arab Emirates
• Uruguay
• Taiwan
• Hong Kong and Macau

Arrivals from countries other than these mentioned can enter Portugal only for essential travelling.

Moreover, the entry rules are facilitated for children who are under 12 years old, as they are exempted from presenting a vaccination, recovery or test certificate. The requirement to present a passenger locator form has also been abolished for Portugal, and different rules apply for the islands of Azores and Madeira.

The World Health Organization (WHO) data reveals that Portugal has registered 61,451 new COVID-19 infection cases in the recent week, taking the total number of positive cases recorded since the pandemic started to over 3.7 million. In addition, there were 22,148 deaths reported, with 141 of those registered in the last seven days.

As for the vaccination rate, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reveals that authorities in Portugal have administered a total of 23.7 million vaccinations until now. Of the total number of the adult population, 85.7 per cent have already completed their primary vaccination, and another 61.8 per cent have received an additional vaccine dose.

In addition, another coastal country has eased its entry rules and requirements this week, showing solid recovery signs for a successful tourism season. Malta announced the facilitation of its entry rules for incoming travellers this week, which will be effective on Monday (May 2).

The requirement of presenting a Passenger Locator Form has been abolished, enabling travellers to enter Malta without additional administrative requirements. The face-covering requirement has been abolished except for public spaces such as air transport and health care facilities, while the lists with dark red and red countries continue to be effective.

The new rules also allow people infected with COVID-19 to quarantine for seven to ten days if they undergo testing, whereas people who are close contacts of an infection case are exempted from self-isolation if they don’t develop symptoms.

The Portuguese authorities announced last week that the Foreigners and Borders Service started operating four new generation e-gates at Lisbon Airport in order to ensure faster border controls on arrivals for nationals of the United Kingdom and several other third countries.

Under the new rules, travellers from the UK will no longer be treated as third-country nationals as required under Brexit.

This means that all Britons entering Portugal will now be able to avoid long queues for manual checks by using the e-gate channel, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The decision of the Portuguese authorities to establish frictionless travel as if the UK was still in the borderless Schengen zone is an attempt to attract UK travellers who might consider visiting other southern European destinations this summer, according to Telegraph.

The news on the updated border control rules for Britons was welcomed by the chief executive of the PC Agency, Paul Charles. He said that Portugal is leading the way in recognising that they need to process large numbers of visitors from the UK as seamlessly as possible in order to avoid long queues this summer.

He called the new rules a clever way for Portugal to differentiate itself from the other countries that are currently not processing in the same way. According to Charles, other popular European destinations such as Greece, France, and Italy, among others, might also decide to follow such an approach.

Even though Portugal has facilitated border control rules, travellers from the UK are still required to follow COVID-19 entry rules.

The Portuguese authorities explain that all travellers who are permitted entry to the country, including here those from the UK, must present a valid vaccination, recovery, or test certificate upon their arrival.

Just like the other EU countries, Portugal also applies a validity period in all of these passes. Portugal accepts a vaccination certificate only if the document proves that the holder has completed primary vaccination with one of the approved vaccine doses in the last nine months or if the holder has received an additional vaccine dose.

On the other hand, a recovery certificate is only accepted if it indicates that the holder recovered from the virus in the last six months.

As for the negative tests, Portugal accepts both PCR and rapid antigen tests. The PCR test must be taken within 72 hours before boarding, and the rapid antigen test must be taken within 24 hours before boarding.

The decision was announced yesterday, April 21, by the Minister of Health of Portugal, Marta Temido, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Temido said that travellers, as well as citizens of the country, will no longer be required to wear a face mask when accessing the majority of public places and events, such as restaurants, cafes, shopping centres, and museums, among others.

Nonetheless, it has been emphasised that the requirement to wear a mask will continue to remain valid for all those who wish to access healthcare institutions and other facilities that are mainly frequented by vulnerable persons.

In addition, mask-wearing will also remain mandatory for everyone using all forms of public transport as well as for those travelling by plane.

The decision to lift such a requirement has been taken after taking into account the infection and vaccination rates.

The World Health Organization (WHO) shows that Portugal has reported 61,342 new COVID-19 infection cases in the last seven days.

As for the vaccination rates, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reveals that Portugal has administered a total of 23,750,020 vaccine doses until April 21. It further reveals that 94.4 per cent of the entire Portuguese adult population has completed primary vaccination until now, and another 74.1 per cent has received an additional vaccine dose.

Even though Portugal has lifted the majority of domestic COVID-19 restrictions, the country still requires incoming travellers to meet entry rules.

Portugal currently permits entry only to travellers from specific countries provided that they hold a valid COVID Certificate – a vaccination recovery or test certificate.

Portugal applies the same validity period as the other EU countries. This means that a vaccination certificate is considered valid when entering Portugal only if it proves that the holder completed primary vaccination in the last nine months or received an additional vaccine dose.

On the other hand, a recovery certificate is recognised upon entry to Portugal only if it indicates that the holder recovered from the virus in the last six months.

As for the COVID-19 test, the Portuguese authorities explain that the country accepts both PCR and rapid antigen tests. The PCR test must be taken within 72 hours before arrival in Portugal, and the rapid antigen test must be taken within 24 hours before arrival.

Similar to Portugal, Spain has also lifted the face mask requirement. Mask-wearing in Spain now remains mandatory only when entering specific facilities.

According to the newly updated maps that have been published today, on April 21, Portugal, France, Italy, and Greece keep on registering high infection rates, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Since the 14-day notification rate per 100,000 inhabitants weighted by vaccines uptake in these remains high, all of the countries mentioned above are currently coloured dark red.

The World Health Organization (WHO) shows that Portugal has reported 60,083 new infection cases in the last seven days. During the same period, France registered 624,536 new infection cases, Italy registered 353,193 new infection cases, and Greece registered 56,361 new infection cases.

It is believed that due to such figures, these countries have decided to keep their entry restrictions in place.

All travellers, regardless of their country of origin, are currently required to hold valid COVID-19 proof when reaching Portugal, France, Italy, and Greece.

The four above-mentioned countries apply the same validity period on vaccination, recovery, and test certificates. They accept vaccination certificates as long as the document proves that the holder completed primary vaccination in the last nine months or received a booster shot.

On the other hand, recovery certificates are accepted upon entry into one of these countries only if the document indicates the holder recovered from the virus in the last six months.

As for the COVID-19 tests, they generally accept PCR tests taken within 72 hours before arrival and rapid antigen tests taken within 48 hours before arrival.

>> Travelling to Europe in April: Current Entry Rules & Other Restrictions Explained

The data provided by ECDC shows that a total of 891,278,234 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in EU/EEA countries until now. The same further reveals that 72.6 per cent of the EU/EEA population has completed primary vaccination, and another 53.1 per cent has received an additional vaccine dose.

Previously, ECDC and EMA concluded that it is too early to consider using a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose. The two agencies agreed that a fourth dose could be given to persons over the age of 80. However, it has been emphasised that the fourth dose does not need to be administered to those who do not have any serious health implications.

It has been noted that the re-vaccination campaign could start in autumn. Still, the authorities of each country will be able to choose the best timing for additional doses.

The campaign called “It Works for you” also includes a promotional video that talks about remote work combined with leisure as well as lifestyle, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

“Through this campaign, Cascais invites all digital nomads looking for an out-of-door destination to enjoy the ‘magical’ conditions for working and a lifestyle that balances work with a constant feeling of vacation,” the association notes.

The campaign has been projected by the Cascais Tourism Association in order to promote the country as a favorable destination for all persons interested in remote work while emphasizing the offer of coworking spaces available in Cascais.

Portugal is among the favorite European countries for freelancers as well as self-employed persons.

Thus, internationals interested in a visa that allows long-term residence as well as permissions to earn a living in Europe chose Portugal to live and work from this country.

However, all persons interested in living and working in Portugal will be required to meet specific conditions.

Authorities in Portugal have clarified that applicants interested in such a visa have two possibilities:

• A residence for persons interested in working in an independent way (working locally for Portugal’s clients as a contract employee)
• A residence visa for entrepreneur work (digital nomad visa gathering clients from other countries)

Based on the data provided by the World Bank, in 2019, a total of 16.9 per cent of people in Portugal are self-employed workers or freelancers. Such data show that the figures are higher in Portugal compared to the EU average of 15.2 per cent.

The number of persons interested in remote work is continuously increasing while many European countries are offering such visas in order to bring to their country a more significant number of internationals and also help their economic sectors recover from the damages caused by the Coronavirus and its new strains.

At present, the following European countries are considered as top favorable destinations that offer freelance visas: Spain, France, Germany, Portugal, Malta, Croatia, Estonia, Greece, Romania, and the Czech Republic.

However, internationals interested in freelance visas and digital nomad visas offered by authorities in the countries mentioned above are advised to carefully follow the rules after the requirement to obtain such a visa differs among these countries.

Recently, Latvia and Italy unfolded their plans to introduce their digital nomad visas. Authorities in both countries have confirmed that they are planning to introduce such visas and permit internationals to live and work remotely from these territories in a legal way.

Such conclusions have been reached through the recent report conducted by Online Economy (ECO), AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

ECO’s report shows that even though the amount registered in the pending flight documents, as called by TAP, is lower than €657.7 million recorded at the end of June, it was considered a relevant matter by the auditor and also the subject of a note.

In this regard, PwC firms that collaborate with organizations and individuals to provide quality services in auditing, consulting, and taxation through the recent report show that the situation is mainly the result of the Coronviaurs.

“Following the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the air transport sector, the [TAP] group suffered a significant reduction in its activity in 2020 and 2021, as a result of a sharp drop in demand and the imposition of restrictions government agencies to air circulation, which led to the cancellation of several flights,” PwC recalls.

Cancellations as a result of the obligation to provide the service in the future or a commitment in order to reimburse the value of the ticket accounted for a total of €643.6 million at the end of December, or 41.6 million more than in 2020.

Of the total, 438 .69 million relate to tickets not flown, while 203.9 million to vouchers, as reported by Portugal News.

“In the 2020 financial year, the board of directors reviewed the policy for the use of pending flight documents, namely concerning the possibility of rebooking tickets at no additional cost and the reimbursement of tickets in vouchers with an increase and extended expiry dates,” TAP points out in its report.

Such a decision as well as the  cancellation of trips due to the Coronavirus situation, resulted in an increase in registered responsibilities.

The European Commission previously approved a total of €71.4 million aid measure in order to help Portugal’s flag carrier, TAP Air Portugal, recover from the damages caused by the virus from January 1 until June 30, 2021; as a result of the restrictions and other measures taken in order to halt the spread of the Coronavirus.

“Perhaps we can reach the end of this year, if everything goes as it has so far, at about 85 per cent of 2019. We hope in 2023 to reach the previous values,” the Director-General of the Lisbon Tourism Association, Vítor Cost, said.

He also pointed out that the outcome depends on several variables, including the war in Ukraine affecting fuel prices, which reflects in the prices of air travel – essential for Lisbon due to its geographical position, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

As experts say, business and leisure tourism, for which Lisbon is known, is expected to increase in the upcoming months, although these have been the industry’s most affected sectors during the pandemic.

These forecasts for 2022 and 2023 are based on the recovery already recorded in 2021, which was 30 per cent higher than in the previous year and 58 per cent down compared to pre-pandemic levels.

The recovery rate of tourism in Portugal is off to a good start, as the country’s Statistics Institute (INE) has previously revealed that a 500 per cent increase in the sector has been recorded during February. The authority further explains that accommodation facilities have hosted 1.2 million guests and recorded 2.9 million overnight stays during this period, marking increases of 507 and 527.1 per cent, respectively.

As the figures show, February was a successful start, as the recovery rates exceeded those from January, which were 182.3 per cent up compared to the corresponding time in 2021 regarding the number of guests and 185 per cent for overnight stays.

In a podcast recently hosted by the European Statistical Office, Eurostat, authorities like Christophe Demunter and Ulf Sonntag from NIT, a tourism research institute in Germany, said that the domestic market has peaked during the pandemic, which is exactly the case with Portugal.

INE data shows that 857,000 overnight stays from the domestic market were recorded in the country in January, marking a 104.5 per cent surge compared to last year’s same time.

In addition, Eurocontrol – the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, has previously revealed that Portugal’s air traffic has managed to reach the closest pre-pandemic levels, as it is operating at 93 per cent capacity of 2019 levels, being the leading country of all 27-nation-bloc regarding the matter. In recent weeks, Portugal operated 1,078 flights.

The Minister of Health of Italy, Roberto Speranza, previously confirmed that his country will keep the current entry measures until at least April 30, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.

This means that all those who plan on visiting Italy in the next few days will be required to present COVID-19 proof upon entry.

Italy currently applies the same entry rules for all travellers regardless of their country of origin. Everyone must present a valid vaccination, recovery or test certificate in order to be permitted restriction-free entry to Italy.

“When entering Italy, travellers are required by law to submit one of the COVID-19 green certificates or other certification recognised as equivalent (completion of vaccination series or recovery or swab test),” the statement of the Italian Ministry of Health reads.

In addition, the Ministry emphasises that incoming travellers must also complete the Passenger Locator Form before their departure.

>> Travelling to Italy This Spring: Vaccination, Testing & Other Entry Rules Explained

Similarly, Spain has also extended its current entry rules for all incoming travellers until April 30.

The Spanish Ministry of Health explains that different rules apply to EU and non-EU travellers. EU travellers are permitted restriction-free entry to Spain as long as they hold a valid vaccination, recovery, or test certificate.

On the other hand, third-country travellers are permitted entry to Spain only if they have been vaccinated or recovered from the virus.

Even though Spain continues to keep in place entry rules, the authorities previously announced that they plan on easing some of the domestic COVID-19 restrictions on April 20.

Just like the two countries mentioned above, Portugal also continues to require travellers to present proof upon their entry. All travellers who are permitted entry to Portugal need to provide a vaccination, recovery, or test certificate.

Italy, Spain, and Portugal apply the same validity rules on COVID certificates. A vaccination certificate is considered valid in these three countries if it proves that the holder has completed primary vaccination in the last nine months or it has received an additional vaccine dose.

On the other hand, recovery certificates are recognised upon entry into these countries only if the document proves that the holder recovered from the virus in the last 160 days.

According to data published by the Portuguese Statistics Institute (INE), accommodation facilities in the country received 1.2 million guests during the second month of the year, with those spending 2.9 million overnight stays. These rates represent increases of 507 per cent and 527.1 per cent, respectively, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The increasing tourism rates of February of 2022 exceeded those of the previous month when surges of 182.3 per cent in guests and 185 per cent in overnight stays were recorded. However, tourism in the Iberic country lags behind the pre-pandemic levels, specifically with February 2020, when no COVID-19-related restrictions weren’t yet imposed.

There is 21.2 per cent in arrivals and 23.1 per cent in overnight stays yet to be reached, as data by INE shows. According to the same, 36 per cent of tourism accommodation establishments were closed or weren’t offering their services in February – 5.6 per cent fewer than in January, when 41.6 per cent of establishments were inactive.

Furthermore, in January, 853,200 guests and two million overnight stays were recorded in Portugal with enhanced progress in the domestic market, which recorded 857,700 overnight stays and the external markets reached 1.1 million, showing increases of 104.5 per cent and 308.7 per cent, respectively.

In comparison with the corresponding time in 2020, which represents the pre-pandemic levels, there were declines of 20.1 per cent recorded in the number of overnight stays of residents and 47.9 per cent in non-residents.

“In January 2022, considering all means of accommodation (tourist accommodation establishments, camping and holiday camps, and youth hostels), 912,300 guests and 2.2 million overnight stays were recorded, corresponding to increases of 181.3 per cent and 166.5 per cent, respectively,” the press release issued by the authority regarding January’s tourism activity, reads.

The industry’s total revenue amounted to €106.4 million in January, with 71.4 per cent or €76 million coming from accommodation alone. However, when compared with January 2020, total revenue dropped by 39.1 per cent, and revenue from accommodation decreased by 38.8 per cent.

Nonetheless, the average revenue per available room (RevPAR) was €15.6 in January, cheaper than the previous month when it stood at €21.5. As a result, the average daily rate (ADR) amounted to €65.4 in January while being set at €73.8 in the previous month. At pre-pandemic levels (January 2020), the RevPAR was €24.9, and the ADR amounted to €67.2.

Such a measure has been approved under the State aid Temporary Framework and follows two other Portuguese schemes to support the passenger transport sector in the Azores that the Commission approved in June and September 2021, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

It has been explained that under this scheme, the support to the transport sector in the Azores will take the form of direct grants. In addition, it has been emphasised that the measure will be open to collective passenger transport companies of all sizes that are active in the Azores.

By approving such a measure, the Commission noted that they aim to address the liquidity need of the beneficiaries as well as help them continue their activities during and after the pandemic.

After being concluded that his scheme is in line with the conditions that have been set out in the Temporary Framework, the Commission established that the measures would not exceed the amount of €2.3 million per company.

Additionally, it has been revealed that the aid will be granted by the end of June.

“The Commission concluded that the measure is necessary, appropriate, and proportionate to remedy a serious disturbance in the economy of a Member State, in line with Article 107(3)(b) TFEU and the conditions of the Temporary Framework. On this basis, the Commission approved the measure under EU State aid rules,” the Commission added.

Except for approving such a measure for Portugal, the Commission also approved a measure for Spain earlier in March.

Under the EU State aid rules, the Commission approved a €120 million Spanish scheme to promote freight traffic to shift from road to sustainable rail transport.

“The €120 million scheme approved today will contribute to improving the competitiveness and greening of rail freight transport in Spain. It will also support the shift from road to rail, in line with the objectives of the European Green Deal,” Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager said, commenting on the approval of this scheme.

It has been explained that this Spanish measure, which aims to promote rail as a more environmentally friendly means of transportation, will be fully funded through the Recovery and Resilience Facility. Similar to the other measure mentioned above, this one will also take the form of direct grants. The amount of the aid will be calculated based on the environmental performance of the rail companies.

The German National Tourist Office for Spain and Portugal director, Ulrike Bohnet, has said that Germany expects to recover 60 per cent of the total number of overnight stays made by Portuguese travellers during 2019.

In 2019, travellers from Portugal accounted for 517,000 overnight stays in Germany. Thus, if the above-mentioned prediction turns out to be true, it means that this year Germany will register over 310,000 overnight stays from Portuguese travellers, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Even though if it is impossible to reach the pre-pandemic figures this year, Bohnet believes that Germany will at least be able to recover its sector by over 50 per cent.

Germany has been registering positive trends this year, especially in January. Only in the first month of 2022 Germany registered an increase of 52 per cent in the number of overnight stays by Portuguese tourists.

The travel and tourism sectors all over Europe started to recover as soon as the travel rules got facilitated. However, Germany still faces uncertainties as the country continues to keep in place entry rules for all incoming travellers.

Germany currently requires all travellers to present valid COVID-19 proof upon their arrival. This means that travellers from Portugal need to present a vaccination, recovery, or test certificate in order to be permitted entry to Germany for travel purposes.

“From March 3, 2022, every person over the age of 12 is obliged to carry proof of their COVID?19 status when entering Germany. Persons over the age of 12 must therefore have a negative test result or proof of recovery or vaccination when entering Germany,” the German authorities note.

The data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that Germany registered 991,702 new COVID-19 infection cases in the last seven days.

As for the vaccination rates, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reveals that Germany has administered a total of 172,152,177 vaccine doses until now. As of April 13, a total of 90.9 per cent of the adult population in Germany has completed primary vaccination, and another 70.3 per cent have received an additional vaccine dose.

Previously, Germany eased some of its domestic COVID-19 rules. All persons are now permitted entry to bars, cafes, museums, shopping centres, museums, and other public places and events without being required to hold a vaccination, recovery, or test certificate.

Passengers affected by such developments have reported they have struggled to get in touch with the airline to ask for refunds for their cancelled flights, while the air carrier has reported difficulties in issuing the refunds, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

As many TAP customers have been reporting, they are still waiting for full refunds after months of trying to contact the airlines via phone calls, emails and other ways. Some were told they would get a full refund on their lost flight in the next one to three months, but those funds have yet to arrive.

Such a situation is common among all international carriers, as the COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected the aviation industry. However, to the US Department of Transportation, the Portuguese flag carrier received the most consumer complaints on the matter.

>> Portugal: Passengers Can Now Claim Refund of Unused Travel Vouchers

Furthermore, under existing European Union rules, an airline must either credit for a cancelled flight or offer a full refund, regardless of the reason for the cancellation. However, although TAP Air Portugal has failed to reimburse all its customers on time, the Portuguese flag carrier is still estimated by Airline Ratings to be the safest airline in Europe and the fifth safest in the world.

TAP Air Portugal, which has reported a total of €1.6 billion in losses during the COVID-19 pandemic, is hoping for strong demand from travellers from the United States this summer.

The carrier will offer more than 1,230 flights per week on its network of destinations, which includes seven airports in Portugal, ten in North America, 12 in Central and South America, 20 in Africa and the Middle East and 44 in Europe.

The flag carrier, which is 72.5 per cent controlled by the Portuguese state, is under a Brussels-approved rescue scheme worth €3.2 billion was pushed to reduce its fleet size, cut more than 2,900 workers and reduce wages. The company transported 5.83 million passengers last year, about 25 per cent more than in 2020, but only 34 per cent of the pre-pandemic level when no restrictions were yet imposed.

However, the Portuguese authorities also fined hundreds of passengers during the pandemic due for not providing the required documents.

According to a statement issued earlier by the Portuguese Internal Administration, more than 3,200 passengers were fined between December 1 and February 6 for failing to present negative COVID-19 tests.

In a statement issued on Monday, April 11, the European Commission has revealed that the Portugal government will also be more focused on promoting the legal entry of immigrants into Portugal to seek a job, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

According to the Commission, the Working in Portugal program will facilitate the testing of these immigrants, including a “one-stop-shop for professional mobility.”

“The programme supports people securing legal entry to and staying in the country and finding employment,” the statement reads.

The Portuguese government is also planning to expand the democratic participation of foreigners in Portugal and municipal elections concerning foreign nationals in its territories.

By signing international reciprocity treaties, the government is considering that, in addition to its program, it will also ensure that migrants can exercise their right to vote in the country.

Seeing that Europe is already facing a refugee crisis due to the war in Ukraine, the new government aims to strengthen integration programs with the “active participation of local institutions and authorities.”

According to the government, to make this possible, it will be necessary to establish grants for the availability of reception, with support from European funds and a budget program to support the inclusion of refugees.

The government also clarifies that countries that have suffered from “migratory shocks” due to sudden population growth or loss will benefit from a Demographic Emergency instrument.

As for Portuguese or Portuguese descendants residing abroad, they will continue to be encouraged to return to Portugal through the Regressar Program.

On September 8, 2021, the Minister of Economy of Portugal, Pedro Siza Vieira, stressed that Portugal needed more migrant workers to solve the shortage of labour force.

Previously in July 2021, Portugal saw a large number of people who were employed and, at the same time, the creation of many jobs that needed many workers.

In a statement issued on September 23 by the European Commission, Minister Vieira also noted the need to provide solutions for the integration, housing, training, permanent residence of migrant workers, and the education of migrant children.

The government at the time was also seeking funding in order to be able to build housing, where municipalities would also be able to contribute to housing support through Portugal’s recovery plan and resilience.

The Foreigners and Borders Service revealed that the foreign citizen presented herself with a fake French passport during the documentary control carried out before the flight to Luton Airport in the United Kingdom, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

As soon as the authorities found out that the passport was a fake document, the individual was arrested. In addition, since the foreign citizen was accompanied by a minor, the Foreigners and Borders Service contacted the responsible authorities, and the child was sent to the Apulia Temporary Shelter Centre.

“The citizen was arrested for the crime of forgery/counterfeiting a document, as well as for irregular stay in Portugal. As she was accompanied by a minor, the SEF immediately contacted the National Social Emergency Line, which decided to install the child at the Apulia Temporary Shelter Centre in Esposende,” the statement of the Foreigners and Borders Service reads.

Apart from taking such actions, the Portuguese authorities were also able to find the real passport of the two individuals, which were left at the hotel where they stayed overnights. Thus, they were able to find out the nationality of both.

The defendant has already attended the first interrogation. It has been noted that the child was also present.

“The defendant, accompanied by the child, was present this morning at the Shift Court in Porto for the first interrogation of the defendant and for the application of the respective coercive measures. A certificate was extracted and will again be presented to a judge next Monday,” the Borders Service added.

It has been explained that both of them were kept by the Foreigners and Borders Service by court order.

Apart from the above-mentioned case, the Portuguese have detained another person too. The Foreigners and Borders Service said earlier this week that they had detained a person wanted by Interpol at Lisbon Airport. The individual, who had an international arrest warrant for drug trafficking, money laundering, and possession of a weapon, was flying from Istanbul.

In order to be able to enter Portugal illegally, the person presented himself at the border control with a foreign identification document issued by the UK.

“After collecting the biometric data and consulting the databases available to the SEF, it triggered a positive alert about an individual in the Interpol database. Subsequently, several steps were taken in order to confirm the identity of the citizen and the validity of the alert,” the authorities explained.

The detained person is on the list of the most wanted criminals in his country.

The Blue Flag, which is a certification awarded only to tourism operators that have proved of high environmental and quality standards, was initially launched in 1987 in a collaboration between the European Commission and Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

“Thirty-five years after the first Blue Flag was hoisted, precisely in the municipality of Cascais, where we are located, we saw the announcement of the awarding of blue flags for 2022 to 393 beaches, 18 marinas, and 20 ecotourism vessels for a total of 431 blue flags awarded,” the Associação Bandeira Azul Europe (ABAE), Jose Archer said.

He also pointed out that this number is almost 15 times higher than 25 years ago, highlighting the progress even more as next season, about 21 more beaches, two marinas, and nine ecotourism boats will fly the Blue Flag.

Furthermore, this year, 102 municipalities have applied for blue flags for over 393 beaches, with Vila Verde, Tabua, and Alandroal applying for the first time and Cascais and Marinha Grande returning to the Blue Flag program.

As per marinas, the Nautical Recreation Centre in Velas, the Lajes do Pico Nautical Recreation Centre, and the Machico Recreational Port have become part of the Blue Flag for the first time, but ecotourism vessels such as boats have marked the highest increases for Blue Flags granted this year. More specifically, nine more vessels from five new operators have obtained the flag, representing all regions except for the Azores.

The beaches in Portugal are distributed as follows:

• North (82)
• Centre (50)
• Tejo (77)
• Alentejo (40)
• Algarve (86)
• Azores (42)
• Madeira (16)

This year, the award was given to 73 coastal beaches and nine river beaches over 15 municipalities in the Northern region, while the Central region received 50 Blue Flags for 31 beaches and 19 river beaches.

In addition, the Tagua area now has 77 distinguished beaches, 63 being coastal and 14 riversides, while the popular Algarve now counts 86 award-winning beaches, with all of them being coastal. Respectively, Azores and Madeira’s archipelagos have 42 and 16 Blue Flag coastal beaches.

Beaches, marinas, and boats in Portugal now represent almost nine per cent of the total of 4,831 blue flags granted to over 50 countries in the world. The country with the most Blue Flags is Spain, with a total of 614 beaches, representing 12.8 per cent of all award-winning beaches and marinas.

According to SEF, the total number of UK nationals living in Portugal has reached 714,123 – 7.8 per cent more than last year and further marking a continuous increase for the sixth constructive time, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The news was applauded by the General Manager of the Portuguese Chamber in the UK, Christina Hippisley, who pointed out that the size of the British expat community is a sign of an established network ready to welcome new residents.

“The Algarve and Lisbon are particularly popular, though cities such as Porto are also attracting interest from those considering relocating to Portugal from the UK,” Hippisley added.

Her office also reports that the demand from Britons to become Portuguese residents also remains high in 2022, with a particular interest in the country’s D7 visa, also known as the passive income visa.

This visa is available to nationals from third countries looking for long-term residency status in Portugal, and the main requirement is for applicants to show proof of their ability to support themselves. The visa is especially attractive to retired Britons while also those that want to study or work in Portugal can do so. They are also eligible to apply for Portugal’s Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) tax regime status.

“There is a tidal wave of people wanting to move from the UK to Portugal right now. As such, we are packing the upcoming Moving to Portugal show with property, financial, legal, and other experts, providing a one-stop-shop for information, advice, and guidance,” the Chamber pointed out.

Last year, 46,238 Brits started living in Portugal, which was a 34.6 per cent increase compared to the previous year and also marked the highest-known record.

The Chamber of Commerce also explains that after Britain voted to leave the EU in 2016, the number of Brits living in Portugal increased by 13 per cent, followed by an extra three per cent surge in 2017, and reached 18 per cent in 2018. While in 2016, Brits were the sixth-largest group living in Portugal, currently, they are listed right after Brazilians, which according to the Moving to Portugal portal, count 105,423 nationals.

Increasing numbers of British residents were reported by the Spanish government – which is a coastal country and Portugal’s neighbouring country. According to Statista’s data, the number of British nationals living in Spain reached 313,975 in 2021, representing a 4.4 per cent increase compared to the previous year.

In addition, early bookings are considered “very encouraging,” AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Such comments have been made by the President of the Algarve Tourism Board (RTA) as well as Algarve Tourism Association (ATA),  João Fernandes, during the BTL tourism fair held in London, as reported by Portugal residents.

Besides, the same source shows that Faro Airport in Portugal will welcome passengers from six new routes during this summer.

In this regard, the head of the RTA has stressed that of the total of 23 countries that Algarve was already linked to, Hungary, and “unfortunately” Ukraine will be left out “for the reason we all know.”

In addition, authorities in Portugal have confirmed that Algarve is expected to be linked to a total of 53 destinations in significant markets such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, France, the Netherlands.

Airlines such as Ryanair, EasyJet, Jet2.com, Transavia, and British Airways will also operate air links to a total of 53 destinations during this summer, three fewer compared to the same period 2019 figures, before the spread of the Coronavirus and its new strains.

“We work directly with ANA Airports, as a joint effort, to attract tour operators and airlines,” Fernandes pointed out in this regard, stressing that airport authority “benefits greatly from the Algarve’s popularity.”

Fernandes added that the Algarve was able to maintain the Ryanair base at Faro Airport and also attract an EasyJet base during “turbulent times.”

“This was a great achievement. It gives us more flexibility today. We have two operators who are both competing for good performance from the Algarve. They are two partners working for a goal that benefits them both directly because they have a whole structure set up there (Faro Airport),” Fernandes highlighted.

Portugal’s travel and tourism sector has also been highly affected by the restrictions imposed by governments in order to halt its further spread and prevent an increase in the number of infections.

However, the figures provided previously by the National Statistics Institute (INE) revealed that the tourism industry in Portugal surged significantly in January 2022, after the number of accommodations reached a total of 853,200 and two million overnight stays.

In addition, the INE stressed that the tourism accommodation reached a 183.7 per cent increase on year-on-year rates, while overnight stays spent in Portugal increased by 185.9 per cent during the same period.

Authorities in this zone have been registering seismic activity on the island despite the fact that there have not been recorded significant damages yet. However, local authorities are planning to evacuate the residents, especially those who are in hospital or who have mobility issues.

Such preventive measures will be taken in order to protect the citizens’ lives, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Due to the current situation in Sao Jorge, the UK Foreign Office has published advice for all Britons planning to travel to this zone.

“The Portuguese Civil Protection authorities in the Azores have been monitoring an increase in seismic activity on the island of São Jorge since 19 March. As a precaution, they have now activated their earthquake prevention plan and have advised against all but essential travel to the island,” the statement reads.

In addition, the announcement also stressed that “anyone who is already on the island of São Jorge is asked to avoid the areas of flat terrain, known locally as Fajãs, at the foot of the cliffs overlooking the sea in the Velas municipality.”

In this regard, the President of the Regional Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, stressed that, due to the recent seismic activity, local authorities were likely to exercise excessive prudence.

Bolieiro stressed that despite the events have not yet been significant in the sense of causing damage, it is essential to be vigilant and have excess prudence rather than negligence in the action.

He stressed that it is important to emphasise that the rest of the Azores remains unaffected by the seismic activity, so passengers who plan to head to a different island it’s likely to be going ahead as planned.

Despite the warning and the current situation on the island of Sao Jorge, the tourism sector of Portugal has marked a significant improvement during this year.

The restrictions imposed to halt the spread of the Coronavirus also impacted Portugal’s travel and tourism industry; however, in the recent figures provided by the National Statistics Institute (INE), in January this year, there was recorded a threefold increase compared to the same period last year data.

In addition, the same shows that in January 2022, the number of accommodations reached 853,200, while the number of overnight stays reached two million.

Such conclusions have been reached by the recent survey of the Post Office, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

A total of 36 countries were part of the survey of the Post Office, which was focused on several holiday must-haves such as the cost of a cup of coffee or a three-course evening meal for two.

According to the survey, the following destinations have been considered as the top ten best value holidays for 2022:

• Marmaris, Turkey
• Sunny Beach, Bulgaria
• Algarve, Portugal
• Cape Town, South Africa
• Paphos, Cyprus
• Costa del Sol, Spain
• Mombasa, Kenya
• Funchal, Madeira
• Sliema, Malta
• Orlando, USA

 Bulgaria

Bulgaria is becoming a famous destination for a large number of Britons as it offers cheap hotels, restaurants and bars for tourists, especially Sunny Beach.

Despite the fact that the country’s tourism industry, like many other industries, has been highly affected by the restrictions imposed due to the Coronavirus, the number of international visitors to the country has marked an increase, according to January data from the National Statistical Institute (NSI).

According to the statistical office data, the number of internationals who visited Bulgaria in January increased by 84.1 per cent on the year, reaching a total of 445,000.

In addition, the same source showed that citizens from European Union countries accounted for a total of 38.2 per cent of all arrivals of international passengers in the first month of this year.

Portugal

Portugal has also been considered as an attractive destination for citizens of Britain, particularly the country’s southernmost region, the Algarve, which recently has received a large number of international tourists.

However, recently authorities in the UK urged its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Sao Jorge’s Island after the same has been hit by over 1,100 earthquakes within just one week.

Still, the President of the Regional Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, said that it is important to highlight that the rest of the Azores continues to remain unaffected by seismic activity, adding that it is essential to be vigilant.

The recent data published by the National Statistics Institute (INE) also showed that the tourism industry in Portugal registered a significant increase in January 2022, compared to the same period last year’s figures.

The same showed that the number of accommodations reached 853,200, while the number of overnight stays registered surpassed two million.

Cyprus

Cyprus has also started to attract many international visitors, especially those from the UK, who have recently considered the city of Paphos as a favourite tourism destination.

Recently, the data provided by the Cypriot Interior Ministry revealed that the country welcomed a total of 115,865 international visitors in the first two months of this year, marking a significant increase compared to the same period last year.

According to the survey conducted by Vacaay, after Greece and France, Portugal is the third most sought-after holiday destination for citizens of the United Kingdom, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

In addition, the survey revealed that Portugal’s southernmost region, Algarve, has been among the most favourite destinations in Portugal, while many Britons who participated in the survey stressed that they are planning to visit this area.

The Vacaay’s UK and Europe Regional Director, James Air, has stressed that it was great to see Portugal ranked among the first positions after the country is often “overshadowed” by its neighbouring countries.

“Portugal is one of Europe’s most beautiful destinations, and whilst British tourists have long been acquainted with this Iberian gem, it’s really positive to see the country is now gaining market share from some of the region’s most popular tourist hotspots,” he pointed out.

The survey also revealed that Italy and Spain were also among the top five most popular destinations for UK travellers.

Besides Portugal, travellers from the UK are planning to choose Bulgaria, Cyprus and Spain as their favourite places to spend their summer holidays.

Another report published recently by the Post Office showed that Portugal, together with the countries mentioned above, were considered among the cheapest holiday destinations for Britons.

In addition, the survey revealed that the following destinations have been ranked in the top ten positions regarding best value holidays for 2022.

• Marmaris, Turkey
• Sunny Beach, Bulgaria
• Algarve, Portugal
• Cape Town, South Africa
• Paphos, Cyprus
• Costa del Sol, Spain
• Mombasa, Kenya
• Funchal, Madeira
• Sliema, Malta
• Orlando, USA

Portugal’s Algarve expects to welcome a large number of international tourists during this summer, despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Besides, the President of the Algarve Tourism Board (RTA) as well as the Algarve Tourism Association (ATA), João Fernandes, has stressed that early bookings are considered “very encouraging.”

His comments came during the BTL tourism fair held in London, according to local media reports.

In addition, the recent data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) revealed that the tourism sector in Portugal marked a notable increase in January 2022, compared to the figures of the same period one year earlier.

The same source showed that the number of accommodations reached a total of 853,200, while the number of overnight stays recorded surpassed two million.

According to the National Statistics Institute (INE), tourism accommodation reached a 183.7 per cent increase on year-on-year rates, while overnight stays spent in Portugal grew by 185.9 per cent during the same period, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Although the figure spiked compared to December rates when the number of guests increased by 148.9 per cent and overnights reached 169.7 per cent, the tourism levels are far below the January 2020 rates, when no restrictions such as travel bans weren’t imposed by governments – reaching about 39.9 per cent in guests and 38.8 per cent in overnight stays.

The first month of the year showed a productive domestic market as it contributed with 857,700 overnight stays, a 104.5 per cent increase from December, and the external markets totalled 1.1 million, about 308.7 per cent more than in the previous month.

>> Portugal: Current Travel Restrictions Explained

However, compared to January 2020, the figures dropped by 20.1 per cent in overnight stays and 47.9 per cent in international arrivals. All the main outbound markets recorded increases in January, accounting for 84.7 per cent of overnight stays from internationals in tourist accommodation establishments this month.

As per markets, Britons remained the largest market for tourism in Portugal for January 2022. They accounted for 14.6 per cent of total overnight stays from non-residents, followed by the German nationals with 13.4 per cent of all arrivals and Brazilians with 9.4 percentage points.

In addition, during January, 41 per cent of tourist accommodation establishments were closed or had no movement of guests due to the Omicron variant of COVID-19 virus, compared to December when 37 per cent of establishments were available.

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the increase in the travel demand in Portugal has created the need for more than 85,000 workers in the industry as the workload is larger than the current staff to handle them.

“Portugal’s economic recovery could be at risk if we do not have enough people to fill those jobs when tourists return,” the President of the WTTC, Julia Simpson, pointed out in this regard.

Lack of workers in the industry puts many businesses at difficulty, especially after the COVID-19 Pandemic, which has damaged all industries.

In a press release issued on March 6, the European Commission announced that this temporary protection measure would last for almost a year, but that it could be extended for two six-month periods if the war continues or another situation emerges that prevents people from safely returning to Ukraine.

According to the EU Commission, Ukrainian citizens under this measure will be able to obtain legal status in Portugal, which guarantees them immediate access to the taxpayer identification number, social security identification number and the National Health Service number, so that their life in Portugal can be as normal as possible, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The Association of Portuguese Municipalities also met with the High Commission for Migration to assess the means, especially those in terms of housing, that are now available throughout the country for the reception of families from Ukraine.

In addition, some hospitals in Portugal have published a list of the number of hospital beds available to Ukrainian refugees who need health care due to health conditions that require attention, like palliative care, neonatal care, cancer medication, etc.

The authorities also intend to find workplaces for arriving Ukrainians, in particular for those with skills needed for work vacancies that Portuguese nationals cannot fill.

“The Institute of Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP) also mobilised a task force to coordinate skills matching between new Ukrainians arrivals on the one hand, and the needs of businesses in Portugal on the other,” the statement reads.

Another means through which the authorities are set to help Ukrainian refugees is through a project called SPEAK, which was established in 2014 and is a platform that helps migrants and refugees solve the challenges of social exclusion by learning a language and creating an informal social support network

This project operates in 24 cities and 12 different countries and so far has helped more than 48,000 people.

According to SPEAK, moving from your home country to a new city can be difficult and can make newcomers feel isolated, but through SPEAK.

• 72 per cent of foreigners have made new friends
• 82 per cent have improved their knowledge of a new language, where language groups are run by friends from all over the world who are fluent in the language you want and help everyone to sound like a native
• 82 per cent have increased the sense of belonging in their current city

The National Energy Network (REN) has praised the SPEAK project with the eighth annual AGIR award, where the theme of this award was “Social Innovation in Response to COVID-19”.

With the AGIR award, the organisation behind the project, Share Your World, will develop a second and more efficient version of the application that will feature more intuitive features.

“There are no restrictions on the entry of travellers at the airports, ports and marinas of the Autonomous Region of Madeira,” the statement of Madeira Regional Tourism Board reads.

This means that all travellers, regardless of their country of origin, can enter the Autonomous Region of Madeira without having to provide a valid vaccination, recovery, or test certificate upon their arrival, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

However, the authorities have noted that everyone is still recommended to register their entry before arrival.

“All passengers are recommended to complete the epidemiological survey of the Regional Health Authority on the Madeira Safe digital platform,” the authorities added.

Even though Madeira has abolished its entry rules, the region still continues to keep in place general COVID-19 measures.

The official travel website of Madeira explains that the use of face masks continues to remain mandatory in open and enclosed areas. Such a requirement applies to everyone over the age of six.

In addition, everyone is still required to present a vaccination or recovery certificate when accessing bars, restaurants, nightclubs, gyms, theatres, and other events.

The authorities have noted that unvaccinated and unrecovered persons can also access these places by presenting a negative rapid antigen test result.

Rapid antigen tests remain valid for seven days when in Madeira. This means that travellers who have not been vaccinated or recovered from the virus do not need to undergo testing several times a week in order to be allowed entry into different public places and events.

Differently from Madeira, mainland Portugal continues to keep in place COVID-19 entry rules. Those who wish to travel from Madeira and Porto Santo to Portugal should be prepared to be subject to measures.

According to Portugal’s official travel website, Visit Portugal, travellers who are permitted entry to the country for non-essential purposes need to present a valid vaccination or recovery certificate or a negative test result that was taken recently.

Portugal accepts only vaccination certificates proving that the holder has completed primary vaccination with one of the recognised vaccine doses within the last 270. Those who have received a booster shot can also enter the country.

Recovery certificates are also accepted as long as the holder has recovered from the virus within the last 180 days. As for the negative COVID-19 test, the Portuguese authorities explain that PCR tests must be taken within 72 hours, and the rapid antigen test must be taken within 24 hours before arrival in order to be recognised.

The airline has stressed that it has cut the number of aircraft from seven to four, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Such a decision means that the latest announcement of the airline will affect about 900,000 customers, who would lose their flights or would have their holidays canceled.

Nearly 19 routes have been affected by Ryanair’s latest decision after it got into a row with Lisbon’s airport regarding the restrictions imposed due to the Coronavirus.

In this regard, Ryanair’s CEO, Mike O’Leary, has issued a statement, apologizing for the cancellation of flights, while stressing that the loss of these 19 routes as well as 500 flights during this summer, means that Lisbon’s post-COVID recovery “will now lag behind other major European Union capital cities.”

“Ryanair remains committed to returning these three aircraft and 19 routes to Lisbon in October for its winter schedule when we will resume driving traffic, tourism, and jobs recovery in Lisbon. All passengers affected by these summer 2022 cancellations will receive email notifications later this week offering them full refunds or alternative flights to/from Lisbon for summer 2022,” O’Leary pointed out, as reported by Birminghami.

The following routes have disappeared in Lisbon for this summer:

• Agadir
• Alghero
• Alicante
• Bari
• Billund
• Birmingham
• Bournemouth
• Baden-Baden

Despite the fact that Ireland’s decision has affected nearly a million passengers, its decision to cancel routes from Lisbon’s airport is not of concern for Portugal’s tourism, according to the President of Turismo de Portugal.

According to Luis Arujo, the Irish company continues to have more presence compared to 2019 figures, and that most routes serve to take Portuguese people abroad.

Even though the Irish carrier’s decision has not received any reaction from the government, the President of Turismo de Portugal believes that the consequences for tourism will be few.

“Still, Ryanair has 26 per cent more [presence] than it had in 2019. In addition, most of the canceled markets serve much more to take Portuguese people abroad than to bring foreigners here,” Luís Araújo stressed in this regard.

The spread of the Coronavirus and its new strains have negatively impacted many industries, especially the travel and tourism sector, leading airlines to cancel their flights.

Due to the spread of the Coronavirus, particularly the Omicron variant, the CEO of the Irish airline Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, announced that it reduced the supply for January 2022 due to the lack of demand.

Therefore, Russian citizens who are interested in Portugal’s Golden Visa scheme must be aware that the process will not be moving forwards in the near future, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

In this regard, Portugal’s Foreign Affairs Minister Augusto Santos Silva has confirmed that probably more citizens from Russia will be sanctioned in the coming days.

“SEF has suspended the appreciation of any dossier of candidacy for authorisation of residency through investment, commonly known as golden visas, for Russian citizens,” Augusto Santos Silva pointed out in this regard.

According to him, the same goes for Belarusian citizens interested in benefiting from Portugal’s Golden Visa Program, as reported by Resident.

The SEF revealed that a total of €277.8 million had been brought to the country from golden visas granted to Russian citizens since the program was launched. At the same time, the agency stressed that the golden visas granted to Ukrainians brought a total of €32.5 million to the country.

Through the golden visa scheme, internationals are eligible to obtain the golden visa, provided that they make a specific amount of money invested in any of the countries that run such schemes in order to acquire residency.

Due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, European countries, including the United Kingdom, also agreed to halt the sale of golden passports for wealthy Russian citizens, which permits them to invest in the country in exchange for citizenship.

The golden passports also allow their holders and their family members to move freely within the Schengen Zone countries.

Besides European countries, the United States and Canada also agreed to limit the sale of such passports for wealthy Russian individuals.

The decision was confirmed through a statement published by the Commission of the EU.

“We commit to taking measures to limit the sale of citizenship—so-called golden passports—that let wealthy Russians connected to the Russian government become citizens of our countries and gain access to our financial systems,” the statement of the Commission of the EU reads.

Among the sanctions imposed on Russia was also the ejection of specific Russian banks from the SWIFT banking system.

Besides, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine led European Union countries to close their airspace to Russian air traffic.

During a meeting of the Council of the European Union on February 28, it was decided to add a total of 26 Russian individuals and one Russian entity to the list of persons that are subject to restrictive measures.

The news was announced by the Embassy of Canada to Portugal, which said that Portugal had lifted its previous restrictions that were applied against arrivals from Canada, AtoZSerwisplus.pt reports.

“Update: The Government of Portugal has lifted its earlier restrictions and is once again allowing non-essential travel from Canada to Portugal,” the Embassy of Canada to Portugal wrote on its official Facebook account.

Based on the current entry rules that Portugal has, all travellers who are permitted entry to the country need to present an EU Digital COVID-19 Certificate or another equivalent vaccination or recovery certificate that is recognised under reciprocal conditions.

Portugal has a list of third countries whose certificates are recognised under reciprocal conditions, but Canada is not part of it.

This suggests that even though the non-essential travel ban for travellers from Canada has been removed, they still need to present a PCR test performed within 72 hours or a rapid antigen test performed within 24 hours before reaching Portugal.

“It is mandatory to present the EU COVID Digital Certificate. Citizens who are not holders of the Digital Covid EU certificate in vaccination, test, or recovery modalities, will have to present proof of a negative RT-PCR test (TAAN), performed in the last 72 hours, or rapid antigen test (TRAg), performed in the last 24h,” the statement of Portugal’s official travel portal, Visit Portugal, reads.

Still, despite such a statement, travellers from Canada are dealing with confusion since the Portuguese authorities have not given a definite answer whether they need to undergo testing even if they have been fully vaccinated or have received an additional vaccine dose.

“As it stands right now, with my wife and I both triple vaxxed and unless/until the situation deteriorates dramatically, I’m finally confident that our scheduled trip (about four weeks from now) is a go. But unless I see a flat out statement that a PCR test is NOT required, I’m going to schedule a test for us two days prior to departure,” a national of Canada wrote on the ‘feedback from users’ section on Visit Portugal webpage.

However, based on a statement made by the Portuguese authorities, which says that vaccination passes issued by third countries are recognised only under reciprocal conditions, it can be inferred that passes issued in Canada are not considered valid when reaching Portugal even if the holder has received a vaccine dose that is accepted in Portugal.

Authorities are yet to make an official announcement regarding the matter.

On the other hand, once in Portugal, travellers are not subject to any COVID-19 restrictions when attending bars, restaurants, clubs, and other events. The requirement to wear a face mask remains valid only when in closed spaces.

>> Portugal to Lift Most of Its COVID-19 Restrictions

In line with the new rules that Portugal has, travellers from the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA) can enter the country for all kinds of purposes provided that they fill out a Passenger Locator Form and hold a valid certificate that falls under the EU Digital COVID Pass.

This means that all EU/EEA travellers are permitted restriction-free entry to Portugal as long as they hold a vaccination, recovery certificate, or a negative COVID-19 test result, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Portugal accepts all vaccination passes that indicate that the holder has been vaccinated within the last 270 days with these vaccine doses: BioNTech, Novavax, Moderna, AstraZeneca (all of its forms), Janssen, Sinopharm, Sinovac, and Covaxin. Vaccination certificates that prove that the holder has received a booster shot are accepted too.

Recovery certificates are accepted as long as the last positive test has been obtained in the last 180 days. As for the COVID-19 tests, it has been explained that PCR tests need to be taken within 72 hours and the rapid antigen test need to be taken within 24 hours before arrival in order to be recognised.

Entry Requirements for Travellers From Third Countries

Similar to the EU/EEA countries, travellers from several third countries can also enter Portugal for travel purposes. Portugal currently allows non-essential travel from these third countries, Brazil, Canada, the USA, and the UK.

In addition, non-essential travel is also allowed for travellers from Bahrain, Chile, Colombia, Indonesia, Kuwait, New Zealand, Peru, China, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Rwanda,  United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, Uruguay, and the administrative regions of Macau and Hong Kong, provided that they meet reciprocal conditions.

Travellers from these third countries who reach Portugal by air or sea are required to present a vaccination certificate indicating immunisation against the virus with one of the vaccines listed above or a recovery certificate.

In contrast, stricter rules apply to third-country travellers reaching Portugal by land. Travellers who do not hold a Digital COVID EU Certificate are required to present a pre-entry PCR test performed in the last 72 hours or a rapid antigen test performed in the last 24 hours when entering Portugal by land.

“Citizens who are not holders of the Digital Covid EU certificate in vaccination, test, or recovery modalities, will have to present proof of a negative RT-PCR test (TAAN), performed in the last 72 hours, or rapid antigen test (TRAg), performed in the last 24h,” the statement of the Portuguese authorities reads.

These entry rules apply only to persons over the age of 12. Those under are exempt from the requirement to present a certificate or a test.

Travel from any other third-country that was not mentioned above is only permitted if someone is travelling for professional, study, health, humanitarian, and family reunion purposes.

“Flights from countries not mentioned are allowed exclusively for “essential travel”, i.e., to allow the entry into Portugal of citizens travelling for professional, study and family reunion purposes, and for health or humanitarian reasons,” the Portuguese authorities stated.

Portugal’s Domestic COVID-19 restrictions

Except for easing its entry rules, Portugal now also applies facilitated domestic COVID-19 restrictions. Travellers are now able to attend different places and events, including bars, restaurants, and clubs, among others, without having to present a certificate or a test.

The only requirement that currently remains in place in mainland Portugal is to keep a face mask on when in closed spaces.

>> Portugal to Lift Most of Its COVID-19 Restrictions

The decision has been announced by the region’s official travel website, according to which the rules which were imposed on February 1 will continue to apply further. According to these rules, travellers do not need to test upon arrival, but vaccination certificates or recovery remain mandatory for arrivals from third countries.

“COVID-19 testing at airports and ports/marinas has ended, but travellers will be required to present a Completed vaccination Certificate, with three doses of the vaccine; Incomplete vaccination Certificate (1 or 2 doses of vaccine) and a certificate of recovery within 180 days or a certificate of recovery valid for up to 180 days,” reads a travel guide amid COVID-19 updated on the website.

However, travellers to the region must be aware of the existing domestic travel rules, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Those wishing to attend public and private sector activities, such as restaurants, gyms, bars and clubs, cultural events, sports activities, nightlife activities, casinos, and other similar activities, must hold a COVID-19 vaccination certificate.

The certificate, however, is not required in order to have access to places like public transportation, pharmacies, clinics, petrol stations and places of worship, as well as in places that offer medical services, animal medical services, postal and social security services, etc.

Travellers who show symptoms of the virus must test for it. Those that result negative are obliged to isolate for five days. After that, they can return to normal activities without the need to perform another test.

According to Portugal’s general entry rules, travellers from the EU and EEA countries can enter its territory if they hold an EU Digital COVID Passport, which proves that they have either been vaccinated against COVID-19, have recovered from it, or have tested negative for the virus before their arrival in Portugal.

However, for the vaccination certificates to be valid, the travellers must have been vaccinated with one of the following vaccines: BioNTech, Novavax, Moderna, AstraZeneca (all of its versions), Janssen, Sinopharm, Sinovac, and Covaxin.

Currently, eligible to enter Portugal from third countries for non-essential purposes are travellers from Brazil, Canada, the USA, and the UK, as well as from Bahrain, Chile, Colombia, Indonesia, Kuwait, New Zealand, Peru, China, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Rwanda,  United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, Uruguay, and the administrative regions of Macau and Hong Kong, provided that they also permit Portuguese citizens to enter their territory.

In order to be eligible to enter Portugal, travellers from these third countries are required to present a vaccination certificate that meets the conditions mentioned above.

>> Madeira Ends COVID-19 Testing at Airports & Ports for Incoming Travellers

The Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Costa, announced earlier last year that since December 1, all travellers who wish to enter Portugal’s territory, especially those from highly affected areas would have to get tested for the virus.

The authorities required that all foreigners undergo a rapid antigen within 48 hours or a PCR test within 72 hours before entry while highlighting that the testing process must be completed in laboratory conditions.

However, not everyone met this entry rule. The data from MIA shows that from December 1 until February 6, the authorities fined more than 3,200 incoming travellers who failed to present a negative test result upon their entry, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

During the same period, the authorities also fined 41 air travel companies for carrying passengers who did not meet the country’s entry rules.

To make sure that everyone was following the entry requirement when reaching Portugal, MIA revealed that more than 1,191,100 passengers and over 2,500 airlines were inspected by the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) and the Public Security Police (PSP) from December until early February.

During these checks, the responsible authorities were able to detect a total of 3,273 offences.

It has been explained that passengers who failed to meet the testing required received a fine between €300 and €800, whereas the airlines who carried passengers without a valid negative COVID-19 test result were fined between €20,000 and €40,000 per each traveller.

The pre-entry testing requirement when travelling to Portugal has been applied to all persons over the age of 12.

The Portuguese authorities confirmed earlier this month that the country would lift the requirement to present a negative COVID-19 test result taken before arrival. The government said that pre-entry tests would no longer be required for travellers who hold a valid COVID-19 Digital Certificate or any other equivalent document that the country recognises for travel.

The decision to remove the testing requirement follows the recommendation of the EU Commission to create a coordinated approach to make the travel process easier for those who have already completed their vaccination status as well for those who have received an additional vaccine dose.

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According to the same source, overnight stays spent in Portugal also doubled – reaching 2.6 million and accounting for a 170.4 per cent increase compared to December 2020 levels. In addition, the figures were more positive compared to the previous month, as the discrepancy is smaller comparing December 2021 to the corresponding time of the previous year than comparing November 2021 to the same month of 2020. More specifically, the numbers in guests and overnight stays rose by 265 per cent and 287 per cent last November, compared to the corresponding time in 2020.

However, despite the positive trends, the numbers of guests are below 28.9 per cent, and 26.7 per cent fewer overnight stays are noticed compared to pre-pandemic levels, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

More specifically, excluding 2020, INE’s preliminary data for 2021 shows that the tourist accommodation establishments registered 14.5 million guests and 37.5 million overnight stays, accounting for 39.4 per cent and 45.2 per cent increases. As INE points out, such a low figure hasn’t been noticed in more than a decade, more specifically since 2010, when 37.4 million overnight stays were recorded.

Last year, including all means of accommodation (tourist accommodation establishments, camping and holiday camps, and youth hostels), 16.1 million guests and 42.7 million overnight stays were registered, representing increases of 37.6 per cent and 41.1 per cent, respectively.

The domestic market remained stable, as 1.1 million overnights were spent within the country, marking a 92.6 per cent increase. On the other hand, the external markets registered 1.5 million overnight stays, 292.5 per cent more than in 2020.

Moreover, domestic and external markets are showing signs of recovery as the decreases are smaller compared to pre-pandemic levels – 12.2 per cent in overnight stays from residents and 34.9 per cent from non-residents.

“The total revenue registered in the tourist accommodation establishments amounted to €153 million, and the revenue from the accommodation was €108 million. When compared with December 2019, total revenue decreased by 25.4 per cent, and revenue from accommodation declined by 23.3 per cent,” the report issued by INE reads.

Moreover, the same reveals that the average revenue per available room (RevPAR) was €21.5 on December, 29 per cent lower than in November when the sum amounted to €30.3. However, the average daily rate (ADR) remained relatively the same for both months as it was registered at €74.4 in December, while it was €74.2 in November. In December 2019, the RevPAR was €27.8, and the ADR amounted to €72.8.

According to the most recent press release issued by the government of Portugal, as soon as the new amended rules enter into force, citizens of the country, as well as travellers who visit Portugal, will no longer be required to present a negative test result when attending large events.

In addition, the requirement to present a vaccination or recovery certificate when attending bars, restaurants, and other public venues will also be dropped, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Apart from the above-mentioned, the authorities have revealed that there will no longer be limitations in the capacity of persons allowed in one area during the same times.

The proposed relaxed measures now need to be approved by the President of Portugal in order for them to enter into force.

Commenting on the proposal to ease the COVID-19 restrictions, the Minister of State Mariana Vieira da Silva said that the new relaxed rules would help the citizens of the country and travellers to return to a normal life.

Additionally, she revealed that the government plans to lift all of the remaining restrictions by mid-March.

It is believed that the Portuguese authorities have proposed to ease the COVID-19 restrictions as the country is not having a high number of hospitalisations.

The figures provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) show that Portugal has registered 122,966 new COVID-19 infection cases in the last seven days.

As for the vaccination rates, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) shows that as of February 19, a total of 23,179,590 vaccine doses have been administered in Portugal. It further reveals that 94.0 per cent have already completed their primary vaccination and another 70.0 per cent have received an additional vaccine dose.

Even though the requirement to present a digital certificate when attending different places will be dropped, the authorities have explained that travellers who wish to visit the country are still required to meet this entry rule.

Currently, Portugal requires all incoming travellers to prove that they have recovered, tested, or have been vaccinated against the COVID-19 disease.

Portugal recognises recovery certificates as long as the document proves that the holder tested positive within the last 180 days.

On the other hand, vaccination certificates are accepted only if the document shows that the holder has completed primary vaccination within the last nine months (270 days). Those who have been vaccinated more than nine months ago need to receive an additional vaccine dose in order for their pass to be considered valid when reaching Portugal.

>> Portugal Welcomed 1.1 Million Guests in December – Figures from 2021 Remain Decade’s Lowest, Official Data Show

More specifically, 44 per cent of the resident population of Portugal aged between 30 and 34 are holders of a tertiary education degree – surpassing the 40 per cent target set by Europe Strategy 2020 by four per cent, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The Europe Strategy 2020 is a plan approved by the European Commission that intends to increase the suitability, inclusivity and growth across all 27-nation-bloc. Concretely, the targets that all Member States should’ve reached by 2020 included the requirement for at least 40 per cent of the younger generation to have a tertiary degree, among 75 per cent of the population being employed.

Rates of the population aged 30-34 with higher education degrees reach 44 per cent in 2021, increasing by four per cent compared to 2020 and 20 per cent since 2010. In addition, the unemployment rate among graduates in Portugal has dropped to its minimum value of 5.3 per cent.

>> Portugal Opens Its Doors to More Indian Skilled Workers

More specifically, Statistics Portugal (INE) data shows a schooling rate of 42 per cent in the last quarter of 2021, corresponding to an average annual schooling rate of 44 per cent for the year 2021. In addition, the figure shows a growth of 12 percentage points compared to 2015 and 20 percentage points compared to 2010.

Furthermore, INE data shows that the employed population with tertiary education in the country has jumped by 13 per cent between 2020 and 2021 – counting 200,000 more graduates, increasing the number of workers with higher education from 1.45 to 1.65 million.

In general, the higher education rate for the employed population in Portugal increased to 34 per cent, which equals nine percentage points compared to 2015. Moreover, it shows a surge of 520,000 graduates employed between 2015 and 2021. As per unemployment rates, the current rate of 5.3 per cent is below the national average of 6.6 per cent.

Furthermore, the publication shows that the Lisbon Metropolitan Area has the highest educated, employed population rates in the last quarter of 2021. More specifically, Lison leads the list with 44 per cent of the employed population with higher studies residing there, followed by the Center region (32 per cent), the North region and Algarve (31 per cent), the Autonomous Region of Madeira (27 per cent), Alentejo (26 per cent) and the Region Autonomous Region of the Azores (22 cent).

In addition, the North region data reveals a surge of ten percentage points followed by Algarve with nine percentage points compared to the corresponding time in 2015.

EU countries reached a joint agreement to lift additional restrictions on movement for persons who hold a valid COVID-19 vaccination document that proves they have been vaccinated or recovered from the virus, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

According to Portugal News, a source from the office of the Minister of International Administration told Lusa agency, “as always; the Government will consider possible adjustments to the rules in force in the national legal framework, taking into account the content of this recommendation and also the evolution of the epidemiological situation in Portugal”.

The Council of the EU introduced a new recommendation to ease the travel process amid the COVID-19 situation based on which Coronavirus measures should be applied considering passenger health rather than the epidemiological situation of their country of departure, except for high-risk countries.

The decision means that passengers from other countries will face milder entry rules when travelling to EU countries, provided they have completed their immunization process against the virus.

The Council of the EU adopted such a recommendation on January 25, while the same will become effective on February 1.

 “This means that a traveller’s COVID-19 vaccination, test, or recovery status, as evidenced by a valid EU digital COVID certificate, should be the key determinant. A person-based approach will substantially simplify the applicable rules and will provide additional clarity and predictability to travellers,” the Council of the EU pointed out.

In addition, on the same day, February 1, the Member States will shorten the validity of vaccination documents to 270 days.

Since December 1, 2021, all travellers from other countries reaching Portugal are obliged to present a negative rest or recovery document upon their arrival.

Previously Portugal’s Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI) stressed that over 2,500 travellers faced fines during the last two months while attempting to reach Portugal without presenting a negative COVID-19 test.

Based on the figures provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), Portugal recorded a total of 2,254,583 cases of COVID-19 infection and 19,613 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

The same source shows that Portugal registered over 347,600 cases of infection in the last seven days, while 279 people have died due to the virus.

Despite the current COVID-19 situation, the figures provided by the  European statistics provider, Eurostat, showed that Portugal had a better travel performance in December compared to other  EU countries.

However, it has been explained that only some categories of travellers will be exempt from this entry rule, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

According to the data provided by Madeira’s official travel portal, Madeira Regional Tourism Board, the requirement to present a rapid antigen test or undergo testing upon arrival at airports of Madeira does not apply to individuals who have recovered from the COVID-19 disease within the last 90 days.

Additionally, exempt from the testing rule are also persons who have been fully vaccinated against the virus with one of the approved vaccines.

A vaccination certificate is valid for entry into Madeira as long as the document proves that the holder has been immunised with AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Janssen, Sinovac, Sputnik V, and Sinopharm.

Travellers who have only received the first vaccine dose in two-dose vaccination schemes and who have been infected with the COVID-19  within the last 90 days also do not need to present a pre-entry test or undergo testing upon their arrival in Madeira.

Nonetheless, everyone is still obliged to complete a Passenger Locator Form, regardless of their vaccination status. The form needs to be completed within 48 hours before arrival.

In contrast to vaccinated and recovered travellers, persons who have not been vaccinated or recovered from the COVID-19 disease must present a negative test taken before entry or undergo testing upon arrival in order to be permitted entry to Madeira.

Travellers who take a rapid antigen test within 48 hours before boarding can immediately proceed to their destination in Madeira.

“All passengers who, upon disembarking at the airports of the Autonomous Region of Madeira from any territory out of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, carry a negative Rapid Antigen Test for COVID-19, carried out within 48 hours prior to boarding, in laboratories certified by national or international authorities, can proceed to their destination,” the statement of the Madeira Regional Tourism Board reads.

On the other hand, those who have not undergone testing in their country of origin need to take a test upon arrival at the airport. Testing at the airport is free of charge.

“All passengers, whether Portuguese or foreign citizens, with trips scheduled for the Autonomous Region of Madeira, can perform Rapid Antigen Tests (TRAg), at no cost, in several cities in the country,” Madeira Regional Tourism Board added.

Apart from the measures mentioned above, everyone must also follow domestic COVID-19 rules while in Madeira, such as keeping social distance and wearing face masks.

>> Portugal to Impose New Travel Rules

Such a decision was confirmed by the government earlier this week, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt report.

Announcing the new relaxed entry rules that are soon to become effective, the government said that pre-entry tests would no longer be required from travellers who hold a valid EU COVID-19 Digital Certificate or any other proof of vaccination that is already recognised for travel.

This suggests that not only travellers from the European Union and Schengen Area but also those from third countries whose vaccination certificates are recognised in Portugal will be exempt from the testing requirement. Nonetheless, the government and the responsible ministry are yet to reveal further data regarding third-country nationals.

The authorities have not given any specific date on when the testing rule will be dropped. However, since the current entry requirements that the country has will remain effective until February 9, it is believed that the testing requirement will be removed during the upcoming days.

Currently, Portugal requires all travellers to present a rapid antigen test taken within 48 hours or a PCR test taken within 72 hours before their arrival. The testing requirement applies to everyone, even to those who have been fully vaccinated or recovered from the virus.

Portugal’s decision to remove the testing requirement follows the recommendation of the EU Commission. The Commission advised all Member States to create a coordinated approach in order to make the travel process easier for those who have already been fully vaccinated or received an additional vaccine dose.

The World Health Organization (WHO) data shows that Portugal has reported 352,306 new infection cases in the last seven days.

As for the vaccination rates, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reveals that 93.8 per cent of the entire adult population in Portugal has completed primary vaccination. In addition, 62.3 per cent have already received a booster shot.

Apart from Portugal, several other countries have also decided to relax their entry restrictions.

Greece has announced that travellers who hold an EU COVID Certificate will no longer be required to undergo testing. The decision was confirmed by the government.

Denmark has also lifted all of its travel restrictions. The authorities announced that they no longer require vaccination certificates when accessing bars, restaurants, and other venues. The requirement to keep a mask on has also been lifted.

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The most recent countries to have moved towards eased travel restrictions are Portugal and Greece. Both countries announced last week they were planning to remove the obligation to test for COVID-19 pre-departure for those vaccinated against the virus and those who have recovered from it.

On Saturday, February 5, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt the following Monday for those holding EU Digital COVID-19 Certificates, proof of vaccination, or proof of recovery from COVID-19.

The move has been taken by the country’s government in a meeting held last week in a bid to align travel restrictions with EU’s rules of travel amid COVID-19.

The move has been cherished by many, including the Confederation of Tourism of Portugal (CTP), which called it a highly positive step towards the easing of travel restrictions.

“The CTP welcomes the measure the cabinet approved today which provides that the presentation of a negative COVID-19 test is no longer mandatory to enter Portugal for those with a European Union digital certificate or other proof of vaccination,” the Confederation said in a statement.

The obligation to test before the trip has been abolished by the Greek authorities for all incoming travellers holding an EU Digital COVID Certificate, proof of vaccination, or recovery from the virus.

Announcing the move, the Greek Ministry of Tourism has called the move a step to lure more tourists to the country, as the country prepared to launch the summer season as early as March 1.

“Greek tourism has shown remarkable resilience in the past two years, sending a strong message of security to travellers in our country, and it will do the same this year,” the Minister of Tourism Vassilis Kikilias stated in this regard.

Other EU countries have also moved towards the facilitation of the travel rules, claiming that travel restrictions have not helped prevent the spread of the virus.

Starting from Wednesday, February 9, Sweden will remove all entry restrictions or travellers from the EU and EEA countries, including here for non-vaccinated and non-recovered travellers. Yet, the country is set to keep in place the travel measures imposed on travellers from third countries.

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Henley and Partners, together with Deep Knowledge Analytics, have introduced an analytic tool called the Best Investment Migration Real Estate Index in order to assess investment migration programs that offer real estate investments as an effective way to residence rights and citizenship acquisition, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Spain has been ranked second in the index introduced by Henley and Partners. The southwestern European country is very famous for the opportunities that it brings to international investors, offering various locations from urban areas to islands.

Another European country, Montenegro, has also been placed among the top five European destinations for real estate investment. The Balkan country has been placed in the third position in this index, offering investors the possibility to choose from coastal resorts to new establishments, while it is also known for its popular mountain and ski areas in the north.

In the fourth position has been ranked Turkey, which is known for its high scores for its low investment amount and residence requirements.

At the same time, Portugal shares the fifth spot with Thailand. The European country is also famous for its real estate market.

Greece has been ranked in the sixth position, while the country is very popular for its Golden Visa Program, which attracts a large number of internationals.

Another European country, Cyprus, has been included in the list of countries that offer excellent opportunities to international investors.

Cyprus has been placed in the eighth position on the index, while this country is also known for its high scores for its low investment amount.

As for countries outside Europe, the Emirate of Dubai has been placed in the first place as the world’s best territory for offering rental income potential, while the price of property per square metre is lower compared to the most significant number of international centres.

Thailand, Grenada, Dominica, and St. Lucia also belong to the top ten destinations for investors interested in real investments for residence.

A total of 80 per cent increase in enquiries has been noted by the international residence and citizenship firm during last year.

In this regard, Henley and Partners Group Head of Private Clients, Dominic Volek, said preventive measures imposed to stop the virus’ further spread, such as lockdowns, entry bans, travel restrictions, and remote work, have convinced investors of the benefits of alternative residence and citizenship.

“International real estate has always been a reliable asset class for global investors due to its long-term staying power. Real estate–linked investment migration programs have the additional advantages of enhancing your global mobility through multiple passports and expanding your personal access rights as a citizen or resident of additional jurisdictions, creating optionality in terms of where you and your family can live, work, study, retire, and invest,” Volek pointed out.

He stressed that the potential gains “over the lifetime of the investment include the core value of the asset, rental yields, and global access as an ultimate hedge against both regional and global volatility.”

European countries such as Spain, Greece, Portugal, Bulgaria are famous for their Golden Visa schemes, which offer great opportunities for internationals. However, such schemes have often been criticised for being involved in illicit affairs. The Commission of the European Union has continuously called on the authorities of countries that run such schemes to abolish them as soon as possible.

In addition, between December 1 and January 23, 41 airlines in Portugal have also been fined for boarding these passengers, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

In an assessment of this measure to control cases of COVID-19, MAI told the Lusa agency that, during this two-month period, the Public Security Police (PSP) and Immigration and Borders Service (SEF) handled 1,823,533 passengers and 16,966 flights. Out of these flights, about 2,546 offences were issued.

Out of these 2,546 fines, 1,677 were issued by the PSP, which controls passengers from flights of the Schengen Zone, and 869 by the SEF, which inspects travellers from countries outside the zone.

In December, the Portuguese authorities announced that all arriving passengers over the age of 12 were required to present a negative test or a recovery certificate in order the enter the country – with an exception for passengers on domestic flights, minors and, several other categories.

>> Portugal Authorities Fine Over 2,200 Travellers for Failing to Present COVID-19 Test Result

As a result, the government also established fines for those not presenting a negative test while boarding on planes to Portugal, which was set to an amount varying between €300 and €800. On the other hand, airlines boarding such unruly passengers could be finned for €20,000 or €40,000.

The Administration also revealed that 2,546 offences include eight international travellers that refused to present a pre-departure test. In addition, MAI data also shows that 2,585 tests were utilized by passengers at airports who entered the country without presenting such documents.

This isn’t the first time that Portuguese air service providers or other institutions are voicing their concerns in regards to unruly passengers, as the situation forced the authorities to fine tens of airlines and hundreds of passengers.

Furthermore, since December 1, the Portuguese authorities have imposed new and more stringent rules for travellers in a bid to curb the rising number of COVID-19 infections.

“Mandatory negative test for all flights arriving in Portugal, even for those who have a digital vaccination certificate, regardless of the point of origin of the flight or the passenger’s nationality,” the official site for information over travelling to Portugal, Visit Portugal, reads.

In addition, the same source reveals that travellers are permitted if they present a PCR test performed 72 hours before boarding or a rapid antigen ten taken 48 hours before departure. Moreover, presenting a vaccination or recovery certificate or the EU Digital COVID-19 Certificate.

According to Euronews, the findings were made during the investigation at a support centre hosting Ukrainian refugees near Lisbon, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The Ukrainian ambassador to Portugal, Inna Ohnivets, said that the personal information recorded would be “of interest to Russian intelligence”.

On the other hand, the police revealed that they had searched buildings in Setubal linked to Edinstvo, where they found numerous documents. This spot is an association for Eastern European migrants.

Portuguese media reports that the two pro-Russian citizens had photocopied refugees’ personal documents and had been questioning them about family members left in Ukraine.

Suspected links to the case have pushed the mayor of Setubal, Andre Martins, to resign, while the city council denied knowing about any “suspicious acts or conduct” regarding the matter.

Previously, the Portuguese Prime Minister, Antonio Costa, has expressed his support for the police’s investigation for some other misuse of data suspects, while President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa called for a probe into the municipality’s process of welcoming refugees.

In addition, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ana Caterina Mendes has noted that the case should be investigated entirely until the very end.

“This government will not allow the law to be violated and — much less — that those who arrive here are not treated with dignity and respect,” Mendes told parliament.

According to data from the Foreigners and Border Services (SEF), more than 25,000 requests for temporary protection filed by Ukrainian nationals have been granted, in March alone, with 9,011 out of these or 35 per cent of the total being minors.

SEF’s data further reveals that before the invasion of Russia, 27,200 Ukrainians lived in Portugal, which currently reaches more than 52,000 citizens, indicating such numbers have almost doubled in one month, representing the second-largest resident community in Portugal, after Brazilians, which peaked at 209,072 residents.

However, data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), as of May 10, almost six million Ukrainians have fled their country, with the majority of them going to Poland.

More specifically, there are 3,251,955 Ukrainian refugees living in Poland, while Romania has taken a total of 889,674.

Furthermore, a total of 772,121 refugees from Ukraine are currently in Russia and Moldova and Hungary have sheltered 458,242 and 577,820 Ukrainians, respectively. Other neighbouring countries with the most Ukrainian refugees are Slovakia (406,833) and Belarus (27,108).

The official travel portal of Portugal, Visit Portugal, explains that currently, all travellers, regardless of their country of origin, are permitted entry for all kinds of purposes as long as they meet the entry rules.

“All passengers are authorised to enter national territory, regardless of their origin or purpose of travel,” the statement of the Portuguese authorities reads.

According to the travel portal of Portugal, all travellers entering the country are required to present a valid EU Digitial COVID Certificate or another equivalent document upon their arrival.

This means that all persons must show a valid vaccination, recovery, or test certificate in order to be permitted entry to Portugal, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Portugal accepts all vaccination certificates that prove that the holder has completed primary vaccination with one of the recognised vaccines in the last nine months. In addition, vaccination passes indicating that the holder has received a booster shot are also accepted.

As for the recovery certificates, the Portuguese authorities explain that the country recognises the document only if it proves that the holder recovered from the virus in the last six months.

Travellers who have not been vaccinated or recovered from the virus can enter Portugal for all kinds of purposes as long as they present a PCR test taken within 72 hours before arrival or a rapid antigen test taken within 24 hours before the arrival.

The requirement to present one of the certificates listed above applies only to travellers over the age of 12. Those under 12 are exempt from all the entry rules.

Similar to Portugal’s mainland, the Azores still requires passengers on international flights to present a valid vaccination, recovery, or test certificate upon their arrival.

However, it has been emphasised that those departing from Portugal mainland or Madeira do not need to follow any rules.

“There are currently no restrictions for passengers travelling to the Azores on domestic flights (departing from Portugal mainland or Madeira),” the statement of Visit Portugal reads.

Differently, Madeira has dropped all of its rules. All travellers, regardless of their country of origin, are permitted restriction-free entry. They do not need to show any of the certificates upon arrival.

Despite keeping in place entry rules, Portugal has already facilitated some of its national COVID-19 restrictions. The country decided to drop the face mask requirement earlier in April. Since then, all persons have been able to enter different public places and events without following the mask requirement.

According to the local Portuguese media, compared to pre-pandemic levels, the number of stopovers recorded was up by nine stopovers in Porto do Funchal (44 in 2019) and seven more in Porto Santo, which had only two in 2019, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The Administration of Ports of Madeira (Apram) points out that these are the highest rates recorded since 2012, which had a record of 64 stopovers – being an exceptional year.

However, the number of passengers has dropped as there were 44,810 passengers recorded last month, 33,639, reaching 57 per cent of 2019 levels.

Previously, Portuguese media reported that 431 Portuguese beaches, boats and marinas had received the Blue Flag in 2022 – 32 more than in the previous year.

This means that 431 spots in Portugal have demonstrated high quality and environmental standards, with these spots being distributed across the 102 municipalities.

“Thirty-five years after the first Blue Flag was hoisted, precisely in the municipality of Cascais, where we are located, we saw the announcement of the awarding of blue flags for 2022 to 393 beaches, 18 marinas, and 20 ecotourism vessels for a total of 431 blue flags awarded,” Jose Archer from the Associação Bandeira Azul Europe (ABAE), said.

>> Portugal Updates Travel Rules & Requirements Before Summer Season Kicks Off

More specifically, Algarve and Northern Portugal have more blue flagged beaches, 86 and 82, respectively, followed by Tejo with 77 and the Central region with 50 beaches. On the other hand, Alentejo has 40 while Azores and Madeira have 42 and 16, respectively.

Marinas with blue flags in Portugal are the Nautical Recreation Centre in Velas, the Machico Recreational Port, and the Lajes do Pico Nautical Recreation Centre, which were awarded this year for the first time, while ecotourism boats have also recorded an increase, with nine more vessels obtaining the flag across Portugal, except for the Azores.

The tourism season in Portugal is showing positive signs as the number of bookings for holiday spots has surged. More specifically, the number of British nationals showing interest in the destination has increased by 25 per cent in the last week, as a travel search platform revealed.

According to the same, Porto Santo has become the most searched holiday spot in the country, with Comporta in South Lisbon and Villa Real de Santo Antonia in Algarve following the lead.

Portugal also remains one of the friendliest countries for Brits as it has become the first EU country to permit fast-tracked entry for these nationals in an effort to speed up the passport control procedures.

According to Ricardo Reis from the consultancy Deloitte, Portugal has become a top destination to work and live in, pointing out the benefits the country brings for remote workers, AtoZSerwisplus.pt reports.

“Traditional differentiating factors associated with quality of life in general, the fiscal criterion also justifies this movement,” Reis noted, hinting at the context of the Non-Habitual Residents (NHR) regime.

More specifically, people with such professional activity are allowed to pay an IRS tax of 20 per cent in income from their work or professional activity instead of paying taxes that go up to 48 per cent.

In order to benefit from this NHR regime, the applicant must not have been a tax resident in Portugal in the last five years and to carry out one of the high added value activities determined by the Ministry of Finance. Those who fulfil these requirements can benefit from NHR for up to ten years.

In addition, Joana Cunha d’Almeida, a partner in charge of the Tax Law Department at Anta da Cunha Ecija, also lists the NHR as a factor in wanting to be a digital nomad in Portugal.

She notes that “many people” who want to know what the rules are if they come to work in Portugal and companies are also asking questions in this area, and the latter, despite being obliged to pay the 23.75 per cent Social Tax (TSU) for Social Security, ended up concluding that having workers working remotely and living in Portugal pays off.

Previously, the Iberic country launched a campaign called “It Works for You”, which aims at promoting remote work combined with leisure and lifestyle.

“Through this campaign, Cascais invites all digital nomads looking for an out-of-door destination to enjoy the ‘magical’ conditions for working and a lifestyle that balances work with a constant feeling of vacation,” Portugal’s Cascais Tourism Association notes.

The country is listed among the best destinations for digital nomads, especially known for its accommodation spots which can vary from €741 to €1,136 while the weather is good and the internet connection, essential for such activities, is strong. The best cities for digital nomads in Portugal are Lisbon, Porto, Braga, Madeira and Aveiro.

On May 13, the authorities of the country have approved Resolution nº 316/2022, according to which the obligation to wear a mask in the majority of indoor and outdoor areas has been abolished, in the light of fewer COVID-19 cases and high vaccination rates.

“The use of a mask is mandatory, for persons from the age of 6, for the access or stay in the locations indicated below, in accordance with no 2), of Resolution nº 316/2022, of May 13.

• Health facilities and services, including pharmacies;
• Public passenger transport means, including passenger transportation by taxis or similar;
• Platforms and covered access areas to public transport, including airports and maritime terminals;
• In confirmed cases of COVID-19, in all circumstances, whenever the person is out of the location of isolation, until the 10th day after the onset of symptoms or a positive test result,” the authorities explain in VisitMadeira.com, which is the official website of the Official Madeira Tourism Board for travel to Madeira.

Mainland Portugal, on the other hand, has removed the obligation to wear a mask in late April for accessing the majority of public places and events, such as restaurants, cafes, shopping centers, and museums, among others. The obligation to wear a mask, remains effective in healthcare institutions and other facilities that are mainly frequented by vulnerable persons.

As an autonomous region, from the beginning of the pandemic, Madeira has kept in place restrictions separately from Portugal. While Portugal continues to apply entry restrictions for travellers to its mainland territory, Madeira has removed all restrictions as of mid-March.

“There are no restrictions on the entry of travellers at the airports, ports and marinas of the Autonomous Region of Madeira,” the authorities explain.

However, persons who show COVID-19 symptoms should be tested for COVID-19 at their own expense. If they result positive, they are obliged to quarantine at their home or in a hotel, also at their own expense. They can only leave isolation on their fifth day, if they have no more COVID symptoms. Testing is not obligatory in order to end quarantine on the sixth day.

The decision has been confirmed through a statement published by Portugal’s Ministry for Interior Administration (MAI), AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

According to a report published by Portugal Resident, a total of 25 new Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) inspectors have also been drafted in to support teams that are already working at Lisbon and Porto terminals.

MAI also announced that the extension of RAPID4ALL to US and Canadian travellers will also be rolled out in Porto and Faro airports afterward.

Authorities in Portugal have said that the reason for introducing such border control doors on Lisbon and Azores is that these airports welcome the largest number of passengers from the United States and Canada at this time of the year. Besides, it was reported that just yesterday, June 15, in Lisbon 700 travellers from the US and 67 from Canada benefited from the new policy.

“RAPID4ALL improves the management of external borders, improves service to passengers, increases the efficiency of frontier controls, and combats illegal immigration,” MAI pointed out in a statement.

In addition, Portuguese authorities have stressed that the RAPID4ALL turnstiles have been open to holders of Portuguese passports as well as those from the European Union, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom as well as Singapore.

The same ministry has described its summer plan as “possessing a vast set of measures, with a triple dimension” while emphasising that they will become effective between now and July 4.

According to authorities in Portugal, the triple dimension includes substantially reinforcing human resources at the country’s airports as well as new technological solutions and more operational solutions.

“We will be monitoring the implementation of these measures and seeking to perfect the allocation of human resources and materials so that waiting times can be reduced as much as possible,” Minister José Luís Carneiro emphasised.

However, the Minister added that it would never be completely possible to guarantee queues cease to exist after they imply variables of different natures.

The MAI has stressed that the extension of the RAPID4ALL system will permit a greater speed in the border control process without compromising security

In addition, the government has announced the abolishment of the quota regime for migration which, according to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, was an anachronism for a long time, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

“This [the measure] allows foreign nationals to enter Portuguese territory who have come looking for work for a period of 120 days, extended to another 60 days, for a total of 180 days”, the Minister said, also pointing out the measure has been announced in order to promote regular and safe migration.

These measures are included in the proposed law that amends the legal regime for the entry, stay, departure and removal of migrants from the national territory, which has now been approved by the Council of Ministers.

An analysis published by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has revealed that Portugal is facing a considerable labour shortage, as 85,000 travel and tourism jobs across the country will remain unfilled by the end of 2022.

Moreover, the country is anticipated to create about 193,000 jobs in the next decade in an attempt to boost the recovery of the national economy, which was quite damaged due to the COVID-19 pandemic, provided that the country’s GDP is heavily dependent on tourism.

A recently published press release from WTTC Economic Impact Report (EIR) forecast also shows that next year the sector’s total contribution to Portugal’s GDP could peak at almost €39.5 billion, representing 17.4 per cent of the whole economy.

In addition, employment in this sector could also surpass the 2019 levels, opening more than 3,200 additional jobs to peak at over one million by the end of 2023.

EIR also reveals that the GDP of the industry in this country is expected to grow by an average of 3.4 per cent per year over the next ten years – being three times higher than the growth rate of 1.1 per cent of the country’s overall economy. As a result, the GDP of the sector is expected to reach more than €50 billion or 20.2 per cent of the total economy by 2032.

Moreover, Portugal’s Golden Visa program has been a real success, as it marked a 94 per cent surge in May alone. There were 112 golden visas issued in May, with 93 per cent being issued for the acquisition of real estate.

Such conclusions have been reached through the recent report conducted by the National Institute in the Rapid Air Transport Statistics for April this year, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

“In the first four months of 2022, the number of passengers increased by 500.3 per cent (-19.4 per cent compared to the same period in 2019), continuing the trend towards the levels recorded in the pre-pandemic period,” the figures provided by the same source revealed.

In addition, the same source shows that for a period between January and April 2022, the main country of origin and destination of flights remained France, marking a 445.8 per cent surge in the number of travellers disembarked as well as a total of 371.8 per cent in the number of travellers embarked, compared to the statistic period of last year.

According to the figures provided by authorities in Portugal, France was followed by the United Kingdom and Spain.

Taking into account only the figures for April 2022, it was reported that a total of 18,600 aircraft on commercial flights landed at the national airports of Portugal, corresponding to a total of 4.9 million travellers and 18,300 tonnes of cargo and mail were handled.

According to the data provided by the National Institute, in April 2022, there was registered an average daily arrival of a total of 83,800 travellers at national airports, approaching the observed level in April 2019.

Taking into account travellers disembarking in April this year, a total of 81.5 per cent corresponded to international traffic, the majority of them from the European countries, or as of 70.6 per cent of the total.

As for embarked travellers, a total of 80.6 per cent corresponded to international traffic, with the main destination being airports in European countries.

The increase in the number of passengers mainly results from the easing of the restrictions previously imposed to contain the further spread of the Coronavirus and its new variants.

Recently, the figures provided by Portugal’s hotel association AHP revealed that the tourism sector in Portugal had marked significant improvement compared to other European countries; however, the statistics continue to remain well below pre-pandemic levels.

According to local media in Portugal, holders of driving licences issued by the Member States of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) will be able to drive in Portugal without changing their licence, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

In the amendment published recently in the Dario da Republica, the requirement for the exchange of driving licences has been lifted, “enabling driving in the national territory with titles issued in those States, through the recognition of foreign driving titles.”

This measure applies to driver’s licences in the countries mentioned in a bilateral agreement with the Portuguese State. Another requirement is for the traveller’s driving licence to be no older than 15 years since the issue or the last renewal and provided the holder is younger than 60 years old.

Countries to which this measure applies include the following:

The CPLC countries such as Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Sao Tome e Principe, Guinea Bissau, and Mozambique, as well as the OECD countries, which consist of the EU Member States as well as Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The published decree-law points out that these driving licences only allow driving in the national territory if their holders belong to the age group of the minimum age required by Portuguese law for the specific licence and are valid and not placed under arrest, suspended, expired, or revoked by force of legal provision, administrative authorities or court decision applied to its holder in Portugal or in other issuing states.

“Freedom of movement is an essential element for the full exercise of citizenship. Portugal has sought to strengthen the rights of foreign citizens who travel to our country, whether in terms of temporary travel accommodation for tourist purposes, whether travelling to work or invest in our country,” the published decree-law points out.

In the document, the Government reinstates its commitment to the successful integration of migrants, which includes improvements in their quality of life, emphasising that it is essential to facilitate the licence to drive motor vehicles, an element that it considers “fundamental for a guarantee of mobility throughout the national territory.”

Such figures have been provided in the recent report of the Portuguese Foreigners and Border Service (SEF),AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

In addition, the figures provided by the same source show that investment through golden visas increased by a total of 33 per cent in the first half of this year, to 316 million euros.

According to SEF, in June, there were granted a total of 155 golden visas; of them, 126 were for the acquisition of real estate, 28 for capital transfers and one for job creation, as reported by the Portugal News.

Besides, according to the figures provided by SEF, investment in the purchase of real estate reached a total of 62.2 million euros in June, of 23.9 million in urban rehabilitation, while the value was 15.6 million euros in the capital transfer.

Last month, 30 golden visas were granted to citizens of China, 30 to the US, 14 to Turkey as well as 11 to India and 10 to Brazil.

Recently, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reported that Golden Port Visa, which is a real estate investment provider of Portugal Golden Visas, opened its consultancy for prospective migrants, offering different services for clients to help them benefit from the Golden Visa scheme.

Such a program, approved by Portugal’s government, grants residency to citizens from third countries, provided they invest in properties worth at least 500,000 euros and meet all the requirements.

Even though the Golden Visa program contributes significantly to Portugal’s economy, it has often been criticized for being involved in money laundering, corruption, and several other unlawful affairs.

In May this year, there was a 94 per cent increase in Portugal’s golden visa scheme, compared to the figures of May 2021, to 53.8 million.

However, a survey conducted previously by Traino stressed that Portugal risks losing its rank as one of the top investment programs.

The survey revealed that the top five European programs for internationals were:

• Portugal’s golden visa (100 per cent increase in investors’ demand last year)
• Montenegro ( 50 per cent)
• Greece (30 per cent)
• Spain (28 per cent)

Regarding the first half of this year, increasing demand programs out of Europe include the United Arab Emirates golden visas, the United States’s green card, as well as Thailand’s golden visa.

According to local media, the government proposes amends the legal regime for the entry, stay, exit and deportation of foreigners from the Portuguese territory, among other factors, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The new regime determines that the issuing of residence and temporary stay visas to nationals of a State from The Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) Agreement isn’t dependent on a prior opinion from the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF), without prejudice to the granting of visas being communicated to SEF, for the purposes of exercising its authority in matters of internal security.

This change was warned last year in Luanda when all CPLP member states signed a mobility agreement during a summit.

With this new legislation, the government also intends to create designated procedures in order to attract illegal and integrated immigrants for the country’s development, as well as change the way public administration treats immigrant cases and guarantees conditions for effective integration of immigrants.

>> Golden Port Visa Opens Its Portugal Golden Visa Consultancy

The government wants to proceed with the creation of a title that represents the limited duration that allows the legal entry of foreigners in Portugal who intend to work in the country. The authorities want to facilitate procedures and create the possibility of temporary stay or residence visas to also provide alternatives for remote work, as well as accompanying family members qualified with the respective titles.

“The present draft law eliminates the existence of a global contingent of employment opportunities to be established by the Council of Ministers, for the purpose of granting a visa to obtain a residence permit for the exercise of subordinate professional activity,” the local media reports.

Earlier this month, the Expat Insider 2022 report revealed that Portugal had been ranked as the best European country to live in, also listed as fourth at the international level.

According to this report, which included 11,970 respondents that were expatriates from 181 countries, Portugal is one of the best countries for its weather and air quality, as well as the possibility to attend recreational and sportive activities. In addition, 93 per cent of expats said it was easy and safe to travel across the country by bike as well as get around by foot.

Spain, France, and Italy were also among the best countries for foreigners, while Luxembourg and Malta scored the lowest.

The report, which features 11,970 expats representing 177 nationalities living in 181 countries, also ranks the countries based on the quality of life for foreign-born nationals. The ranking includes the ease of settling in, working abroad and personal finances in their host country, as well as the digital life, admin topics, housing and language, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

For interviewed migrants, Portugal is ranked best globally for its sunshine and social life. Nine out of ten expats said they enjoy the weather in Portugal, while 89 per cent said they were happy with the air quality. Expats also appreciate the fact that they can play sports, with 93 per cent of respondents saying it’s easy and safe to travel by bike or get around on foot.

However, expats weren’t happy with the local job market and career opportunities, which made the country drop to 35^th place in the Working Abroad index.

Per Spain, the country comes fifth in the overall rankings, with expats choosing it as a top destination for the quality of life. More specifically, respondents say they love the food and dining options, opportunities for an active and sporty life, as well as the culture and nightlife.

Climate and weather are also among the main reasons listed by expats when asked why they enjoy living in Spain, as well as the affordability of the healthcare system, as almost four out of five rated it positively. However, just like Portugal, expats ranked Spain low for job opportunities, personal career development and lack of fair pay.

France, on the other hand, received a poor ranking for this year’s survey, being listed as 31^st out of 52 destinations. Expats say they enjoy the healthcare system, aids and public transportation, but the language seems to be a problem. Three in five expats say it is difficult to live in France if you can’t speak the language.

 “All administrative stuff is very complicated. The system is outdated and slow,” a Lithuanian expat said regarding administration in France, which is ranked in the bottom ten for this subcategory.

As euronews.travel explains, Italy is criticised for its local bureaucracy as well as for its work opportunities, where 29 per cent of expats say they aren’t paid fairly for their work.

While Luxembourg ranks low for its social life and high cost of living, Malta is listed below for its infrastructure and urban environment.

According to the authorities, non-compliance with restrictions could lead to prosecution for British citizens, who represent one of the main tourism sources for tourism in Portugal, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

“Mainland Portugal is in a state of contingency until midnight on July 15 due to exceptionally high temperatures and a heightened risk of forest fires,” the warning from the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office reads.

The current measures in Portugal include the ban on walking through or remaining in woodland areas, such as forest, woodland, and rural trails, in addition to burning gardens or other agricultural remains and clearing agricultural land by burning.

Moreover, using garden and farm machinery in the woodland areas and nearby is forbidden, as well as lighting fireworks.

Such forest fires can happen anywhere in Portugal during the summer months, which are characterised by dry and hot weather. In recent years, more fires have occurred due to drought and high temperatures, which the Portuguese authorities intend to avoid by potentially evacuating areas and closing roads for safety reasons.

As per COVID-19 restrictions, Portugal has lifted all of those for travellers, regardless of their country of origin, since July 1, right in time for the summer season. In addition, those without a vaccination, test, or recovery certificate are also able to visit Portugal on these dates.

“As of July 1, 2022, passengers entering national territory are no longer required to present proof of carrying out a test to screen for SARS-CoV-2 infection with a negative result or to present a COVID-EU digital certificate or vaccination or recovery certificate issued by third countries, accepted or recognised in Portugal,” the official website for COVID-19 rules and measures, Visit Portugal reads.

This proves that Portugal is further working to make travelling there more enjoyable for its travellers. Just recently, the Portuguese government announced that driving licences from the Member States were now recognised in the country, as well as in several third countries.

For example, travellers from countries included in the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) as well as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) will be able to drive across Portugal during their stay freely, provided their driving licence is valid.

The executive president of TAP, the Portuguese Airlines, has announced that flight cancellations at Portuguese airports have already peaked, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

“When we look at our scheduled flights and all the factors at play we see that we have reached the peak already, we don’t need to wait for August, because our peak started in July and the same happened to all airlines due to the rules of the slots,” TAP CEO, Christine Ourmières-Widener said.

She also noted that TAP was working for the peak to become stable by the winter season, as the country is facing a fast recovery. Lisbon is recovering faster compared to the other airports, although in the last two weeks, many improvements have been noticed.

Such a situation represents a problem because there is a lack of personnel and spare planes, despite the adjustments made at the airport, which included the recruitment of more cabin staff.

Asked by the reporters at Sao Paulo about a new airport in Lisbon, the manager said that the airline would welcome the decision.

“I have only been in Portugal for a year, the history of the airport started before me, the only thing we think is that we need a vision for TAP, and any decision will be welcome for us,” Ourmières-Widener pointed out.

Data from Cirium shows that Europe is the most affected area by flight cancellations, as the European airlines face staff shortages and other issues related to flights. Airlines in the world have cancelled more than 25,000 flights from their flight schedules for August – 60 per cent of those being in Europe.

As of July 14, a total of 15,788 flights across Europe that were scheduled to be operated in August have been cancelled – representing only two per cent of the entire flight schedule for next month.

Cirium data further shows that the most cancellations of flights for August have been made by Turkish Airlines – with 4,408 take-offs being cancelled last week alone.

British Airways follows the list with 3,600 cancelled flights while easyJet with 2,045 cancelled flights. In addition, Lufthansa with 1,888 cancelled flights and Wizz Air with 1,256 cancelled flights conclude the list of top five airlines with the most cancelled flights.

The Minister of the Presidency of Portugal, Mariana Vieira da Silva, said that a resolution that extends the state of alert throughout the territory of Portugal until August 31 had been approved, the Portugal News explains.

Apart from making such an announcement, the Minister explained that everyone would continue to be required to wear a face mask on public transport, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Asked whether the measures might get eased again after the summer season is over, the Minister said that if the infection cases continue to increase and the overall situation worsens, the authorities may decide to impose additional ones.

Despite the increase in infection cases in Portugal, the country continues to permit restriction-free entry for all travellers. All incoming travellers, regardless of their country of origin, can enter Portugal for all kinds of purposes even if they do not hold a valid vaccination, recovery, or test certificate.

However, even though the country dropped all of its entry rules earlier this month, the authorities highlighted that everyone is still obliged to wear a face mask in public transport and when accessing nursing homes and healthcare facilities.

The data from the World Health Organization show that Portugal has reported 27,595 new infection cases in the last seven days only.

As for the vaccination rate, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control shows that Portugal administered a total of 24,763,055 vaccine doses as of July 21. According to ECDC, 94.5 per cent of the entire adult population has completed primary vaccination, 79.3 per cent have received a first booster shot, and another 5.9 per cent have received a second booster shot.

Just recently, the EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Sella Kyriakides, called on all EU Member States to start preparing for a new COVID-19 wave that is expected to occur in autumn and winter.

The Commissioner said that the EU countries have been registering a significantly high number of infections and advised that everyone gets vaccinated to avoid hospital admissions.

“We need to act now to address this and be prepared for autumn. Vaccination remains our strongest protection against severe disease and death,” the Commissioner wrote on her official Twitter account.

In addition, the Commissioner recommended that persons over the age of 60 as well as those vulnerable receive an additional booster shot.

According to the National Statistics Institute (INE), the number of visitors in July is 600,000 more than in the previous year when COVID-19 restrictions and limitations were still in place, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

In addition, the number of arrivals in July was slightly about 1.78 million recorded in July of 2019, which was a record year for tourism.

The country’s tourism sector represented almost 15 per cent of gross domestic product before the pandemic that broke out in early 2020, leaving global travel at the limb.

Still, the total number of foreign visitors in the first seven months of the year was 8.1 million – about a million short of the same period in pre-pandemic levels.

Visitors from the neighbouring country, Spain, represented the largest share of total arrivals in July with 285,900 tourists, followed by the United Kingdom and the United States, which has recently marked a surge and became a main source of tourism to Portugal.

The positive impact in the tourism sector and the robust recovery have been evident due to Portugal’s location in Europe’s southern region, which is far away from the war in Ukraine, so people consider it a safe place. Still, the tourism sector faces the same challenges of staffing shortages and high inflation as most other European countries.

INE data previously revealed that Portugal had welcomed a total of 183,215 tourists from the United States, reaching a new record in the number of arrivals from this country.

In total, June saw a total of 181,869 American nationals visiting the country, which is the highest number since 2013, but this record was further broken in the following month, July, as 183,215 arrivals were recorded.

“The United States are discovering Portugal. Americans like what they see. Portugal has history and culture, privileged climate conditions, hospitality, and Portuguese people, in general, speak English,” Secretary general of the American Chamber of Commerce in Portugal (AmCham Portugal), Graça Didier, said.

According to another report from Portugal Resident, the US will become the main country of origin for tourists in several countries, such as the United Kingdom, Spain, France, and Germany, also including Portugal.

As the Barometer of American Companies located in Portugal has revealed, the US accounted for the fifth most significant source of tourism revenue, representing seven per cent of the total.

In June, a total of 181,869 Americans visited Portugal, which was considered the most significant increase since 2013, but July figures show that there has been another record, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

“The United States are discovering Portugal,” Secretary general of the American Chamber of Commerce in Portugal (AmCham Portugal), Graça Didier, told Eco online newspaper.

Didier added that up until a few years ago, Portugal was not so visited by Americans, but the reality has shifted, and now the country is on the map of US travellers.

She added that Portugal is identified as a safe country that offers a good quality of life for those who want to live or work in this country.

It has been revealed that the trend changed in 2019, before the spread of the Coronavirus and its new variants, when the US market accounted for more holidaymakers in Portugal than Brazil, while this year, the US is expected to surpass Brazil as the most significant non-European market.

According to a report provided by Portugal Resident, this means that the US will account among the top five countries with most tourists visiting Portugal, trailing only the following countries:

• The United Kingdom
• Spain
• France
• Germany

In addition, based on the Barometer of American Companies located in Portugal, the US also accounted for the fifth most significant source of tourism revenue by country of origin with a total of 7 per cent share.

According to a report provided by ECO, the new record in the number of travellers from the US who are visiting Portugal has come at a time when the US and Euro values are practically the same, permitting US travellers to spend more money in this European country.

“Americans like what they see. Portugal has history and culture, privileged climate conditions, hospitality, and Portuguese people, in general, speak English,” Didier pointed out.

Authorities in Portugal also announced that there was also noted a significant increase in the number of tourists from the following countries: Belgium, Switzerland, Ireland, Czechia, Denmark, and Romania.

Recently, atozserwisplus.pt reported that a total of 24.3 million passengers were registered at Portugal’s airports in the first half of this year, marking a total of 344 per cent increase compared to the figures of the same period last year.

In a meeting held on Thursday, September 1, Portugal’s Council of Ministers decided to amend the law that defines the procedures and conditions of entry, stay, departure, and removal of foreigners from the national territory of Portugal for the citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries of Angola, Brazil, East Timor, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, and São Tomé and Príncipe, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

“The amendments approved today promote mobility and freedom of movement within the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP), allowing the implementation of the Agreement on Mobility between the CPLP Member States,” the government announced in a press release regarding the decision.

It further explains that through the facilitated measures, nationals of CPLP countries will be granted preliminary visa applications and the same will be exempted from the obligation to show up for an interview at the Portuguese embassy in their country of residence.

In addition, they will also be exempt from the obligation to present the following documents while applying for a visa:

• Valid travel insurance, covering expenses necessary for medical reasons, including urgent medical assistance and eventual repatriation
• Proof of sufficient means of subsistence
• Copy of the return transport ticket, except when a residence visa is requested

According to the government, the changes intend to contribute to tackling the labour shortage in the country in order to revitalise the economy by promoting regular, safe, and orderly channels of migration.

“It (the decree) is absolutely fundamental in the organisation of regular and orderly flows of immigration…it allows us to respond to the urgent needs of human resources and helps to revitalise our economy,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ana Catarina Mendes told reporters upon the meeting of the Council of Ministers.

She also said that starting from now, visas to enter Portugal for citizens of any CPLP member state should be immediately granted by the consular services unless there is an expulsion order or a ban from entering the Schengen Area.

At the beginning of August, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reported that Portugal had modified its foreigners’ law to facilitate immigration into the country. The modified law has established a new 120-day temporary visa, which can be extended for 60 more days for foreigners seeking work in Portugal.

Data by Eurostat show that in July, Portugal had an unemployment rate of 5.9 per cent, near a record low, while its only land neighbour country, Spain, has an employment rate as high as 12.6 per cent, which also makes it the EU country with the highest unemployment rate. The Czech Republic and Poland have the lowest unemployment rates in the EU, at only 2.3 per cent and 2.6 per cent, respectively.

The European country picked up the award in the European edition of the World Travel Awards for this year, as well as other 30 awards, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

“The election results from the votes of thousands of professionals in the sector, from all countries in the world, and this year Portugal won another 30 awards, among destinations, regions and products and services,” the Ministry of Economy and Services pointed out through a statement.

According to the report provided by the Portugal news, the following territories also received recognition:

• The Azores (Europe’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination), Algarve (Europe’s Leading Beach Destination)
• Lisbon (Europe’s Leading City Break Destination, Europe’s Leading Cruise Destination, and Europe’s Leading Seaside Metropolitan Destination)
• Porto (Europe’s Leading City Destination)

In this regard, the Secretary of State for Tourism Commerce and Services, Rita Marques, said that the distinction in many categories in the European edition of the World Travel Awards 2022 takes on particular significance following the difficulties caused by the Coronavirus and its new variants.

Minister Marques emphasized that it is with great pride that the country sees companies as well as professionals and national tourism entities being recognized by their peers at an international level.

“All agents in the sector are to be congratulated for being up to this challenge, which is to affirm Portugal as a tourist destination of excellence, whatever the circumstances,” says the Secretary of State for Tourism, Commerce, and Services, Rita Marques.

The Oscars of tourism have been awarded since 1993 by professionals engaged in the tourism sector, estimating the work developed in the tourism sector in order to help the tourism industry improve and stimulate competitiveness as well as the quality of tourism.

Portugal is among the most favorite travel destinations in Europe, opening its doors to many international visitors.

The spread of the Coronavirus led authorities in this country to impose strict entry rules, following the example of other countries worldwide, in an effort to contain the further spread of the virus; however, with the easing of restrictions, Portugal has welcomed a large number of tourists.

The figures provided previously by the National Statistics Institute (INE) revealed that in July alone, Portugal marked the highest record of tourists welcoming over 1.8 million tourists who stayed in accommodation spots across Portugal. The figures registered in July were higher than those registered before the virus spread.

Such conclusions have been reached through the recent report for 2021, “on Migration Prospects for 2022,” according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), AtoZSerwisPlus.mt reports.

“Residence permits for investment will no longer be possible based on real estate investments in Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve, and on the coast. Once acquired, properties intended for housing only allow access to this regime if they are located in the Autonomous Region of the Azores and of Madeira or in territories in the interior of the country,” a part of the report for Portugal emphasizes.

At the same time, the report reveals that there is no change in the limit amounts for real estate investments which continue to be at €500,000 or €350,000 in case the building is over 30 years old.

“Residence applications for investment for other reasons will be subject to higher investment thresholds. The limit for capital transfers has increased from €1 million to €1.5 million”, says the OECD, according to a report published by the Portugal News.

Portugal’s Golden Visa Scheme permits wealthy internationals from other countries to acquire residency in this European country if they make a financial contribution to this country by investing and also meet specific requirements.

The Residency by Investment Program makes a significant contribution to the country’s economic sector, despite the fact that it is often criticized for being involved in many illicit affairs.

Last month, it was reported that Portugal’s Golden Visa scheme brought to the country a total of €397.7 million for a period between January and August this year, marking a total of 34 per cent increase compared to the figures of the same period last year.

The report provided by Lusa also revealed that in August this year, 77 Residence Permits for Investment (ARI) were granted, while of them, 64 were for capital transfers.

Recently, it has been reported that Britain’s, as well as Americans’, interest in Portugal’s Golden visa program has increased significantly.

In addition to the Golden Visa Program, OECD also revealed that Portugal continues to promote safe, orderly, and regular migration, stressing that the new version of the National Plan regarding the Implementation of the Global Compact for Migration is being prepared, which will take into consideration best practices but also the challenges.

US investors who planned to make a similar investment in Portugal were subject to high costs; however, at present, taking into consideration the US strong currency, they can buy prime real estate in this country, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The investment in Portuguese real estate has marked a significant increase in the past few years following the Citizenship by Investment Programs as well as Residency by Investment Programs.

A recent report provided by Portuguese local media revealed that wealthy Americans’ interest in Portugal’s Golden Visa scheme marked a notable increase, even surpassing the number of applications filed by Chinese citizens, in the first six months of this year.

This means that Americans have become the largest country of origin for an application filed for Portugal’s Golden Visa Program.

The Golden visa scheme allows internationals to acquire residency in this European country, provided they make an investment of at least €500,000 in this country, and meet specific conditions.

The figures provided recently by Portugal’s Immigration and Border Service (SE), from a total of 649 successful applications filed in the first half of this year for Golden Visas, 124 applications, or 19 per cent, were from US nationals, while only 105 were from citizens of China.

Regarding the issue, the Head of Business Development at Sovereign- Consultoria, Shelly Wren, stressed that Portugal has a lot to offer to international investors.

“In addition to a stable political and social environment, good infrastructure, clear and transparent tax rules, and first-class education and healthcare systems, it boasts a warm climate, a glorious Atlantic coastline, and captivating interior, a strong historical and cultural legacy, excellent food and wines, and a relaxed lifestyle,” she pointed out in this regard.

The Golden Visa program brings a significant contribution to Portugal’s economic sector.

The figures provided by Lusa previously revealed that for a period between January and August this year, this program brought to the country a total of €397.7 million, marking a total of 34 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.

In addition, according to the figures provided by Lusa, in August this year, a total of 77 per cent of Residence Permits for Investment (ARI) were granted; of them, 64 were for capital transfers.

Recently, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reported that Australians’ interest in Portugal’s Golden Visa program also marked a notable increase, while Australians are considering it as a great opportunity to acquire residency through investment.

According to the report, of the total of golden visas registered on September, 26 were granted to citizens of China, 17 to US citizens, 16 to Britons, and 14 to citizens of Brazil; at the same time, seven citizens of India benefited from this program, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

In addition, the recent data provided by Lusa shows that the investment through the Residency by Investment program (RIP), also known as the Golden Visa Program, more than doubled in September this year compared to the same period last year’s figures.

In September this year, the number of Golden Visas almost doubled compared to a total of €30.4 million raised in the same month last year.

Compared to August (€37.5 million), investments through the Residency by Investment scheme increased by almost 80 per cent.

In the first nine months of this year, the investment through Golden Visa increased to  €465 million, or 43 per cent more compared to €325 million recorded during the same period last year.

In addition, according to the Lusa report, last month, a total of 120 visas were granted; of them, 100 were based on the criteria for acquiring real estate and 20 for capital transfers.

Through the Golden Visa scheme, wealthy non-EU citizens can acquire residency in Portugal, provided they contribute financially to this country by making an investment and also meeting specific requirements.

Previously, it was reported that RIP brought the country a total of  €397.7 million from January until August this year, marking a total of 34 per cent increase compared to the figures of the same period last year.

It was also reported that during the same period, a total of 806 golden visas were issued; of them, 94 were issued by Portugal’s authorities in January, 94 in February, 73 in March, a total of 121 in April, 112 in May, reaching a new record in June during which month a total of 155 visas were issued, while in June there were issued 80 visas and in August 77.

A recent report provided by Portugal’s Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) showed that as of 19,000 requests for renewal of Golden Visas are pending, which is more than 60 per cent of the total.

According to the Portugal News, the data provided by the Gabinete de Estratégia e Mar (GEE) reveals that there are more than 21,000 Nepalese in Portugal, making it the 11th largest immigrant community in Portugal, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

In March of this year, the local media Diário de Notícias reported that the Hindu Community of Portugal may have over 50,000 Nepalese living in Portugal who are seeking help to legalize their presence in the country.

The GEE data also shows that Nepalis make up 3.3 per cent of the foreign community living in Portugal. Meanwhile, the largest number of them live in the district of Lisbon, with 11,853 inhabitants coming from Nepal, followed by Beja, Faro, and Setúbal, with around 2,000 inhabitants in each district.

Considering that Portugal has always been a welcoming country for receiving immigrants, many of them aim for this country to find a job and, to find better living conditions and, in most cases, send money to help their families who still live in the country where they were born.

In June, the Foreigners and Borders Service of Portugal, SEF, revealed that currently, around 700,000 foreigners are living legally in Portugal, with more expected to arrive.

The immigrant community who are mostly settled in Portugal comes from Brazil either to study or to work, since there is no language barrier, and therefore this makes moving to Portugal much easier than those who come from Nepal.

Moreover, looking at the provisional results of the 2021 population census, the number of foreign residents in Portugal increased by 40 per cent between 2011 and 2021, reaching 555,299 people.

In 2021, foreign nationals made up 5.4 per cent of the total population living in Portugal, compared to 2011, this figure was 3.7 per cent. However, third-country nationals (TCN) constituted 81.4 per cent of the total number of foreign nationals.

The regions of the Metropolitan Area of ??Algarve and Lisbon had the highest percentage of foreign citizens, where migrants represent respectively 14.7 per cent and 8.9 per cent of their population.

On the other hand, in 2011, this percentage was 11.6 per cent in the Algarve and 7.2 per cent in the Metropolitan Area of ??Lisbon. While at the municipality level, the concentration of migrants is higher where they represented 28.6 per cent of the population in Odemira, 26.3 per cent in Aljezur, 26.1per cent in Vila do Bispo, 23.4 per cent in Lagos, and 20.4 per cent in Albufeira. In the city of Lisbon, this percentage is slightly greater than ten per cent.

Between the two censuses of 2011 and 2021, the native population of Portugal decreased by 2.1 per cent.

According to data from SEF, an amount of €6.54 billion has been invested in Portugal, with 90 per cent being in the real estate market. Throughout the 11,180 golden visas issued, a total of 18,368 family members also benefited, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports. 

The main nationalities to benefit from the Portuguese golden visa programme were Chinese, representing 50 per cent of all beneficiaries, followed by Brazilians, Turks, South Africans, and North Americans, with some visas being issued to Angolan and Russian nationals, too.

The distribution of golden visas for the last three years, as the data from SEF reveals, started with 11,82 golden visas or ARI issued in 2020, accounting for an investment of €646 million, of which €588 million was in real estate. In the upcoming year, 865 ARIs were granted, totalling €460 million, and €409 in real estate, while in the first nine months of 2022, 926 ARI were issued, representing an investment of €464.8 million.

However, the government is now planning to put this programme to an end, as the Chief Executive, Antonio Costa, revealed yesterday that he was re-evaluating the programme. 

“There are programs that, obviously, we are currently re-evaluating. One of them is the golden visa , which has probably already fulfilled the function it had to fulfill, and which at this moment is no longer justified to maintain” he said.

The golden visa programme enables non-EU citizens to obtain residency permits by investing a certain amount in the country a certain amount, with the programme lasting five years. To obtain this permit, the candidate must carry out a capital transfer in an amount that is equal to or higher than €1.5 million, or possess immovable property worth €500,000. In addition, the acquisition and execution of rehabilitation works of real estate, equal to or exceeding €350,000,

This programme allows candidates and their family members to live, work, and study in Portugal, as well as move freely within the Schengen Area. 

In April alone, 121 ARIs were issued, representing more than half of the total permits issued in 2021. The main region of candidates who benefited was North America. 

“We have an open program so that we can be a factor in locating these digital nomads, as we have a program to attract Foreign Direct Investment. Each company that makes major strategic investments in Portugal also does so on a contractual basis. And, fortunately, Portugal has been increasingly attractive,” said the prime minister.

In addition, in April alone, the number of visas issued increased compared to January and February, during which 94 permits were granted, respectively, while in March, a total of 73 golden visas were granted.

Portugal’s Prime Minister, Antonio Costa, said that the country is considering abolishing its Golden Visa scheme, after, according to him, it has fulfilled the function it had to fulfil and it no longer needed to be maintained, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

“There are programs that we are currently re-evaluating and one of them is the Gold visa, which, probably, has already fulfilled the function it had to fulfil and which, at this moment, it is no longer justified to maintain,” Portugal’s Prime Minister stressed.

Costa said that the program is being evaluated whether it makes sense while emphasizing that it has probably already fulfilled its function and there is no justification for keeping it.

The Residency by Investment Program (RIP), also known as the Golden Visa scheme allows internationals to acquire residency in Portugal, provided they invest in properties worth €500,000 or more.

Recently it has been reported that authorities in Portugal introduced stricter requirements for Golden Visas.

Such conclusions were reached through the report for last year, “on Migration Prospects for 2022,” based on the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

“Residence permits for investment will no longer be possible based on real estate investments in Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve, and on the coast. Once acquired, properties intended for housing only allow access to this regime if they are located in the Autonomous Region of the Azores and of Madeira or in territories in the interior of the country,” the report for Portugal notes.

The figures provided by the Portuguese Immigration and Border Service (SEF) revealed that in September this year, a total of 120 Golden Visas were granted.

The report notes that of the total of Golden Visas issued, 26 were granted to nationals of China, 17 to those from the United States, 16 to Britons, a total of 14 to those from Brazil and seven to citizens of India.

In addition, the figures provided by SEF reveal that the number of Golden Visas more than doubled in September this year compared to the figures for the same period last year.

Even though Portugal’s Golden Visa Program significantly contributed to the country’s economic sector, it has often been criticized for being involved in many unlawful affairs, such as corruption and money laundering, thus authorities in Portugal have been continuously urged to terminate such a program as soon as possible.

The news was announced by the Minister of Internal Administration of Portugal, José Luís Carneiro, who said that the restructuring of SEF will, among others, allow for better management of borders, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

According to Portugal News, Minister Carneiro also said during the specialist assessment of the State Budget proposal for 2023 that the restructuring of SEF will also help the administrative functions of reception as well as the integration of immigrants.

“The restructuring of the SEF will be carried out, allowing the separation of the police functions, control and border management and the administrative functions of reception, integration of immigrants and asylum seekers,” the statement of Minister Carneiro reads.

In addition, the same source explains that the SEF police powers will pass to Public Security Police, National Republican Guard, and the Judiciary Police. As for the current attributions in administrative matters that have to do with foreigners, it has been explained that they will be passed to the Portuguese Agency of Migration and Asylum and the Institute of Registries and Notaries.

The decision to restructure SEF was taken by the previous government, and it was approved by the Assembly of the Republic. However, since then, the restructuring process has been postponed twice.

Now that it has officially been decided that the restructuring of SEF will take place in 2023, Minister Carneiro also pointed out that in the same year, the development, as well as the implementation of the interoperability of border controls in the context of the Second Generation Schengen Information system, will also be carried out.

Additionally, Minister Carneiro noted that in 2023 the country would also make the necessary adaptions for the entry into operation of the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).

The Entry/Exit System is a new scheme whose main purpose is to register the entry and exit of nationals of third countries in the EU. Moreover, the main objective of the EES is to modernise the management of the eternal borders, to help EU Member States deal with an increasing number of travellers reaching the EU, and reduce irregular migration by identifying and addressing the overstaying phenomenon, among others.

On the other hand, ETIAS is an electronic system that keeps track of those who do need to obtain a visa in order to be able to enter the Schengen zone. The procedures to pass ETIAS started back in 2016, and the system is expected to be operational in November 2023.

According to the Portugal News, more than 960,000 overnight stays were also generated in Madeira Island, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

“Although overnight stays recorded in September 2022 were below the records of July and August of the same year – in which the threshold of one million was exceeded -that value corresponds to the highest ever in the month of September and the third highest monthly record ever,” the Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira (DREM) pointed out in this regard.

The statistics provided by DREM reveal that in this sector, there has been marked a year-to-year increase, with a growth of over 32.4 per cent in the number of guests and over 25 per cent in overnight stays.

The same source also shows that in September, there was a 16.1 per cent increase in overnight stays by local residents compared to the same month of 2021, with 205,900 residents in Portugal visiting Madeira during this month.

In addition, about 754,400 foreign visitors came to Madeira in September, which represented an increase of 27.7 per cent.

According to the National Institute of Statistics, in June, the number of overnight stays spent by tourists in Madeira and the Azores exceeded the pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2019.

At the same time, the tourist accommodation sector recorded 2.7 million visitors and 7.2 million overnight stays.

The figures show that in the first half of 2022, the number of overnight stays increased by 252.4 per cent. On the other hand, compared to the same period in 2019, the number of beds decreased by 7.0 per cent.

As the Institute explains, in the second quarter of this year, the number of overnight stays increased by 209.9 per cent compared to the same period in 2019. Overnight stays by residents have increased by 55.6 per cent, while those by tourists have increased by 450.1 per cent.

Moreover, the Madeira Promotion Bureau and the SATA Group announced that a Madeira – New York operation would be launched throughout the year.

SATA Group also highlighted that direct flights from Madeira – New York are set to start this month on the third, which means that travellers from these two destinations will no longer have to worry about access when they arrive in Madeira or New York.

Such figures have been provided by the recent report of Lusa, based on the figures provided by the Foreigners and Border Service (SEF), AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

According to the report, last month there were granted a total of 83 visas, of them 71 were based on the criterion for purchasing real estate while a total of 12 were through capital transfers.

The same shows that in total there were granted 1,009 Golden Visas in October since the begging of this year, or more specifically a total of 94 in January, 94 in February, and 73 in March, marking an increase in April, during which month 121 Golden visas were granted. In May this year, there were granted a total of 112 Golden Visas, 155 in June 80 in July, 77 in August and 120 in September.

Based on the Portugal News report, investment in the purchase of real estate reached 39.5 million euros in October.

During the same month, 15 visas through the Residency by Investment scheme were granted to citizens of China, 12 to those from the United States, 11 to citizens from Brazil, nine to South Africans and five to Indians.

Portugal’s Golden Visa program is among Europe’s most famous programs since it started to operate back in 2012.

The data provided by SEF revealed that as of 11,189 Golden Visas were granted to non-EU citizens within a ten years period, bringing to the country a total of €5.87 billion in real estate investment. Throughout the 11,189 visas issued, 18,368 family members also benefited from this scheme.

The majority of them were citizens of China, followed by those from Brazil, Turkey, South Africa, and North America.

Through Portugal’s Golden Visa scheme, known also as the Residency by Investment scheme, wealthy internationals have the opportunity to acquire residency in Portugal, provided they make a total of  €500,000 financial investment and meet specific requirements.

However, the scheme has often been criticized for being involved in many unlawful affairs such as corruption and money laundering.

Recently it was reported that the country’s Prime Minister, Antonio Costa, stressed that it is considering putting an end to this program after according to him, it has fulfilled all the functions it had to fulfil and there is no reason to maintain this program anymore.

The data has been provided by Portugal’s Minister of Labour, Solidarity, and Social Security, Ana Mendes Godinho, according to the Portugal News, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The Minister stressed that up to this point, nearly 55,000 workers have expressed their interest in working in Portugal through the IEFP.

Mendes Godinho stressed the huge evolution since 2015 in terms of international workers who declare remuneration to Social Security, which indicates that in 2015 as of 110,000 international people contributed to the Social Security system, while in 2022 the number increased to 530,000, according to the Portugal News.

The government of Portugal is attempting to find new ways in order to bring to the country a large number of internationals to live and work in Portugal and fill in the gaps noted in many industries, which were mainly caused by the restrictions imposed to halt the spread of the Coronavirus and its new variants.

Last month, authorities in Portugal introduced a new visa regime which permits migrants to reach Portugal in order to work and stay in this country for a period of 120 days, with the possibility to extend by 60 days more compared to previous rules.

Local media in Portugal announced that such changes were introduced in order to attract a large number of internationals.

Back in September, authorities in Portugal announced that citizens of eight Portuguese-speaking countries will be eligible to move to Portugal in an easier way after the country decided to facilitate the visa rules in many industries.

According to the announcement made back then by the government, it was reported all people from these Portuguese-speaking countries engaged in fields such as Information and Communications Technology, administrative service and accommodation services would benefit the most from these changes.

The decision was taken by Portugal’s Council of Ministers on September 1, when they agreed to apply new changes to the law that defines the procedures and well as conditions of entry, departure and removal of internationals from the territory of Portugal.

“The amendments approved today promote mobility and freedom of movement within the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP), allowing the implementation of the Agreement on Mobility between the CPLP Member States,” the government pointed out in a statement.

The data provided previously by Eurostat stressed that in July the unemployment rate in Portugal was 5.9 per cent.

According to the Portugal News, the National Railway Plan, which has already been approved by the Council of Ministers, will now be open for public discussion, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The plan includes high-speed trains in the ten largest Portuguese cities and rail connections in all districts.

Based on the preliminary plan, the new Chelas-Barreiro Bridge will reduce the connection between Lisbon, Alentejo, and the Algarve by at least 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, considering that currently, the journey time between Lisbon and Faro is two hours and 25 minutes – it could now take 30 minutes less if there is interference on the Torre Vã-Tunes section.

“This is a proposal for public discussion. In the end, it does not have to be exactly the same, and it is a planning instrument that will last through the following Governments, guaranteeing that it is not a short-term investment plan nor a financing plan for that investment, but allows us once again, to place the importance of the railway at the centre of the national debate,” the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing of Portugal Federico Francisco pointed out in this regard.

Among other things, the government is also studying the high-speed connection between Lisbon- Algarve, with two alternatives, including the modernisation of the existing line to reduce the ride by about 30 minutes.

Through the new rails and connections, Portugal aims to meet its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2045.

Previously, a report by the Airports Council International (ACI Europe) has revealed that the CO? benefits of shifting short-haul flights to rail are limited, thus generating other environmental, social, and economic costs.

The same has emphasised that to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport, it has been proposed to shift travel in Europe from air to rail.

As a result, ACI Europe said the change had been driven by massive investment in rail infrastructure, as well as taxes or even bans on short-haul flights in some countries.

Furthermore, in October, a call was made by the Association of 15 Portuguese and Spanish organisations, the Iberian Alliance for Railways, for these Spain and Portugal to improve rail travel between their countries. The Alliance has also added that these proposals are expected to be implemented next year.

In this regard, Portugal’s Prime Minister, Antonio Costa, last month said that the country is considering putting an end to this program, after, according to him, it has fulfilled the function it had to fulfil, stressing that there is no reason to maintain the scheme further, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports

Regarding the issue, the Communist Party called on authorities to abolish the much-criticized program, despite the fact that it has brought significant financial benefits to the country’s economic sector.

However, it was the PM’s own Socialist Party that voted against this proposal.

“The government explicitly said that this issue would be assessed. And that assessment and analysis, after the (programme’s) last alteration, hasn’t been concluded. The Communist’s Party proposal was, therefore, out of time in relation to the fine analysis still to be done,” an official source pointed out in this regard, according to the EU Observer report.

Wealthy internationals from other countries are eligible to acquire residency in Portugal through the Golden Visa program by making an investment in properties of at least €500,000.

However, the scheme was in the media spotlight many times after it was reported that it has been involved in many unlawful affairs, such as corruption and tax evasion.

The Commission of the European Union has often called on all country’s authorities that run such schemes to terminate them as soon as possible. However, not all countries have considered this advice after it makes a significant contribution to the country’s economic sector.

Last month, the data provided by the Foreigners and Border Service (SEF) revealed that 11,189 internationals benefited from Portugal’s Residency by Investment Program (RIP) in the last 10 years.

In addition, the data provided by SEF also revealed that a total of €6.54 billion had been invested in this country, with about 90 per cent being in the real estate market.

Of the 11,189 Golden Visas issued also benefited a total of 18,368 family members, while the main beneficiaries from this program were citizens of Brazil, Turkey, and South Africa.

However, in October this year, the data provided by Lusa showed a registered 4.5 per cent decline in the number of applications filed for the Golden Visa Program and a 34 per cent decline in chain terms.

Such figures have been made through the recent report provided by Lusa, taking into account the figures of the Foreigner and Border Service (SEF), AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

According to a report provided by Portugal News, in November this year, the investments through the country’s Golden Visa scheme reached 65.5 million, or a 40 per cent increase compared to November 2021 data, during which month, 46. 6 million were registered.

At the same time, compared to as of 44.3 million euros recorded in October, investments in November this year surged by 48 per cent.

The data provided by Lusa shows that in the first 11 months of 2022, investments through this program reached 575 million euros or a surge of 37 per cent in comparison to the figures of the same period last year.

It has been reported that the number of Golden Visas granted in November this year by authorities in Portugal is 121, of them 95 for the acquisition of real estate and 26 for the transfer of capital.

Out of the total 1,130 Golden Visas that were granted by authorities in Portugal this year so far, the number of visas issued each month is as follows:

• January – 94 Golden Visas issued
• February – 94
• March – 73
• April – 121
• May – 112
• June – 155
• July – 80
• August – 77
• September – 120
• October – 83
• November – 121

The main beneficiaries of Portugal’s Golden Visa scheme last month were citizens of the United States (18 golden visas granted to them), followed by United Kingdom citizens (14), China (13), Brazil (10), as well as South Africa (10).

In November this year, the number of residence permits granted to reunited family members was 138.

The Golden Visa scheme of Portugal is among the most famous schemes of this kind in European countries.

This program permits wealthy internationals to acquire residency in Portugal, provided they make a specific amount of money investment and meet specific conditions.

However, despite the fact that it brings significant contributions to the country’s economic sector, it is often in the media spotlight after reports that it is involved in many unlawful affairs such as corruption and money laundering.

Portugal’s Prime Minister, Antonio Costa, previously announced that the country is considering abolishing such a scheme, however, recently, the Socialist Party voted against the initiative to put an end to this program, despite the previous announcements made in this regard.

Frustrated with the treatment they have been receiving upon their arrival in Portugal, migrants protested in Lisbon last week and called upon the authorities to take all the necessary measures so they no longer face discrimination and racism, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Portugal News explains that several protesters said that they have experienced discrimination from SEF. One of the promoters of the event, Vicente, said that lately the situation has been unsustainable and highlighted that thousands of migrants trying to renew their residence permits have been unable to do so as SEF has been impossible to be reached.

“We are thousands of people trying to do our renovations and residence permits, thousands of times a day trying to contact SEF by phone, and we can’t get in touch,” Vicente stated.

Portugal News further explains that Vicente also pointed out that the waiting times that SEF has are too long and said that migrants in Portugal should be able to receive quality public service and be treated equally.

Apart from the above-mentioned, Portugal News stressed that others reported being subject to discrimination and racism too.

Aisha Noir is one of the protest’s participants who brought together about 20 organisations that support migrants as well as defend human rights. Commenting on the current situation, Aisha Noir said that the idea that Portugal is open to migrants and it helps them grow is a fantasy, suggesting that they do not enjoy enough rights.

The same source stressed that Aisha Noir, who is a transgender Brazilian woman, said that she feels transphobic and racist stares every day in Portugal, and emphasised that such a thing shocked her when she first arrived from the Netherlands in Portugal.

Previously, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reported that the Foreigners and Border Service of Portugal will soon be restructured. Even though the Portuguese authorities said that the restructuring of SEF would allow for better border management, it is expected that it would also allow for migrants to be subject to more straightforward services.

Announcing the restructuring of SEF, the Minister of Internal Administration of Portugal, José Luís Carneiro, said earlier in November that the restructuring will also help the reception functions and the integration of migrants and asylum seekers.

According to data from the Portuguese Immigration and Border Service (SEF), a total of 1,281 Residence Permits for Investment (ARI), also known as golden visas, have been granted by the respective authorities, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Data from SEF also reveals that the highest number of such visas have been granted in June and December – 155 and 151, respectively, while fewer were granted in March (73), August (77) and July (80).

In 2022, 1,533 residence permits were granted for family reunification, 192 of which were recorded in December alone, whereas since the programme was launched, 18,808 residence permits have been granted to reunited family members.

As per annual rates, since its launch, a total of 11,535 residence permits have been granted, and 2014 holds the record for the highest number of permits issued – 1,526, which is also the third year of the programme operating in Portugal. The Golden Visa Programme was launched in 2012, and two visas were issued that year. This number soared in the following year, reaching 494 and further hitting a record of 1,526 on its third consecutive year.

As follows, the upcoming years saw increasing numbers of golden visas granted; 766 in 2015, 1,414 in 2016, 1,351 in 2017, 1,409 in 2018, 1,245 in 2019, 1,182 in 2020, 865 in 2021 and 1,281 in 2022.

Furthermore, visas granted so far have reached a total of 10,593 and generated an investment of €6,041 million, of which €534.1 million is related to the purchase of real estate for urban rehabilitation (1,485 ARI).

As per the capital transfer criterion, 920 capital transfers have been granted so far, amounting to €712 million. The criterion for creating jobs reaches the attribution of 22 golden visas.

The top countries of origin for golden visa beneficiaries were China leads (5,247), followed by Brazil (1,168), Turkey (546), the United States (537), and South Africa (507).

The positive outcome of the programme for Portugal has been evident in the previous months too, as SEF reported that the number of golden visas granted in November was 40 per cent up, reaching a total of €65.5 million.

Nationalities to have taken the most advantage from Portugal’s Golden Visa scheme in November were citizens of the United States, with 18 golden visas granted to them, followed by the United Kingdom (14), China (13), Brazil (10), and South Africa (10).

However, it has been clarified that the recent rules don’t mean that people are ineligible to ask for services from SEF in person, but the move has been introduced in order o put an end to long queues, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Through the announcement that was introduced last night, it has been emphasized that this is the first time that the online renewal process included golden visas.

According to the figures provided by Portugal Resident, at present, there are a total of 21,500 people whose visas expire in the following weeks.

It has been reported that the holders of Golden Visas have particularly been frustrated after being subject to such difficulties.

SIC television news said that the daily capacity of the service does not exceed three thousand, emphasizing that in October, during just one day, there were a total of 29 million attempts by people in order to make an appointment for a 12-hour period.

Back in October, it was reported that over 60 per cent of Portugal’s golden visas expired. Despite the fact that SEF guaranteed that documents were valid until December 31, the holders complained that their documents were not being accepted at international airports while stressing that they could not be reviewed.

The same confirms that, in the bill of the Mais Habitacao scheme, only applications for Residence Permit for Investment (ARI) submitted by February 16 and awaiting a decision from the competent authorities remain valid, while the rest will be frozen if submitted after that date, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The announcement raised concerns among wealthy foreign investors, with the Ministry of Housing of Portugal already clarifying the issue, confirming that requests after February 16 would not be considered valid.

According to the announcement of the Ministry, provided by Jornal de Negocios, the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) will continue to accept requests until the scheme becomes effective, still, from the moment of the revocation of the regime, all requests that have been submitted after that date are aware of such a condition, thus there is no guarantee of analysis as well as decision, the procedure being extinguished when the law becomes effective.

Portugal’s Golden Visa scheme, also known as Residence Permit for Investment (ARI), permitted wealthy foreign investors to acquire residency in this country if they made a financial contribution. But a large number of reports which considered the scheme an open door to many unlawful affairs led authorities in this country to terminate this programme.

Portugal’s Golden Visa scheme was officially abolished in February last month, becoming the second country to put an end to this scheme after Ireland. Portugal’s government halted the issuance of golden visas, despite a total of 41.9 per cent increase in investments made in Portugal through this programme last year.

However, according to local media reports, the abolishment of the golden visa scheme by the government led a large number of foreign investors to run investing in this programme. Several Portuguese law firms admitted that they received a large number of people interested in holding a golden visa in Portugal.

In addition, the report provided by the Spanish Association of Digital Economy  (Adigital), Spanish digital travellers have resumed international travel to 2019, before the spread of the Coronavirus and its new variants, despite being 21 per cent more expensive compared to domestic travel, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Adigital together with the technology consultancy, the Cocktail Analysis introduced the study named ‘Evolution of the Spanish digital traveller (2019-2022)’ in order to find changes in habits caused by the spread of the Coronavirus.

It revealed that Portugal is the main destination when it comes to online bookings for Spaniards wishing to travel abroad. It also showed that within Spain, Bendorm, as well as Salou are among the most booked travel destinations.

The study notes that Brexit also impacted significantly the decrease in UK travel, bringing also into light the fact that Spanish digital passengers have regained the weight of bookings abroad in the post-pandemic period, even though the average cost of a trip in other countries is a total of 21 per cent higher than that of a trip within Spain.

According to the study, Spanish digital tourists up to this point travel as much outside Spain as they did before the spread of COVID-19.

In 2020, during the easing of COVID-related restrictions phase, the level of reservations in the passenger’s continents of origin accounted for a notable increase, with nine out of ten reservations made in Spain. However, in 2021 and 2022, there was registered a decrease again, thus diving destinations in Spain and outside the country 80/20 according to the study, “which means that there is no loss of confidence regarding foreign tourism”, the study says.

Despite the fact that Spanish digital tourists chose European countries the most (66 per cent) when planning to travel abroad, there is still a certain transfer of digital tourists to distant Spanish-speaking territories, such as Central America as well as Caribbean, which, despite the fact that they continue to remain secondary destinations, they manage to double their share from just five per cent in 2019 to 11 per cent last year.

The report also revealed that there was noted a surge in the Middle East as well as North Africa, or by four per cent and six per cent more specifically, despite the instability of some of these markets.

In addition, the report notes that in the last few years, especially during the pandemic, the closest countries to Spain; Portugal, Andorra, Italy and France received the highest number of Spanish bookings.

According to local media, all applications for new golden visas lodged after February 16, are no longer valid while residence permits for investment will remain effective, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

“Nothing justifies a special regime for golden visas,” the Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa, said.

He also noted that between 2012 and 2023 89 per cent of residence permits were exclusively for the purchase of the real estate, with only 22 cases in which investors created jobs.

Costa also noted that residence permits granted under the scheme will be converted into normal residence permits, similar to those of foreign citizens so that everyone is equal according to the national law.

However, golden visas for entrepreneurship will remain available for those interested, which enables foreign entrepreneurs who want to develop a project in this field in Portugal, to do so. These new visa applications are assessed by taking into account the economic, social, scientific, technological or cultural relevance of the investment.

A report by El Pais, a total of 11,758 Golden Visas was granted by authorities in Portugal between October 2019 and February 2023. The number of non-EU foreigners who obtained a Portuguese residence permit, in addition to their family members, has reached around 31,000.

Chinese nationals remain the main beneficiary, representing 45 per cent of total golden visas obtained, followed by Brazilians (ten per cent), in addition to a large number of beneficiaries from the United States, South Africa and Turkey.

Under Portugal’s Golden Visa Program wealthy foreign investors obtain residency in the country by making financial investments in the country. The decision to terminate this programme follows a housing crisis that Portugal is dealing with presently, among other reasons.

Terminating the residence-by-investment programme, Portugal risks losing digital nomads, as the latter have concerns about their future in the country. Now digital nomads are mainly headed towards Dubai, Singapore, Turkey, Germany and Hong Kong.

On the other hand, Portugal is determined to become a more attractive country for digital nomads, who are concerned that cancelling one form of visa can cause uncertainty to others and make them think about whether want to stay here and what happened to golden visa investors could eventually happen to them.

According to data from the Foreigners and Border Service (SEF), golden visa investments in real estate have brought Portugal an additional €5.9 billion during the last decade.

The same notes that the number of non-EU foreigners who gained a Portuguese residence permit, taking into account family members as well is about 31,000. The report emphasised that nobody knows who the beneficiaries of these visas are after their identities remain anonymous.

The main beneficiaries of these kinds of visas were nationals from China (45 per cent) as well as those from Brazil (10 per cent), in addition to a large number of beneficiaries from the United States, Turkey as well as South Africa.

Wealthy foreign nationals were eligible to acquire Portugal’s nationality after five years provided they spend 14 days in this country, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

According to the El Pais report, the most tragic case was carried out by the Chinese businessman Chenglong Li, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison for homicide.

Portugal’s Golden Visa Program permitted wealthy foreign investors to acquire residency in this country if they made a financial investment and met specific conditions.

In order to acquire residency, internationals were required to invest €6,852 million, 89 per cent in the purchase of houses which led to a move towards them as one of the main factors that impact real estate prices.

Portugal’s Council of Ministers in February announced the decision to terminate the Golden Visa Program which was part of a wider package of measures introduced in an effort to tackle the housing crisis in this country.

In a press conference, the Council presented all the six measures that were part of the package, while the fourth measure also included the decision to abolish the Residency by Investment Scheme, and at the same time permit “the existing ones to be renewed, if they are real estate investments, only for own and permanent housing or if it is placed on the rental market for a long time.”

In spite of Portugal’s decision, the President of Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque, refused the requirement to abolish such a program.  In addition, he considered such a decision bad for the economy.

“Nothing justifies Madeira being covered by this set of measures that are fundamentally aimed at Lisbon as well as Porto,” he pointed out.

Such in agenda for the tourism profession was introduced by the secretary of state for tourism, commerce and services, Nuno Fazenda, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

“This is a strategic agenda, with 20 measures, which aims to surge by 10 per cent the number of tourism professionals with secondary and higher education, and to increase by 15 per cent the number of students in tourism at all levels of education and to increase by 20 per cent the number of people employed in the sector,” the Ministry of the Economy and Maritime Affairs pointed out in this regard.

According to the Fazenda, the measures also include the national plan for modernisation as well as specialisation of the hotel as well as tourism school network and the implementation of an international tourism academy.

He said that the agenda that is still being prepared aims to make the country the reference destination to work and study as well as in the tourism industry.

Fazenda has considered that valuing the industry’s professionals is important if the country wants to have more and better tourism. He added that investing in people and also increasing their qualifications, as well as income and recognition is the strategic focus in order to prepare the future of the growing activity.

“This is also an agenda with action to meet the present challenges. To achieve the objectives as well as goals presented in this agenda, the mobilisation and involvement of everyone will be fundamental,” Fazenda pointed out in this regard.

The National Statistics Institute (INE) of Portugal revealed that tourist accommodation establishments opened their doors to a total of 1.5 million travellers and recorded 3.5 million overnight stays in the first month of this year.

The statistics reveal that there was recorded a surge of 72.5 per cent and 74.5 per cent, respectively, compared to the figures of the same period last year. At the same time, the external markets registered a total of 2.4 million overnight stays, thus doubling the number of overnight stays in January last year.

However, despite the significant increase in the number of international visitors, authorities in Portugal are dealing with significant labour shortages noted in many industries, including the hospitality industry.

A similar problem is also facing its neighbouring country Spain. Recently, the human resources company Randstad said that Spain needs more than 60,000 additional workers in order to manage the significant worker shortage with which the country is dealing.

As reported by the Portugal News, the President of the Association of Hotels and Tourist Enterprises of the Algarve (AHETA), Hélder Martins, noted that in addition to the US, the Easter season “benefits a lot from the Spanish market”.

Yet, he claims, the United Kingdom market continues to remain dominant in Portugal’s southernmost region, the Algarve, along with the French and Burch markets, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Commenting on the high number of arrivals expected to be registered this Easter, Martins pointed out that even during the low season, tourists from North America have arrived in the Algarve despite there being no direct flights.

The same noted that it is very important that this market – the US market –  is consolidated in order to grow further.

“It’s not a market that comes and goes the next day. It is evident that for this market to consolidate, and it is an extremely important market, it is necessary to have flights and there are no flights, for the time being”, Martins also added.

Whereas the President of Turismo do Algarve, João Fernandes has emphasised that this year Easter reservations present a more stable component in terms of the percentage of pre-paid reservations.

Fernandes revealed that around 30 per cent of bookings for the Algarve are paid in advance, and said that there is also a greater balance between bookings made directly by the tourist and bookings through intermediaries.

Portugal is one of the countries that continue to remain a popular travel destination all year round. Data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) show that Portugal welcomed a total of 183,215 tourists from the US in July 2022, surpassing June’s figures.

Such data revealed that during June 2022, 181,869 Americans visited Portugal, a figure that was considered the most significant increase since 2013. However, the number of visitors reached in July shows that there was another record.

Commenting on these data, the General Secretary of the American Chamber of Commerce in Portugal (AmCham Portugal), Graça Didier said that up until a few years ago, American tourists did not visit Portugal much, but now, according to him, this has changed and the country is on the map of American travellers.

Over the past year, there was also an increase in guests and overnight stays in Portugal by over 80 per cent. At the same time, the number of American tourists increased by more than 300 per cent per year.

In the same period, of all Portugal’s foreign markets, North America grew the most. In 2022 there were 327.4 per cent more American tourists in Portugal compared to 2021 and +26.9 per cent compared to 2019.

Data provided by WTTC show that during 2019, the sector accounted for 17.8 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions in all of Portugal, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

During the same period, the sector also contributed nearly €38 billion, representing almost a fifth of the overall economy. However, this share fell by eight percentage points, reaching 9.8 per cent in 2020 and 10.2 per cent in 2021.

The economic growth of Portugal’s Travel and Tourism sector was decoupled from greenhouse gas emissions during the period 2010-2019. At the same time, the sector’s contribution to the national economy increased on average by about five per cent per year, while greenhouse gas emissions increased by 4.1 per cent per year.

Based on WTTC data, in 2010, for every euro generated by Travel and Tourism in Portugal, the sector produced a total of 0.77 kg of greenhouse gases.

The same source said this figure fell at an average annual rate of about one per cent until 2019, when Travel and Tourism was at its peak, to reach 0.72 kg per one euro generated. Meanwhile, during the following years, this amount was reduced even further, reaching 0.59 kg per euro in 2021.

Commenting on these data, WTTC President and CEO Julia Simpson emphasised that Portugal’s Travel and Tourism Sector has decoupled its economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions and, at the same time, continues to reduce the intensity of emissions.

“We know there is still work to be done. To reach our goals and ambitions, we must make bigger and bolder steps to reduce our absolute emissions. We need continued government support in increasing sustainable transportation. This will have a significant impact on our footprint, minimising our absolute emissions, which will see the sector meet its goals and ambitions,” Simpson also pointed out in this regard.

According to data from the global tourism body, between 2010 and 2019, the total energy use of the sector in Portugal saw an increase of only 3.6 per cent per year.

Moreover, between 2010 and 2021, the share of low-carbon energy in the national energy mix also increased from 6.6 per cent to 7.5 per cent, while the sector’s reliance on fossil fuels as an energy source decreased.

The new agency, which will be called the Agency for Minorities, Migration and Asylum (APMMA), is expected to become fully operational in the next six months, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The decision has been revealed by the Ministers of Internal Administration, José Luís Carneiro, and Deputy and Parliamentary Affairs, Ana Catarina Mendes, during a press conference following the Council of Ministers, in Algés, Oeiras, on April 6.

Commenting on the new agency, Minister Mendes said that it will “respond to the challenges of integrating migrants in Portugal. On the one hand, their admission, on the other hand, their reception, offering the necessary information for their integration, their documents, job offers, language learning, use of public services, everything that should be included in the life of a citizen foreigner.”

This means that while the APMMA will soon be the sole agency that will deal with the integration of migrants in the country, security at the country’s land and sea borders will become the responsibility of the Republican National Guard (GNR), whereas air borders will be under the watch of the Police of Public Security (PSP).

The APMMA, however, will also be responsible for the migration and asylum policies at a European level, through its unit for border and foreigners’ coordination, which will share information from different services to ensure the regulation and security of migration in the EU.

According to Minister Carneiro, the integration of border surveillance into the security forces will guarantee that Portugal will do its share in the protection of the EU’s and Schengen Area’s freedom, security, and justice.

Up until now, the mission of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) has been to enforce control of people at borders, of foreigners in national territory, and prevent and combat crime related to illegal immigration and human trafficking.

The agency has also been responsible for managing foreigners’ travel and identification documents and processing asylum application processes.

As the same will now be extinct, its workers will be integrated into three different institutions: the new Agency for Minorities, Migrations, and Asylum, Judiciary Police (PJ), and the Institute of Registries and Notary (IRN).

The extinction of SEF and the creation of a new agency is just one of the recent measures that the Portuguese government has taken regarding migration. Just recently, Portugal has put to an end its famous Golden Visa, which has sparked lots of criticism.

On February 16, the Council of Ministers confirmed that it would terminate this scheme, noting that the new changes were part of a more comprehensive package of measures introduced to tackle the housing crisis, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

But the decision, among others, is expected to also affect the area of culture, with investments of a total of 34 million euros planned for projects related to cinematographic art.

According to the Portugal News report, there are a total of 170 international investors relating to culture, spread over ten projects with a value of €34 million.

The lifting of the Residence by Investment Scheme, also known as the Golden Visa program, also led to the suspension of some film projects, while the Ministry of Culture noted that the topic is in the legislative process.

In addition to the housing crisis, the Golden Visa Scheme of Portugal -which permitted wealthy foreign nationals to acquire residency if they made a financial contribution to this country- was often criticized for turning a blind eye to many unlawful affairs, including corruption and money laundering.

However, constitutionalists considered the decision to abolish this program unconstitutional after it violated the law.

According to specialists in the fine print of the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic (CRP), it went against the law after it violated the principle of citizens’ trust and legitimate expectations.

Previously, the Portuguese Association of Residental Tourism and Resorts (APR) stressed that the changes that also included the ending of this program, which offered residency to wealthy foreign investors, could also lead to suspending investments of more than €600 million.

APR said that the measure included in the country’s government plan known as Mais Habitação could lead to “the suspension of investments of over 600 million euros and, therefore, the creation of over 1,000 jobs, which some of the associates of the APR had forecast for the next two years”.

Recently, El Pais revealed through a report that 11,758 Golden Visas have been granted by authorities in Portugal from October 2012 until February 2023, stressing that the number of non-EU nationals who acquired residency through this scheme, also taking into account family members, is nearly 31,000.

On March 13 this year, the platform for obtaining a residence permit in Portugal for citizens of the Community of Portuguese-Language Countries (CPLP) began its work, targeting Portuguese-speaking immigrants with pending processes at the immigration and border service until December 31, 2022, and for those holding a CPLP visa issued by Portuguese consulates after October 31, 2022.

Through a post on Twitter, SEF revealed that since March 13, it had received a total of 114,131 applications for residence permit certificates from CPLP citizens through the new platform, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

According to the agency, from the total of the above-mentioned figure, SEF has issued over 103,572 documents with reference to payment, of which 97,631 have been resolved and resulted in the granting of 93,209 residence permits.

SEF data also show that Brazilian nationals accounted for 86.5 per cent of CPLP residence permit applications, followed by citizens of Angola, at 3.8 per cent, and from Sao Tome and Principe, at three per cent.

The cost of a residence permit application for CPLP immigrants is €15 and the processing period usually takes up to 72 hours.

The Portuguese authorities issue this residence permit to CPLP citizens based on the mobility agreement between the Member States of the organization. The countries included in Portugal’s CPLP are as follows:

• Angola
• Brazil
• Cape Verde
• Guinea-Bissau
• Equatorial Guinea
• Mozambique
• Sao Tome and Principe
• East Timor

Furthermore, if a person holds a residence permit under the CPLP mobility agreement in Portugal, the permit will initially be valid for one year. The same is renewable for two consecutive periods of two years.

Based on SEF data, last year, there was an increase in the number of people who legally resided in Portugal, thus reaching 757,252. The highest growth was recorded amongst the Brazilian community, as in 2022 there were 233,138 Brazilians living in Portugal.

Last month, as soon as the system became operational, SEF noted that the country began to receive a large number of applications, and thus in the first two hours alone, the system received over 6,300 requests for residence permits submitted by CPLP citizens.

The data provided by the ETC also shows that for 69 per cent of tourists, leisure remains the main reason for travel, although the seven per cent drop during 2022 marked a possible slowdown in “revenge” trips after the pandemic, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

However, annual growth marked business trips of three per cent, now accounting for eight per cent of all destination trips.

In this regard, the President of ETC Luís Araújo said that regardless of financial concerns and high travel costs, Europeans remain eager to travel.

He also added that another encouraging thing is that a significant number of travelers choose off-peak summer trips to avoid overcrowding and peak prices.

“This positive trend supports sustainable destination management by spreading tourism flows more evenly. We advise destinations and businesses to closely follow these trends to meet the evolving needs of travellers,” President Araújo also noted.

Most Europeans Plan to Travel Off-Peak in 2023

Based on the ETC report, between April and May of this year, nearly 30 per cent of travellers said they intend to take a trip, which is an increase of six per cent compared to last year.

Meanwhile, 40 per cent of respondents are thinking of travelling between June and October. On the other hand, only 23 per cent plan to travel during August and September, which is a significant decrease of nine per cent from 2022.

Such data also revealed that 59 per cent of respondents will make more than one trip in the coming months, followed by 35 per cent who plan to travel twice and another 24 per cent planning three or more trips. In addition, a total of 31 per cent travellers will make only one trip during the same period.

Regarding the age group, a percentage of 74 per cent of Europeans over 25 show a high enthusiasm for travel. Meanwhile, the younger Gen Z crowd, comprised of ages 18 to 24, remains the most reluctant to plan a vacation (61 per cent).

Further ETC figures have revealed that for 23 per cent of European travellers, the increase in travel costs due to inflation has remained a major concern, while for 17 per cent of them, personal finances have been a problem.

According to the same, this shows the reason why 51 per cent of Europeans have already made partial or full reservations for their next trip, which is an increase of eight per cent compared to last year.

Worries About Extreme Weather Add to Europeans’ List of Travel Concerns

A total of 18 per cent of Europeans choose a destination to travel to because of the pleasant weather, followed by attractive shopping at 17 per cent, lack of overcrowding at 11 per cent, the hospitality of local communities at ten per cent and seven per cent of European travellers mentioned extreme weather as a significant concern.

Another concern for 12 per cent of Europeans is the war in Ukraine, mainly for the Swiss, Polish, Austrian, Italian and Dutch respondents.

Duration of Holidays for European Travellers the Same as in 2022

Same as last year, trips lasting between four to six nights remain the most popular. Another 22 per cent plan to travel for more than ten nights.

ETC data reveals that 37 per cent of Europeans are now putting aside larger budgets of over €1,500 per trip, which represents an increase of seven per cent from 2022. Fewer female travellers or 19 per cent of Europeans, expect to spend more on travel the future than they usually do.

Among the preferred destinations remain France and Spain with eight per cent of Europeans intending to travel to each. The aforementioned countries are followed by Italy with seven per cent, Greece with six per cent, Germany with five per cent and Belgium, which enters the top ten list of preferred destinations in Europe.

Such a thing has raised concerns, pushing the Portuguese authorities to call on Cabo Verdeans to make the application themselves through the company that is specifically contracted for this purpose – VFS Global, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

According to Contacto, it has been found that several intermediary companies are charging different amounts to make a Portugal Schengen visa appointment for nationals of Cabo Verde, with the price ranging from €9 to €181, depending on the services.

The appointment for a Portugal visa can be made through the VFS Global website free of charge, and then the applicants are required to pay for the fee when they attend the interview.

However, even though this service is free of charge, it has been disclosed that an intermediary company charges over €45 just to make the appointment, and then if the applicants want additional help with organising the documents, the price rises to €119.

Additionally, it has been noted that there are also cases when agencies handle the entire process. In such cases, the applicants are required to pay around €458, which is an extremely high amount compared to what applicants are required to pay when applying themselves.

Taking into account such practices, the Secretary of State for the Portuguese Communities, Paulo Cafôfo, said that his country is concerned about this situation and, at the same time, reminded everyone that such actions are considered illegal.

This is not the first time that the Portuguese authorities made such a call. Earlier in March of this year, the Portuguese Ambassador to Cabo Verde, Paulo Lourenço, advised all citizens of the country against applying for a Schengen visa through intermediaries.

Lourenço clarified that the scheduling is free and, at the same time, noted that the application process is easy and does not need any involvement or intermediation.

“The scheduling processes are done from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, and in relation to that, the only thing we would like to tell people is that this scheduling is free,” Lourenço stated.

Currently, all nationals of Cabo Verde are required to obtain a Portugal visa in order to be permitted entry to the country.

Cabo Verdeans who plan to enter Portugal for tourism purposes need to apply for a Portugal Tourist Visa. When applying for this type of visa, all applicants are required to submit the completed Portugal visa application form, their valid passport, two photos, a flight itinerary, proof of having booked a place to stay, and proof of financial means.

Moreover, applicants must also submit proof of civil status, a cover letter, and proof of having purchased travel health insurance for Portugal.

The program, which is now expected to be debated at the parliament, can end only on the day the new housing legislation comes into effect, which is expected to happen around 45 days away from now, sometime at the end of May, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Commenting on the law, the editor of the online newspaper Imidaily, Christian Henrik Nesheim, has noted that under the new wording, the golden visa program “would still be terminated, but the blow would be softened” in other ways.

According to him, the first new way will be continuing to accept applications for Golden Visas until the day when the law becomes effective, instead of from February 16, when the termination of the Golden Visa program was announced.

Previously, in mid-March, the government has said that the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) would continue to accept Golden visa applications until the law becomes effective, still noting that there is no guarantee that those submitted after February 16 would not be cancelled once the law becomes effective.

Second, the requirement of being in Portugal for at least 183 days per year in order to hold a D2 visa has been scraped for golden visa investors, who, due to the termination of the Residence-by-Investment scheme, will have to convert their current permits to a D2.

Golden visa holders that will obtain a D2 visa next, will continue to be required to remain present in Portugal for only seven days, which has been a requirement for those obtaining residence through this program so far.

And finally, investment-based residence permits for those wishing to invest in the support of “artistic production and the recovery or maintenance of cultural heritage” will still be eligible to obtain visas, as soon as they receive a confirmation for investment from at least one of the following:

• the Portuguese Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade
• the Development Bank
• the Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation
• the National Innovation Agency
• the Office of Cultural Strategy, Planning and Assessment
• other authorities deemed appropriate

February 16, Portugal announced the termination of its Golden Visa scheme in a bid to tackle the problem of housing shortage that has hit the country in the recent years. The decision was revealed only one day after Ireland also revealed it would put to an end its Golden visa program, without giving any reasons for the decision.

The move has been criticised by many, and even a petition has been initiated to reverse it.

Since October 2012, when the scheme started operating, Portugal has issued Golden visas to a total of total of 11,758 investors. Taking into account family members that these investors obtained residence permits as well, the number of those that gained Portuguese residency through this scheme is around 31,000.

According to Maroto, since the capital attracts millions of visitors each year, it is more than needed to introduce a tourist tax that would help control over-tourism. However, such a move was not welcomed by hoteliers, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

As soon as Maroto announced her plans regarding the tourist tax, the Madrid Hotel Business Association opposed the idea, saying that that tax would directly harm the sector as well as the visitors.

On the other hand, Maroto said that “the tourist tax does not have to be merely a tax”. Instead, she stressed that the tourist tax has to be a tax that reverts the tourism industry of the city. Nonetheless, she did not disclose the amount that they plan on charging visitors if the measure gets introduced.

This is not the first time that the authorities have discussed a tourist tax for Madrid. The tax for the capital was first proposed in 2015 and then again in 2018. However, the measure was never got introduced.

While Madrid is yet to decide on the tourist tax, several Spanish regions already require holidaymakers to pay an additional amount.

Barcelona has required all visitors to pay an extra fee in addition to the region-wide tourist tax since 2012.

The fee that Barcelona charges is aimed at helping the city deal with over-tourism, and it depends on the type of accommodation that visitors choose to stay at.

Currently, visitors to Barcelona staying in rental accommodation are required to pay a nightly fee of €4. On the other hand, those staying in five-star hotels are required to pay a higher fee – €5.25.

While the current fee that Barcelona has might seem high for some, the authorities have already announced that the tax will increase in the next two years.

Apart from Barcelona, the Balearic Islands also applies a tourist tax for all visitors. The Balearic Islands introduced the tourist tax in 2016, and currently, all visitors over 16 are required to pay a fee between €1 and €4 per night.

In addition to the above-mentioned, Valencia is also planning to introduce a tourist tax. The authorities of Valencia have said that the tourist tax is expected to start applying at the end of 2023. The same revealed that the plan on charging visitors between 50 cents and €2 per night.

Lisbon alone welcomed a total of seven million travellers this quarter, or up by 14 per cent, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The notable increase was driven by the “excellent performance” of connections with France as well as the United Kingdom and Brazil. The United States also contributed, especially the new route to Chicago and San Francisco.

The report indicates that Portugal is among the top five countries together with Serbia (27 per cent up compared to pre-pandemic levels), Mexico, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, where a new record in passenger numbers was reached in the first quarter of this year.

Ryanair’s commitment to Funchal airport, according to VINCI, led to a total of 44 per cent increase in traffic in Madeira, which is also among the most favourite destinations for passengers, according to the Portugal News report.

From January until March this year, about one million people passed through Funchal airport, which means there was a registered 43 per cent increase compared to pre-pandemic levels, as well as 68 per cent more compared to the same period last year.

The report also notes that in the first quarter of this year, about three million passengers travelled through Porto airport, or 12 per cent more compared to the same period of 2019 statistics and a 50 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.

At the same time, the airport in Faro opened its doors to 1.1 million travellers, accounting for a 46 per cent increase compared to the figures of the same period last year and 9.6 per cent more compared to pre-pandemic levels.

According to VINCI, a number of airports in Europe and America saw record-breaking traffic numbers, even surpassing 2019 figures, before the spread of the Coronavirus.

“Airports in the VINCI Airports network welcomed over 56 million passengers in Q1 2023, i.e., almost 20 million more than in 2022 – 12 per cent down on the same period in 2019, and just four per cent down when excluding Asia,” the statement reads.

It also revealed that domestic traffic has almost reached pre-pandemic levels (three per cent down across the entire VINCI Airports Network in March), while international traffic also continues to recover (15 per cent down).

With the abolishment of COVID-related restrictions, Portugal is welcoming a large number of visitors from worldwide countries, thus contributing to the recovery of the economy from the profound financial loss.

According to Telegraph sources, the Government plans on calling on the EU Member States to follow the example led by Spain and Portugal and allow British holidaymakers to be able to visit these destinations using e-gates, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, is dedicated to continuing the success of the Windsor Framework and to improving relations with Brussels in efforts to secure less troublesome travel to Europe for UK holidaymakers.

“We always want to look at ways to minimise unnecessary waiting times, whether it is coming into the UK or travelling overseas,” the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said.

On the other hand, British diplomats have recently had talks with the Commission about the consequences that the new “Entry/Exit” system can have for the UK. Under the scheme, arrivals from outside the EU will have their fingerprints scanned; people will have their pictures taken – all recorded on the first entry into the bloc and verified in the following visits.

Reintroducing passport stamps and more stringent documentation checks for Britons after Brexit has created havoc in checking points, while the travel industry has warned that the biometric scans can cause long queues and chaos for British holidaymakers, especially those making ferry crossings between Dover and Calais, France.

British authorities haven’t made any formal approach about the UK-EU deal to open up passport e-gates for Britons, and serious talks are unlikely to happen until the European countries finalise the Entry/Exit system.

However, British officials have already encouraged the countries to follow Spain’s and Portugal’s example, as both granted limited access to their e-gates for UK arrivals.

Sources in Brussels realised that it was too early to set out what measures could be introduced to Britons as the new EU system is still in the works.

As per Spain, Brits are required to present their ticket, prove they have enough money for their stay in the country, and show proof of accommodation in order to be able to enter the European country.

“Border guards will use passport stamps to check you’re complying with the 90-day visa-free limit for short stays in the Schengen area. If relevant entry or exit stamps are not in your passport, border guards will presume that you have overstayed your visa-free limit,” the Foreign Office explains.

Spain expects to receive 4.3 million British tourists in 2023, while Ibiza may welcome 3.2 million and Majorca another 2.3 million.

Direct flights will be made possible through Portuguese airline SATA Air Azores, the flag carrier of Spain – Iberia, and Binter, the flag carrier of the Canary Islands, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

As Nation Graphics reports, the stunning view of the Azores attracts many international tourists and makes you feel far away from everything. Now travellers from Spain will be closer than ever to the so-called “European Hawaii”. As a result, the Azores will have four direct connections with Spanish airports this summer, which are Madrid, Barcelona, ??Bilbao and Gran Canaria.

At the same time, for the first time ever, from June 2 to September 29 of this year, Bilbao will also have direct flights to the island of São Miguel, which is the largest in the Portuguese archipelago.

Whereas SATA Air Azores has also introduced a new route that will connect the city of Biscayan and Ponta Delgada, through Juan Pablo II International Airport (PDL).

The Iberia Airline last week also announced that starting from July 1 until September 30, it will start a new weekly direct connection to Spain. Starting from this date, travellers can enjoy a three-hour and 25-minute journey operated by Iberia that will connect the Spanish capital with Ponta Delgada on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Moreover, the Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat airport will add a new connection to Ponta Delgada with a frequency of three weekly flights: Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Thanks to the interline agreement between the Canarian company and SATA Azores Airlines, the Binter airline also makes it possible to connect the Canary Islands with eight islands of the Azores archipelago after landing in Ponta Delgada.

In this regard, the airlines emphasise that the cooperation between these two companies improves the comfort of the passengers, who will be able to make these connections only with a single ticket.

Since last month, there has been a weekly connection available from Gran Canaria airport, on Saturdays, to which a second line will be added starting from July 1, operating on Tuesdays.

Furthermore, if the Azores cannot be reached directly, it is still easily reached from other cities. There are 12 Spanish airports that TAP Air Portugal connects with Lisbon during the summer located in the following cities:

• Alicante
• Ibiza
• Málaga
• Menorca
• Palma de Mallorca
• Seville
• Tenerife

Meanwhile, the company connects the Portuguese capital with Ponta Delgada at least three times a day as well. After this, travellers can also make a stop at the Humberto Delgado airport, which is a transit airport for reaching the archipelago.

Such estimations have been published in the recent analysis of the financial services company DBRS, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

“The end of granting new golden visas concludes a program that was developed in a difficult period for the country. The decision should have a limited impact on the residential market, as it was not a decisive driving force in terms of transactions, either in terms of volume or in terms of value for the country as a whole”, the company noted.

According to DBRS, there are several factors more relevant to explain the current trend of increasing house prices in this country, namely the shortage of new housing, international interest as well as economic recovery.

The analysis shows that residential property prices in Portugal have been increasing continuously since the first quarter of 2013.

“Since then, house prices have more than doubled…in recent years, a clear divergence has arisen, with prices for existing properties growing faster than those of new properties,” the analysis shows.

The report concluded that Portugal has a relatively old housing stock, which in the last few years has started to be refurbished with the advent of greater tourism-related inflows as well as a better economic environment.

The launch of the Residency by Investment Schemes in Portugal,  in addition to the end of the IMF financial assistance package as well as the increased relevance of tourism in Portugal’s economy, among others, contributed to the bottoming out of new construction activity in 2015.

“Nevertheless, in Portugal, the number of new, completed residential dwellings at the start of the century was approximately 90,000 per year, while data for 2022 shows that it is now significantly below that, amounting to circa 20,000 per year,” the analysis shows.

The figures provided previously by the country’s border agency SEF, from 2012 until today, a total of 11,921 residence permits were issued under the Golden Visa program, while the majority of them were through the acquisition of real estate or 10,874.

Citizens from the following territories benefited the most from Portugal’s Golden Visa Program:

• China (5,304)
• Brazil (1,198)
• United States (607)
• Turkey (568)
• South Africa (525)

However, in spite of bringing a significant contribution to the country’s economy, on February 16, Portugal abolished this scheme which permitted foreign internationals to acquire residency if they made an investment in this country.

According to data by ANA-Aeroportos, the weather forecasts of strong wind have affected departures and arrivals, and passengers are advised to confirm the status of their flight prior to heading to the airport, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

In addition to flights from and to Madeira, a TAP flight to Lisbon was cancelled, and another three EasyJet flights between 08:45 and 10:50 to Porto, Milan, and Lisbon were annulled, respectively.

EasyJet flights that were supposed to arrive in Lisbon, Porto, and Milan were also cancelled, while nine flights were diverted, and four were cancelled due to strong winds evident on Monday.

The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA) has placed Madeira under a yellow category, warning that due to the forecast of strong northeast winds, there can be strong wind blows coming. Strong winds and bad weather can occur along the coastline of the Madeira archipelago.

Earlier this week, flights from Helsinki through Finnair, as well as flights from Birmingham (Jet2), in the United Kingdom and Vienna (Smartwings), were all diverted.

The trend of cancelling flights for different reasons may occur in May, too, while data for March show that European flight cancellations were up by 65 per cent during this month.

According to the Global Times Performance Report, the number of cancelled flights is on the rise as we approach the summer season, with 14,405 flights being within Europe in March alone, up from 8,713 more flights compared to February.

The European countries have experienced the biggest regional increase in global cancellations, as those peaked at 72,900 – 20 per cent more than the 60,780 recorded in the previous month.

According to Eurocontrol, air travelling traffic to European countries has recovered 92 per cent of pre-pandemic levels on Week 17, although cancellations recorded on May 1 caused 1,700 flights to be dropped.

The top two countries that recorded the most change on a weekly basis include Spain, which recorded 4,821 daily flights – one per cent more than in the previous week, followed by Germany, with 4,685 flights, down by one per cent. The United Kingdom, on the other hand, holds the first position with 5,490 daily flights representing a four per cent increase compared to the previous week.

While the top three airlines for this week were Ryanair, EasyJet and Turkish Airlines with 3,039 1,627 and 1,527 daily flights, respectively, the top airports were the Istanbul Airport with 1,434 daily flights. Amsterdam Schiphol and London Heathrow follow close with 1,315 and 1,278 daily flights operated, respectively.

The same noted that the opening of the bathing season will start on May 15 in the Faro district, whereas on June 1, most of the beaches in the centre and in the south of the country will also reopen. On June 17, on the other hand, most of the beaches in the north will reopen as well, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

As for inland waters, the bathing season begins between June and July.

According to the ordinance published on May 5 in the Diário da República, signed by the Secretary of State for National Defense, Marco Capitão Ferreira, and by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Discë Hugo, these beaches are places where bathers are supervised and assisted by lifeguards.

The government also stated that the number of sea urchins could increase among bathing waters, categorised as such under the terms of the ordinance but not currently classified as bathing beaches. At the same time, assistance for washing is already provided by the municipality or the relevant governing body.

The authority has also revealed that in total, 658 bathing waters have been identified this year, four more than the year before. During this period, 394 beaches were awarded the blue flag, one more compared to 2022.

As with the opening, the closing of the bathing season will be progressive, starting from the end of August, until October 30, with the closing of the last beaches located in Porto Santo.

Throughout the bathing season, the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) will carry out analyses to assess whether the water is suitable for bathing for all users.

In addition, the National Maritime Authority will have equipment on land with 29 rescue stations, more than three dozen boats and 29 marine rescue motorcycles. In addition to four dozen vehicles and various other means under the Seawatch, Praia Saudável and Praia Segura projects, the Maritime Police is also involved in the action.

As the Portuguese government explains, through the Info Praia application, it can be easy to get quick information about the beaches and the quality of the bathing water. At the same time, in this application, beach users can determine their favourite beaches, estimated prices, existing equipment, as well as information on the update of the quality of the bathing water.

According to Quercus, out of the 393 awarded beaches, a total of 327 are coastal, 56 inland, and the other ten are transitional. In general, all regions have recorded a drop in the number of such beaches across the country, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

“There is a sharp drop in the allocation of the award in coastal bathing waters, minus 32 beaches, and inland bathing waters recorded a decrease of 16 beaches,” Quercus points out.

The North region has recorded one of the biggest drops, and the Tagus and West regions were awarded for having the highest number of award-winning beaches, a total of 98 such beaches.

As per coastal areas, around 45 beaches are in the Azores region, 32 in Madeira and 74 in the Tagus and West. North has 47 golden quality beaches, while 84 are in the Algarve and 24 in the centre. In addition, 21 beaches of such quality are recorded in the Alentejo region.

The environmentalist association clarifies that the “Golden Quality Beach” award is granted every year to recognize the excellence of the water for swimming purposes of Portuguese beaches. This recognition relies on official public data and considers the results obtained from laboratory tests conducted by various Regional Hydrographic Administrations.

The “Golden Quality” beach classification is granted for beaches that have bathing water of higher quality, such as “excellent” water quality, which is evaluated in the annual classification of five bathing seasons, with the latest one being in 2022.

The bathing season in Portugal was officially announced on May 15, with the government including 589 bathing beaches – four more than in the previous year.

The Faro district was the first one to open its doors for the bathing season, whereas, on June 1, beaches in the centre and the south of the country are expected to reopen. Beaches in the north of the country, on the other hand, will open the latest – by June 17.

About 29 rescue stations, 29 marine rescue motorcycles and more than three dozen boats will be available for the National Maritime Authority to guard holidaymakers. Portugal is known for having some of the most exquisite waters, but there are also some of the highest waves in Portuguese coastal waters.

Zero, the environmental association, has estimated that the poor quality of the water detected in 22 beaches in Portugal has caused these places to be closed for bathing season.

Local media in Portugal report that the €2 tax is applicable during the summer season and is expected to raise up to €300,000 annually, while during the low season, including the period between November and March, the fee will be €1 per night, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Some exemptions do apply to visitors, such as children under 16 and those that spent more than five nights in the designated accommodation spot. This indicates that each tourist will pay a maximum of €10 euros, considering these criteria.

“The tourist tax is a contribution that tourists leave in the local area to minimise their footprint”, Algarve’s mayor, António Miguel Pina, noted.

According to Mayor Pina, this decision has been implemented in an effort to set apart the tourist profile of those that always pick this local area to spend their vacations, which usually are families with children.

The municipality approved the measure last month, and once it is published in the Diario de Republica, it will start applying. This makes Olhao the third municipality in the region to charge tourists for night stays, falling behind Vila Real de Santo Antonio and Faro.

The Algarve Intermunicipal Community (AMAL) had already given the green light to the application of an identical tourist tax of €2, considering proposals made by the two largest hotel associations in the region as well as the Algarve Tourism Board (RTA).

The Camara de Olhao plans to utilise 50 per cent of the revenues accumulated from the new fee to “minimise the effects of tourist pressure, namely in terms of cleanliness and increased security”.

Recently, accommodation owners have protested in Lisbon, expressing distress over the new legislative package, which includes measures such as the forced leasing of vacant houses and the suspension of new local accommodation licenses.

While the country has experienced a robust recovery of tourism, it is expected to be dealing with strikes, which are scheduled for the upcoming weekends of May and June.

More specifically, the inspectors at Foreigners and Border Services (SEF) protested for five hours – from 5 am to 10 am on the weekend, and noted that the industrial action would continue on the upcoming weekends, but it didn’t intend to interfere with flights’ schedule.

Inspectors are protesting for the future of SEF service, which is jeopardised after the Government approved, on April 6, the decree-law establishing the transition regime for SEF workers following the restructuring process.

According to local media, the strike called by SFRCI, SINFA and SNTSF unions will impact rail traffic for two to three upcoming days after the industrial action is carried out, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

“We would like to inform you that, due to a strike called by the SFRCI, SINFA and SNTSF unions, for the period between 00:00 and 23:59 on May 31, 2023, strong disturbances are expected in railway circulation, in all services, with a possible impact on the days before and after the strike period, on May 30 and June 1,” CP – Comboios de Portugal says in an informative message directed to costumers.

The authority informs customers that already have tickets to travel on Intercidasdes, Alfa Pendular, InterRegional and Regional trains may request a fund for their ticket or exchange it for another train of the same category and travel class.

Both changes, including refunds and exchanges, can be made at myCP or at the ticket offices, at the area designated for tickets purchased online or in the CP mobile application. This has to be done 15 minutes before the departure of the train from the station of the country of origin of the customer.

Up to ten days after the end of the strike, a refund can be requested by completing an online contact form, “Refund for Delay or Deletion”, and sending a copy or scan of the original ticket.

Last week, the Sindicato Ferroviário da Revisão Comercial Itinerante (SFRCI) and SNTSF/FECTRANS called a 24-hour strike for May 31 at CP, making Portugal the next place affected by workers’ strikes.

Throughout May, workers in Belgium, Italy, and Spain had organised strikes or announced those, while the impact of strikes across Europe was felt, especially in the air travelling industry, as many flights were either delayed or cancelled.

Workers in Brussels were protesting social dumping – a practice of employers to use a cheaper labour market, while pilots at the Spanish airline Air Europa were and will continue to protest due to unmet demands. Strikes by pilots will continue in the upcoming days – May 30 to June 2, as these workers say management is earning profits by increasing ticket prices, but workers continue dealing with pay cuts.

France has put on hold the protests over the retirement age, but bigger strikes can occur in June – which can lead to some of the biggest strikes of the year. According to the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC), more than 6,000 flights were cancelled between January and April due to strikes that occurred in France.

The Residency by Investment program of Portugal, also known as the Golden Visa scheme, allowed wealthy foreign investors to acquire residency in this country if they met specific conditions and made a significant investment in this country, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt report.

However, the program that made a notable contribution to the country’s economic sector was abolished on February 16 this year, as part of the scheme known as Mais Habitacao in order to tackle the problem of housing shortage, in addition to the fact that the Golden Visa Programs run by several EU countries are often criticized of being involved in unlawful affairs such as money laundering, tax evasion and corruption.

The Executive Director of the Portuguese Association of Resorts, Pedro Fontainhas, has thrown accusations towards the country’s government of making a “blind decision” while calling for “common sense” in order to avoid a “catastrophe” in this industry, according to a report of the Portugal News.

In addition, Fontainhas has warned that wealthy investors are trading the country for Greece.

Based on the figures of the Dinheiro Vivo, from February 16 until the end of April, residential tourism projects worth about 800 million euros led to the loss of a total of €500 million in taxes that would have been collected by Portugal.

Besides, a total of 2,090 jobs involved in cancelled projects have still not been created.

Among the territories of the country that experienced cancellation of projects are: Alcácer do Sal, Beja, Amarante, Castro Marim, Faro, Évora, Grândola, Lagos, Portimão, Óbidos, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Sagres, Salir, Sines, Troia Santiago do Cacém, Tavira, Vila Real de Santo António as well as Vila Viçosa.

However, a recent analysis of the financial services company DBRS said that the lifting of the Golden Visa scheme of Portugal would have a limited impact on the residential market.

The same source revealed that there are other factors more significant to explain the current trend of increasing house prices in Portugal, namely the shortage of new housing, as well as international interest and economic recovery.

Despite the fact that it was often been accused of being involved in many unlawful affairs, a total of 11,758 golden visas have been issued by Portugal’s authorities from October 2012 until February 2023, according to a report of El Pais.

According to a report by Portugal Resident, tourist numbers in Portugal have marked an increase of 41 per cent in the first four months of this year, compared to the same period last year statistics, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The same source shows that the sums account for a total of 61 per cent increase compared to the statistics of the same period last year, while tourist numbers are up by 41 per cent.

Lisbon was followed by Porto with €5.8 million raised in the past four months, according to SIC Noticias, while Santa Cruz, Madeira also accounted for a record on money coming in.

“This is also due to the growth in the tax applied,” SIC notes.

The report of Portugal Resident shows that in 2022, just 11 municipalities charged tourist taxes, while the tendency is for others to follow.

The tourism industry in Portugal has also been significantly affected by the spread of the Coronavirus and the restrictions imposed to contain its further spread. However, this sector has made notable progress.

In addition, the figures provided by Portugal’s Minister of Economy, Antonio Costa Silva, showed that revenues from tourism in this country last year reached €22 million, therefore surpassing the pre-pandemic levels registered in 2019.

Despite the fact that a large number of countries are attempting to attract a higher number of visitors, Portugal belongs to the list of countries that apply tourist taxes over concerns about over-tourism.

Authorities in Portugal have introduced a tourist tax which is paid per night per person. The fee in this country applies only to passengers who are over the age of 13, and it is about €2.

Recently, authorities in Portugal announced that tourists in the Algarve region would be required to pay a €2 tax per night while emphasising that the measures will become effective in the following days.

According to local media reports, the €2 tax will be applied during the summer season while the same is expected to increase by more than €300,000 every year, while during the low season, also taking into account the period between November and March, the fee will be €1 per night.

In addition to Portugal, several countries in Europe, including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, and the Czech Republic, as well as France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, and Italy, among others.

If you dream of basking in the shade of palm trees with your loved ones, away from the crowds, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt unveils ten serene destinations that promise an unforgettable beach getaway.

1. Praia da Ursa

Bear Beach, as it translates to English, earned its name from two rock formations that resemble a bear holding its cub. The destination can be slightly remote since to reach it from Lisbon; tourists will have to take a 40-minute train to Cascais and then another 25-minute bus trip to Cabo de Roca lighthouse and finally a 15-minute walk that takes you down to the beach.

However, the experience one can take away from this beach is worth the hassle. It has cold blue water and warm sand, while rocky mountains surround the beach, offering a sense of privacy for visitors.

The destination isn’t listed as an official naturist spot, meaning that the chances to be one of the fewest visitors while other beaches in Portugal deal with overcrowding can be very high.

2. Praia do Norte

Are you seeking tranquillity during the night time but want to spend an active day at Portugal’s wildest beaches? Praia do Norte, which is known for its untouched coastline, rolling dunes and tall bushy trees, is your destination.

Even during calmer swells, the ocean here can be challenging, so visitors are advised to be careful when entering the water. Those that have the chance to visit Praia do Norte during the winter month can witness waves reaching over 24 meters.

3. Praia do Camilo

This beach, which is located in the town of Lagos, is truly a hidden gem, as visitors will have to walk hundreds of steps to reach it.

It is a typical Portuguese beach – azure waters and golden sand are its signatures, while the serenity is just unmatched for this destination.

4. Praia do Qunita de Lago

The golf resort lies right behind Praia do Camilo, and it is characterised by Portugal’s longest footbridges, which visitors will have to walk through in order to reach the picturesque beach.

It’s advisable to wear comfortable shoes for the walk and not worry about anything except for how beautiful this destination is and crystal-clear open waters on this beach can be.

5. Praia de Cavaleiro

The serene and captivating ambience at Knight’s Beach, as it translates in English, will inspire visitors never to change this destination whenever they are in Portugal.

It is a small, charming and calm beach on the Alentejo coast, and despite its unmatched beauty, it is often uncrowded. Embark on an adventure to have the most relaxing vacation in 2023.

6. Praia Baleal

The beach is located in the community of Peniche and is popular for its fine, white sands and calm waters – creating an ideal ambient for families with toddlers and small children.

Those that seek active beach time will also find their fair share of fun as this beach is a paradise of water sports, such as windsurfing and bodyboarding.

7. Praia da Comporta

Unlike all other beaches so far on this list, De Comporta Beach is ideal for those that love shopping.

It exudes a Hamptons-like vibe and has many cafes and shops where visitors can enjoy a delightful time around the sunset, so why not in the sunrise too?

8. Praia do Amado

Lovers Beach is situated in Aljezur and can be enjoyed by those that visit with their loved ones or those that come in for a self-discovery journey.

The destination has excellent waves, grassy dunes and majestic cliffs, creating the ideal setting for those that want to practice or learn surfing.

9. Praia Ribeira do Cavalo

This beach is a nearby destination to Lisbon and captivates people with its beauty – turquoise waters and soft, almost pink sands make it a true treasure.

However, reaching it can be a bit of a hassle as it is inaccessible by car due to park regulations, leaving travellers to walk or get a boat taxi.

10. Praia de Carcavelos

Visitors to Lisbon can easily escape the noisy city with a trip to Praia de Carcavelos., which is easily accessible and immensely beautiful.

The destination isn’t among the quietest, but it can be great for socialising or learning how to surf, especially for beginners.

More specifically, the number of foreign workers in the country rose from 140,000 recorded in April 2015 to a total of 650,000 workers in April 2023, showing a difference of 510,000 workers, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

“These figures show the dimension of the number of foreign workers who are entering the Portuguese labour market, but it also means that we really have to have this capacity to have foreign workers working in Portugal, precisely to respond to the great challenges of attracting and retaining talent in organisations,” the Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security said during a presentation of the Annual Report on the Evolution of Collective Bargaining in 2022.

She also pointed out that there are 180,000 more workers declared to the Social Security services from January to April of 2023, compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. Comparing the number of workers declared in 2015 with those of 2023, over one million more workers were declared during this period.

As per the average salary declared to Social Security, Ana Mendes Godinho also mentioned that, during the first four months of 2023, there was an increase of around eight per cent in the average salary that each worker in Portugal earns.

The country is particularly focused on increasing the number of workers in the tourism industry as tourism occupants are expected to increase by 20 per cent. The Interior Ministry has introduced measures that set the number of professionals with secondary and higher education to rise by ten per cent, as well as increasing the number of all students in tourism, regardless of the level of education by 15 per cent.

These measures come as a result of national efforts to make Portugal an attractive destination for working as well as studying. These rates help Portugal to address and prevent labour shortage, which threatens any European country.

The Iberian country is especially impacted by developments in the tourism industry as the latter serves as an important revenue generator. In four months alone, Portugal’s municipalities have received €2.14 million in funds from the tourist tax. More specifically, between January and April 2023, tourist numbers have risen by 41 per cent and have paid millions in tourist tax – introduced in 2023 for the first time.

The tourist tax of €2 is paid by every person that spends a night in any accommodation facility and applies only to passengers who are over the age of 13.

According to a report by Portugal News, the company stressed that 143 trains were cancelled until 08:00, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Comboios de Portugal has indicated that of the total 66 scheduled regional trains, 34 connections were not made and on Lisbon urban trains 112 were scheduled and 71 were suspended.

At the same time, in Porto, 53 were scheduled for the period, while 26 were cancelled, and in long-distance trains, only three of the 12 planned connections were made.

Despite the fact that several CP unions called for a strike against proposed career regulations as well as demanded salary increases, only the Railway Union of the Itinerant Commercial Review (SFRCI) maintained the strike.

José Manuel Oliveira from the Federation of Transport and Communications Unions (Fectrans), told Lusa that the organisation as well as the National Union of Railway Sector Workers (SNTSF) decided to call off the strike following the meeting they held, with the Secretary of State for Infrastructure, Frederico Francisco.

According to Oliveira, “more private meetings will now be scheduled with the Secretary of State to discuss some problems in the rail sector”, taking also into account “issues related to traffic safety”.

He also emphasised that the other union that urged for a strike, SINFA- Independent Union of Railway Workers, Infrastructures and Related, also followed Fectrans and SNTSF’s position.

The organization that decided to maintain the strike, the SFRCI, said that it understands the agreement signed between CP management as well as train drivers’ union, which will end up halting social peace at the company.

The Arbitration Court defined minimum services of about 30 per cent for urban and regional services and about 25 per cent for long-haul services. At the same time, CP warned about strong disturbances in rail traffic that will be present until June 1.

The leader of the Railway Union of the Itinerant Commercial Review, Luís Bravo, said that the surge in the base salary is €12.50 euros while stressing that the application of the other prizes “is not daily”.

Bravo considered that the increase in salaries stipulated by the Government for the Civil Service as well as the State’s business industry was equitable for all workers, and by contrast, he said that this didn’t happen in CP.

The strike was previously called by several unions in Portugal and it was warned that it would cause major disruptions.

Such estimations have been made through the recent study of the Luxury Traveler Holiday Habits for this year, conducted by the Conde Nast Johansens travel guide, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

In addition to Portugal, the following countries are also included in the top ten list of destinations that will receive luxury tourists this year: the United Kingdom, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Croatia, the United States, as well as the Caribbean.

According to the study, at least 38 per cent of luxury travellers said they intend to spend more than €8,000 for each holiday period per person, which could total €32,000 by the end of 2023, based on the previous years’ trends.

As for the preferred dates for this year’s summer holidays, the majority of respondents said that they had planned them for September, followed by May and June.

The study of Condé Nast Johansens also stressed that for this summer, there is a preference for the country as well as mountain destinations.

Beach destinations have been considered by the majority of respondents for longer stays, while city destinations are reserved for short-term stays.

Among the top choices for the summer of this year were also mentioned cruises by a large number of respondents.

According to the report, a greater demand for complete holiday packages -including Spa as well as wellness experiences, oenology and gastronomy- will also be experienced.

Estimations indicate that luxury travellers over 55 will be the ones going on vacation.

As for related to their trips, a total of 53 per cent of the participants in the survey said that they will be away for a period between seven and ten days per trip.

Stunning landscapes, history, and warm hospitality are among the main reasons that make Portugal among the most favourite travel destinations in Europe.

Following the abolishment of COVID-related restrictions, authorities in Portugal continue to receive a large number of passengers from other countries.

The figures provided previously by Vinci revealed that airports in this country welcomed 13 million passengers in the first quarter of 2023, thus accounting for an increase of a total of 15 per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels.

The report of Vinci showed that Lisbon airport alone welcomed seven million passengers, which is up by 14 per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Portugal was ranked among the countries where a new record in passenger figures was reached during the first quarter of this year.

However, the stormy weather is expected to ease off in the upcoming days, and depending on the region, wet weather is expected to clear out over the weekend, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Lisbon, the capital city, will witness more rain storms until Friday, when the weather gets better, but intermittent sunshine and showers will continue. Temperatures will improve on Monday, reaching 27 degrees once again.

The northern region is also anticipated to experience wet weather, although temperatures are expected to reach a high of 25 degrees. On Monday, there might be heavy rain, and sunny weather will return only by Wednesday.

Furthermore, the central region is expected to have heavy rain on Friday, but weekends will be cleared out. On Monday, there might be rain showers again while temperatures will be on the rise once more – reaching 27 degrees.

Rain showers are expected to be light in the South region, too, with some showers falling on Friday, while the weekend will be characterized by nice weather. On Monday, there will be rain, but by Tuesday, holidaymakers will be able to enjoy the warm weather again.

The storms in Madeira are expected to pass by Friday, paving the way for a pleasant and predominantly dry weekend. During this period, temperatures are anticipated to reach a maximum of 26 degrees, while, starting from Monday, the weather will mainly be sunny, with average daily highs of around 25 degrees.

Following the not-so-pleasant weather last week, it is anticipated that the conditions will improve in the Azores by Friday, transitioning to a cloudy sky with intermittent sunny spells. Similar weather is expected to persist throughout the weekend, accompanied by temperatures reaching 21 degrees. However, starting from Monday, rain is expected to cover the region.

These changes in weather have led to many flights being cancelled or delayed, and as ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal stated on Monday, 28 flights had been cancelled, affecting thousands of travellers.

In addition, 12 flights were postponed due to particularly heavy rain, and similar cancellations are expected to occur on some of the upcoming days.

“Due to this situation, we appealed to passengers to try to confirm their trips before going to the airport to avoid unnecessary crowds,” ANA warned.

Travellers to any European country are advised to purchase travel insurance, as it can provide better medical care of enable visitors to get a full or partial refund of their money in case of any inconveniences caused by any cancellation or other circumstantial reason.

ANY ADVICE; THIS CONTENT IS EXCLUSIVELY PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIVE REASONS. You must always speak with and rely on your own legal and tax advisor(s) and never go against their advice. AtoZ Serwis Plus does not provide aid with legal matters or tax preparation. The information does not pertain to a particular company or workforce or reflect how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, they are generalized in nature. AtoZ Serwis Plus does not make any representations or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of this information, and it shall have no liability arising out of or in connection with it, including any loss that may be produced by using the information or relying on the news. AtoZ Serwis Plus is not responsible for any loss that may be made by using the information or relying on the news.

The agency’s data also show that a total of 56,528 Ukrainian citizens in Portugal have been granted temporary protection, of which 33,949 are women, and 22,579 are men, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Approximately 2,000 Ukrainians had requested the cancellation of their applications for temporary protection. At the time, there were 58,191 pending permits for temporary protection. The latest numbers reveal that there are now 1,663 fewer permits, resulting in a total of 56,528 existing permits for temporary protection.

Last month, the president of the Association of Ukrainians in Portugal, Pavlo Sadokha, made statements regarding why some Ukrainian refugees chose to leave Portugal.

In this regard, he noted that women and children were returning to Ukraine because they couldn’t be separated from their families and felt more confident about their situation. Additionally, there were cases of individuals leaving Portugal due to challenges in finding accommodation or high rental costs.

Sadokha also emphasised that some people also preferred to go to other countries, such as Germany and Switzerland, in search of better living conditions than what they believed Portugal offered.

Based on data provided by SEF, the distribution of residents with temporary protection permits in Portugal is as follows:

• Lisbon – 11,096 residents with temporary protection permits
• Cascais – 3,845
• Porto – 2,683
• Sintra – 1,952
• Albufeira – 1,465

Regarding minors, SEF states that out of the total 56,528 temporary protection permits, 14,249 of them are accounted for by minors. This means that a significant proportion of the individuals holding temporary protection permits are under 18.

Moreover, SEF has communicated to the Office of public prosecutions the situation of 739 minors from Ukraine who arrived in Portugal without a parent or legal guardian.

The same authority declared the situation of 15 minors from Ukraine to the Commission for the Protection of Children and Young People. In these cases, the minors arrived in Portugal not accompanied by a parent or guardian but with someone else. However, these cases represented a current or imminent danger to the child.

In March of this year, the Portuguese authorities decided to extend the validity of temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees up to six months. Meanwhile, figures provided by SEF for this month revealed that Portugal had granted 58,043 temporary protection to Ukrainian citizens since the start of the war in Ukraine.

ANY ADVICE; THIS CONTENT IS EXCLUSIVELY PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIVE REASONS. You must always speak with and rely on your own legal and tax advisor(s) and never go against their advice. AtoZ Serwis Plus does not provide aid with legal matters or tax preparation. The information does not pertain to a particular company or workforce or reflect how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, they are generalized in nature. AtoZ Serwis Plus does not make any representations or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of this information, and it shall have no liability arising out of or in connection with it, including any loss that may be produced by using the information or relying on the news. AtoZ Serwis Plus is not responsible for any loss that may be made by using the information or relying on the news.

The Minister of Infrastructure and Housing of Portugal, Marina Gonçalves, said that with the Government’s proposal under discussion in parliament, this is a phase of listening to all proposals, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

She noted that over 90 per cent of the golden visa investments are in real estate, which shows that it has an indirect effect on the housing market after it increases the cost of housing.

“With this, we do not want to discourage investment in the country, on the contrary, we already have a general visa policy, a general regime for granting visas that are also based on investment,” the Minister stressed, noting that this is a discussion present in all European countries, according to the Portugal news report.

Authorities in Canada earlier this year announced that they would prohibit foreign investors who want to purchase homes in this territory after home prices increased.

Taking about such measures introduced in Canada, as well as the impact the attraction of digital nomads is also having on house prices, Gonçalves, emphasized that this will have some indirect impact, but stressed that it has no dimension.

“[The impact of digital nomads] does not have a dimension per se, seen individually, an indirect dimension in the price of housing,” she pointed out considering that, with this, it does not mean that “this debate should not be held in the future” according to the Portugal News.

On February 16, Portugal abolished the Golden Visa Program, through which, third-country nationals were eligible to acquire residency in Portugal by investing. But the scheme was often in the spotlight of criticism over its involvement in unlawful affairs.

However, authorities in Portugal said that the decision was taken in order to tackle the problem of housing.

A previous report of the Portugal News showed that the lifting of the Golden Visa scheme led to the cancellation of a residential tourism project worth a total of €800 million that would have an impact of 4.8 billion on Portugal’s economy.

In addition, according to a Bloomberg news report, following the termination of the Residency by Investment scheme, some ex-pats are leaving Portugal, especially citizens from the United States.

The same source found that in the first half of this year, there was a total of 18 per cent decrease in demand for residency by internationals under the Golden Visa scheme.

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According to the same source, the airports in this country handled 5.9 million passengers, reflecting a substantial increase compared to previous periods. Additionally, the cargo and mail throughput reached 18,400 tons, indicating a notable surge in air freight activities, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Since the beginning of this year, passenger numbers at national airports have consistently exceeded pre-pandemic levels. Thus, during April 2023, the daily average of disembarked passengers at national airports reached nearly 99,000, surpassing the figures from April 2022 and April 2019.

Compared to April of last year, there was an 18.4 per cent increase in daily average passenger numbers, reflecting a significant recovery in air travel. Furthermore, the daily average in April 2023 was 10.8 per cent higher than in April 2019, indicating sustained growth and a continued rebound in passenger traffic.

Data provided by INE also show that, from January to April 2023, there was a significant increase in the number of passengers at national airports compared to the same period in 2022. At the same time, passenger numbers grew by 41.1 per cent, indicating a strong recovery in air travel demand.

On the other hand, the movement of freight and mail remained unchanged during this period, suggesting stability in cargo and mail activities.

There were notable increases when comparing the figures to the same period in 2019, before the pandemic. Passenger numbers increased by 13.7 per cent, indicating a sustained recovery and growth in air travel. Additionally, there was a 10.7 per cent increase in the movement of freight and mail, reflecting an upward trend in cargo and mail activities.

In the first four months of 2023, France maintained its position as the primary country of origin and destination for international flights with passengers. The same was also followed by the United Kingdom and Spain.

Further data from INE revealed that Spain and Italy stood out among the countries experiencing significant increases compared to the same period in 2022. As a result, Spain recorded a remarkable increase of 65.7 per cent in passengers disembarked, indicating a strong recovery in inbound travel.

Even Italy saw a substantial rise of 67.8 per cent in passengers disembarked, reflecting increased travel demand to the country.

When considering passengers embarked, Spain and Italy also experienced significant growth. Spain registered a 68.0 per cent increase in passengers embarked, while Italy witnessed a rise of 67.9 per cent. These figures demonstrate a surge in outbound travel from these countries, indicating growth mobility and a rebound in air travel.

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Such data also show that in March 2023, the sector experienced significant growth, with a 30.7 per cent increase in guests and a 26.8 per cent increase in overnight stays compared to the previous month, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

In addition, during this April, the domestic market accounted for two million overnight stays, showing an increase of 7.3 per cent compared to April 2022. While foreign markets contributed to a total of 4.8 million overnight stays, showing an increase of 16.8 per cent compared to April 2022.

Based on these data, compared to April 2019, there was a 21.1 per cent increase in overnight stays by residents and 11.6 per cent by non-residents.

The market that had the most significant increase in overnight stays by residents during April 2023 was the United Kingdom, which accounted for 18.1 per cent of total overnight stays by non-residents.

At the same time, compared to April 2019, there was a 9.6 per cent increase in overnight stays from United Kingdom residents, indicating growth in tourism from this market.

According to INE data, Spain had an 11.9 per cent share of the total overnight stays from non-residents in April of this year. In comparison with 2019 figures, there was also a 2.3 per cent increase in overnight stays from the Spanish market, suggesting a slight growth in tourism in this country.

In all regions of Portugal, residents also saw an increase in overnight stays compared to April 2019. As a result, the region of RA Madeira stood out with a significant growth rate of 105.4 per cent in overnight stays by residents, indicating a substantial increase in domestic tourism.

On the other hand, the region of the Algarve had a relatively lower growth rate, with a 1.7 per cent increase in overnight stays by non-residents.

Further data from INE revealed that during April 2023, the net bed occupancy rate in tourist accommodation establishments was 50.8 per cent, which increased by 3.3 percentage points (p.p.) compared to the previous month (39.3 per cent in March). Thus, there was growth of 2.6 p.p. in terms of the net bed occupancy rate compared to April 2019.

In the first four months of this year, overall overnight stays increased by 30.0 per cent compared to the same period in the previous year. Among the overnight stays, there was a growth of 16.7 per cent in residents and 37.1 per cent in non-residents.

Moreover, compared to the same period in 2019, there was an overall increase of 14.2 per cent in overnight stays, with a growth of 19.9 per cent in residents and 11.8 per cent in non-residents. In April 2023, around 19.6 per cent of tourist accommodation establishments were closed or did not register guests, decreasing from 29.4 per cent in March.

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According to the same source, this figure represents an increase of 46,249 individuals compared to the population in 2021. Furthermore, this increase marks the fourth consecutive year of population growth in Portugal, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

INE data also show that last year, the increase in Portugal’s population can be attributed to net migration of 86,889 people. This net migration figure is higher than the net migration of 72,040 people in 2021. The positive net migration offsets the negative natural balance, which indicates a higher number of deaths than births.

In this regard, the negative natural balance was -40,640 people last year, which is lower than the negative natural balance of -45,220 people in 2021.

The crude rate of increase represents the percentage change in population size. Thus, during the same period, the crude rate of increase was 0.44 per cent, indicating a population growth of 0.44 per cent.

In addition, the crude rate of net migration reflects the percentage of population growth resulting from net migration. As a result, the crude net migration rate was 0.83 per cent during the previous year, suggesting that approximately 0.83 per cent of the population increase was due to net migration.

Further data from INE also revealed that the rate of natural increase refers to the percentage change in population resulting from the difference between births and deaths (natural balance). In 2022, the rate of natural growth was -0.39 per cent, marking a decrease in population due to a negative natural balance.

As for the number of children per woman at childbearing age, it also increased to 1.43 children in 2022, compared to 1.35 children in 2021. This indicates a rise in fertility, suggesting that, on average, women in Portugal had more children in 2022.

At the same time, the ageing ratio, which compares the population aged 65 and over (elderly population) with those aged zero to 14 (younger population), increased to 185.6 older people for every 100 young people in 2022. This ratio was higher than 181.3 in 2021, showing a further increase in demographic ageing.

As the INE points out, the median age of the resident population in Portugal, which represents the age that divides the population into two equal groups, rose from 46.7 years in 2021 to 47.0 years last year. The figure shows that the overall population age increased slightly, with the median age shifting to a slightly older value.

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Announcing the news and informing the Parliament of the changes, the Secretary of State of Portuguese Communities, Paulo Cafôfo, said that changes are necessary to make it easier for all those who intend to reach the country for all kinds of reasons, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

According to Portugal News, Cafôfo brought to the attention the claiming of available sports by intermediaries, calling this an illegitimate action and also identifying the reselling of spots as a major problem.

Cafôfo said that “despite the efforts taken to introduce limitations, this hoarding continues to happen”, and for this reason, the update of the current platform has been seen as a necessary measure to prevent all forms of abuse.

As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal explains, the new features of the visa portal include a single registration. Once registered, everyone will be able to change their password, edit their personal data, fill out a questionnaire to determine the type of visa they need and attach the required documents.

Regarding questions that deputies had on the difficulties that the Portuguese consulates abroad keep on facing, Cafôfo said that by the end of the year, the country plans on contracting an additional 100 new staff so that the processing of applications goes more smoothly and without any significant delays.

The same stressed that until better solutions are found, the authorities will keep on using temporary ones to avoid long waiting periods, especially in consulates receiving a high number of applications.

“It’s a momentary reinforcement so that we can better meet deadlines, give faster answers and provide services more efficiently,” Cafôfo emphasised.

Currently, all nationals of countries that have not reached a visa-free travel agreement with the EU need to obtain a visa in order to be permitted entry into Portugal and the other Schengen Area member states.

Everyone applying for a Portugal Schengen Visa must make sure to submit several documents. Portugal requires all Schengen visa applicants to fill out the visa applications form, submit two passport photos, their valid passports, and copies of previous visas.

Moreover, everyone must submit a roundtrip flight itinerary, proof of having booked accommodation, proof of financial means, a cover letter, proof of civil status, and proof of having purchased travel health insurance.

Additional documents, such as an employment contract and Income Tax Return, are required, too, depending on the status of applicants.

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The halting of resident permits in exchange for investment, also known as the golden visa, was included in the More Housing Program, introduced previously by the government in order to tackle the housing issues and also regulate the real estate market, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The implementation of the new law means that new requests for granting of residence visas for investment activities will not be accepted, however, the possibility of renewing authorisations which have already been granted still exists.

Requests for granting and also renewing residence permits for investment activities are still effective, taking also into account those that are pending prior control procedures in Municipal Councils, at the date of entry into force of the law.

According to a report of Portugal News, the adopted limitation has also been excluded from the granting or renewal of residence permits for family reunification.

Portugal’s government’s initial proposal accepted new applications for residence permits for investments, but the Socialist Party proposed the elimination of this exception.

On February 16 this year, Portugal terminated its Golden Visa scheme, in order to deal with the housing problem. But the decision sparked controversies in this country.

The abolishment of this program that allowed wealthy foreign nationals to acquire residency if they made a financial contribution to Portugal and met specific requirements was considered to have a limited impact on the residential market.

Such estimations were published on the analysis of the financial services company DBRS.

“The end of granting new golden visas concludes a program that was developed in a difficult period for the country. The decision should have a limited impact on the residential market, as it was not a decisive driving force in terms of transactions, either in terms of volume or in terms of value for the country as a whole,” the report noted.

But a previous report of the Portugal News noted that the termination of Portugal’s Golden Visa scheme led to the cancellation of a residential tourism project worth €800 million that would bring to Portugal €4.8 billion.

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According to a report of the Diario de Noticias de Madeira, the anomaly was detected by persons on board, and it led to the intervention of several means of the airport’s fire department, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Madeira Airport International Cristiano Ronaldo is subject to significant flight cancellations as well.

Last month alone, a dozen of flights were cancelled at this airport. Based on a report of Madeira Island News, 15 flights were cancelled between departures and arrivals at this airport, as well as several divergent as well as delayed connections.

However, in spite of the difficulties with which it often is dealing, Madeira Airport has been part of the list of winners of this year’s Best Airport Awards by ACI Europe.

ACI Europe awards are allocated on a yearly basis, taking into account several factors, such as passenger traffic volumes, ensuring recognition for airports of varying sizes, and other factors.

The airport of Madeira stood out for significant accomplishments taking into account attracting new airlines and routes and also contributing to the increase and connectivity of the region.

In addition, according to a local media report, the number of passengers at Madeira airport marked an increase this year compared to last year’s figures.

Based on a report of Madeira Island News, there was a registered 11.2 per cent surge in the number of passengers in Madeira in May this year, compared to May last year, and 42.8 per cent compared to the same month in 2019, before the spread of the COVID-19 and its new variants.

The Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira (DREM) previously confirmed that in May this year, a notable increase was marked in the number of passengers.

 “When compared to May 2019 (pre-pandemic period), there was also a 42.8 per cent growth in passenger movement and 26.2 per cent in aircraft movement,” the statement reads.

Besides, it was emphasised that there was no other month of May with better performance than the one registered this year.

“Considering the accumulated 2023 (from January to May), the year-on-year changes in aircraft and passenger movements were +23.7 per cent and +37.2 per cent, respectively”, the statement notes.

In spite of the challenges with which the airport is often dealing, authorities in Madeira are continuously working in order to welcome a larger number of passengers and minimise the number of flight cancellations.

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Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

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As reported by Portugal News, the values of Portugal’s reservations are above the average of its neighbouring countries. Specifically, Spain and Italy, ranking second and third, only minimally compare to Portugal regarding the number of reservations in 2023, considering the data from the past three years, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Data for June in Portugal show that there was a significant increase in bookings from foreign visitors compared to local tourism. At the same time, bookings from foreign visitors also saw a growth of 75.85 per cent, while local tourism bookings have increased by 24.15 per cent.

Based on SiteMinder data, hotel bookings by local tourists do not exceed 25 per cent in any month throughout the year. It also points out that the positive results in Portugal’s reservations are further strengthened by the arrival of the summer holidays.

As a result, within the last two weeks before the publication of the report, 49 per cent of the reservations made in Portugal were for June and July. This indicates a significant demand for accommodations during this period, likely driven by tourists seeking to enjoy their summer vacations in Portugal.

Furthermore, 23 per cent of the reservations correspond to August, suggesting a continued interest in visiting Portugal during the peak summer season. In addition, 14 per cent of the reservations are for September, indicating that even after the summer months, there is still a significant demand for bookings in Portugal.

As SiteMinder points out, the growth in the volume of hotel reservations in Portugal is happening alongside an increase in accommodation prices in the country. Thus, SiteMinder’s data shows that accommodation prices in Portugal have risen by an average of 17 per cent over the last four years.

Previously, the National Institute of Statistics of Portugal (INE) data revealed that the accommodation establishments in Portugal recorded a total of 2.7 million visitors and 6.8 million overnight stays in April of this year. These figures represent an increase of 16.5 per cent in the number of visitors and 13.8 per cent in the number of overnight stays compared to the same period last year.

Based on these data, the tourism sector in Portugal experienced significant growth in March 2023. There was a 30.7 per cent increase in the number of guests and a 26.8 per cent increase in overnight stays compared to the previous month.

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Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

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As reported by local media, starting from July 19, there will be a strike affecting all overtime workers, and from August 1, holidays will also be impacted by the strike, with both strikes planned to continue indefinitely, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The announcement of the strike was made by four Portway unions, namely ITAVA, SINDAV, STHA, and SIMAMEVIP. These unions represent employees of Portway, a ground-handling services company within the Vinci group, operating at Portuguese airports.

The unions have issued a statement accusing the company of unilaterally changing the calculation method for holiday payments, contrary to the agreed spirit of the AE2020 (Company Agreement in 2020). According to the unions, the company altered the coefficient from 1.50 to 0.50 for holiday payment calculations after eight months of implementing the AE2020.

As explained, the Company Agreement stipulates that work carried out on a public holiday, considered a regular working day, should entitle employees to a 50 per cent increase in their corresponding remuneration.

“From the very beginning, these four unions sought, in the most varied ways, for Portway to recognise our reason and return to payment following the negotiating spirit”, the unions stated.

In addition, the same also concluded that there is no alternative but to proceed with various strikes. According to their statement, the strikes will include:

• All overtime work will be on strike from July 19 onwards indefinitely
• Work on public holidays considered regular working days will be on strike starting from August 1 indefinitely.
• A total strike is planned for July 30 and 31, as well as August 5 and 6

Previously, in May of this year, Portuguese authorities had announced significant disruptions expected in rail traffic between Tuesday, May 30 and June 1.

In this regard, CP – Comboios de Portugal had informed customers who already hold tickets for Intercidades, Alfa Pendular, InterRegional, and Regional trains that they have the option to request a refund or exchange their tickets due to the expected disruptions caused by the strike.

During the same month, Jet2 airline issued a travel warning for individuals intending to travel from the United Kingdom to Portugal in May and throughout June.

The airline urged travellers to take note of the travel warning and consider potential implications or restrictions that may affect their travel arrangements.

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In addition to contesting the new rules that Costa plans to impose, Albuquerque said that the project makes Local Accommodation a meaningless scapegoat for housing problems, stressing that it defrauds investors’ confidence, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Albuquerque’s comments mean that Madeira will not apply the measures projected by the government of Portugal under the “More Housing” project announced previously as part of the efforts to tackle the housing crisis.

The leader of Madeira said that the abolishment of the Residency by Investment Scheme, also known as Golden Visa, just wants to resolve real estate speculation in Lisbon and Porto, emphasising that not only does it make no sense to extend it to Madeira but it if does, it has no potential to devastate local finance.

“The Golden Visa program has brought many high-income foreign residents to Madeira, with obvious benefits for the local economy and very significant direct positive effects in sectors such as real estate and construction. In 2022 alone, more than 600 million euros were received this way. You can’t joke about something so serious,” Albuquerque told Diário de Notícias.

Besides, he considered that it is counterproductive to attack international investment aimed at urban rehabilitation, particularly when there is hardly a movement to replace it, thus putting more housing on the market.

On February 16 this year, authorities in Portugal confirmed that the Residency by Investment scheme would be terminated after remaining effective for about ten years.

Since October 2012, the Golden Visa scheme has enabled wealthy foreign nationals to acquire residency in Portugal after meeting specific conditions and making a financial contribution to this country.

However, in spite of Portugal’s example, authorities in Madeira didn’t take a similar step, with the President of the Autonomous Region stressing that the territory would not follow the steps of Portugal.

In a previous interview for the Diario de Noticias in March this year, soon after the termination of Portugal’s Residency by Investment scheme, Albuquerque confirmed that Madeira’s Golden Visa Program would remain effective.

“It is bad for the national economy. Nothing justifies Madeira being covered by this set of measures that are fundamentally aimed at Lisbon as well as Porto,” he noted.

Besides confirming that the territory would continue to issue golden visas for wealthy foreign investors, Albuquerque stressed that the scheme brought significant contributions to the country’s economy.

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The National Maritime Authority (AMN) of the country has banned portable speakers that blast out tunes at high volumes, aiming to address concerns raised by locals and tourists, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

In order to provide a tranquil and relaxing environment for vacationers who have selected Portuguese beaches as their destination, AtoZSerwisPlus.com has compiled a list of the bans travellers may face when travelling to this country.

As a result, holidaymakers in Portugal are now subject to fines ranging from €200 to €36,000 if they are found using sound equipment that amplifies noise or any other related devices.

In addition to the measures mentioned above, AMN in Portugal also announced last month that playing loud music on Portuguese beaches could result in fines of up to €4,000.

Furthermore, there are additional bans and restrictions in place on Portuguese beaches, such as:

• Unauthorised ball games
• Camping outside campsites
• Fishing in bathing areas
• Preservation of beach integrity

At the same time, overflight by aircraft below 1,000 feet, except for those intended for surveillance, rescue operations, and authorised aerial sports and recreation, is prohibited outside designated crossing channels on Portuguese beaches.

Laws introduced by the EU Member States for regulating antisocial behaviour on Europe’s beaches has become more frequent. In April of this year, Spain banned cigarettes on its 28 beaches.

In this regard, all of the beaches in Majorca, Ibiza, and Menorca have been designated smoke-free zones. Similar measures were introduced in Barcelona last year too, where tourists faced the risk of fines if caught smoking cigarettes on the beaches.

Recently, Spanish authorities also emphasised that travellers on holiday in the country may face fines exceeding €200 if they choose to cycle while wearing earphones.

Even Dubrovnik unveiled its plans for a luggage drop-off system to minimise the noise generated by wheel-along suitcases within its picturesque and historic Old Town, renowned for its cobbled streets.

In response to the influx of tourists, Greece has also implemented a time slot system for visitors to the Acropolis to manage the crowds effectively.

Adding to the list of measures taken to address tourism challenges, Rome’s Pantheon has introduced an entry fee. This recent development serves the purpose of crowd control, ensuring the protection and maintenance of this revered architectural marvel.

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The same source shows that in the first half of this year, a total of 861 golden visas were granted, of them 475 in the second quarter or, more specifically:

• 115 in April
• 180 in May
• 179 in June

According to SEF statistics, regarding visas for grouped family members, a total of 1,191 were granted in the first half of this year, of them 167 in April, 208 in May and 192 in June. At the same time, in January, 153 visas were granted, in February 209 and in March, 262 visas for grouped family members were issued, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The number of total investments already surpassed €7,000 million, totalling last month €7,157,485,864.42 in accumulated terms since the program was introduced in October 2012.

During the same period, a total of 12,396 golden visas were allocated. The primary beneficiaries of these visas were nationals of the following countries:

• China – 5,366
• Brazil -1,229
• United States -713
• Turkey -592
• South Africa- 550

According to the SEF report, 11,181 golden visas have been granted through the acquisition of real estate for over €6,337 million. Of the total, €636.5 million related to purchases for urban rehabilitation, out of a total of 1,783 golden visas issued.

As for the capital transfer, the accumulated amount reaches €819.6 million, out of a total of 1,193 ARIs awarded, and in more than ten years of the working program, just 22 golden visas were granted through the creation of work.

On July 6th, the government of Portugal proposed to abolish new residence permits for housing investment, which was approved on the same day.

The proposal was supported in the Assembly of the Portuguese Republic, with votes in favour of the Socialist Party ((Partido Socialista), Bloque de Izquierda- a left-wing political party- and the Portuguese Communist Party.

The halting of new residence permits for investment in housing was included in the More Housing Program introduced previously by Portugal’s Government.

However, such a proposal made by the Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Costa, was not supported by authorities in Maderia.

Besides, the President of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque, considered the new measures “counterproductive”.

According to Albuquerque, the proposal makes Local accommodation a meaningless scapegoat for housing problems, adding that it also defrauds investors’ confidence.

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According to a report from the Portugal News, at present, there are more than 21,000 requests related to the Residence Permit for Investment in the pre-analysis phase; of them, 7,802 are applications from foreign investor citizens, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Based on the figures from the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF), there are a total of 13,562 family reunification applications through the Golden visa scheme.

The same notes that in June alone, a total of 179 Golden visas were issued, of which 114 were for real estate investment.

The main beneficiaries of Portugal’s golden visas last month were citizens of the following countries:

• United States – 47 visas
• United Kingdom – 26
• China – 17

Data from SEF also show that since the begging of this regime and until June this year, a total of 12,396 golden visas were issued, thus representing a total investment of €7,157 million.

Citizens from China (5,366), Brazil (1,229), and the US (713) benefited the most from the golden visas issued by authorities in Portugal.

Recently, the figures from the Portuguese Immigration and Border Service (SEF) revealed that investments through Portugal’s Residency by Investment Schemes surged by 27.5 per cent in the first half of this year, reaching a total of €403 million.

The same source noted that during the same period, a total of 861 golden visas were issued, of the total 475 in the second quarter, or more specifically:

• 115 in April
• 180 in May
• 179 in June

Based on SEF data, in terms of visas for grouped family members, 1,191 were granted in the first half of this year. Of them, 167 in April, 208 in May, and 192 in June. The same source noted that in January this year, 153 visas for grouped family members were issued, in February 209 and in March 262.

Earlier this month, Portugal’s government proposed to abolish new residence permits for housing investment.

The proposal was supported in the Assembly of the Portuguese Republic, with votes in favour of the Socialist Party ((Partido Socialista), Bloque de Izquierda, and the Portuguese Communist Party.

The abolishment of new residence permits for investment in housing was part of the More Housing Program introduced previously by the Government of Portugal.

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Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

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Announcing the news, the Embassy said that the decision to make appointments available every fortnight has been taken in order to ensure more transparency for all applicants, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

“With a view to responding more precisely and transparently to the demand for scheduling requests for short-stay visas (Schengen), as well as for national visas, the dates and times for opening new vacancies will be communicated, with date and time, every fortnight, with the same periodicity,” the statement of the Embassy reads.

As the Embassy explains, the available appointment slots for short-term visas will be announced today at 2 pm. As soon as new appointments are made available today, all those interested will be able to submit an application through the e-Visa portal until July 28.

“For short-term visas for the Schengen Area delivered at the Common Visa Center, with online scheduling done through the E-VISA portal, vacancies will be made available on Friday, July 14th, from 2:00 pm. Dates will be open until the 28th of July,” the Embassy stated.

As for national visas, it was noted that the applicants will be able to make an appointment through the same period as mentioned above through the VFS Global portal.

Since Cabo Verde has not reached any visa-free travel agreement with Portugal or the other Schengen Area member states, all of its citizens need to obtain a visa to be permitted entry into the bloc.

Cabo Verdeans who plan to travel to Portugal for tourism purposes need to apply for a Portugal Tourist Visa. This type of visa permits all of its holders to remain in the bloc for a period of up to 90 days within any 180-day period.

When applying for a Portugal tourist visa, all applicants must submit several documents. They need to submit the completed Portuguese visa application form, their valid passport, and two passport photos.

Moreover, Portugal tourist visa applicants must also submit a roundtrip flight itinerary, proof of having sufficient financial means, proof of having booked a place to stay, and proof of having purchased travel health insurance, among others.

Previously, the Portuguese Ambassador to Cabo Verde advised all citizens of the latter against applying for Schengen visas through intermediaries. Instead, he recommended that everyone goes through the process themselves, clarifying that scheduling a visa appointment is free for everyone.

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In addition, he said that the measure had relevance for the economies of the autonomous regions, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

“I will not be a commentator on the decisions. What I can say is the position of the Government of the Azores, which was favourable to the continuity of the golden visas and, taking into account their purpose, to express our disagreement and protest for the unilaterality of the decision,” Bolieiro told Lusa agency.

On July 6, Portugal’s government proposal to end new residence permits for investment in housing was supported in the Assembly of the Portuguese Republic, following votes in favour by Socialist Party (Partido Socialista), Bloque de Izquierda- a left-wing political party- and Portuguese Communist Party.

The President of the Government of the Azores considered that golden visas enhanced economic valuation, stressing that there could have been an exception when it came to this measure, referring to the archipelagos.

“We manifested at the time, and I had the opportunity to say, articulated, in fact, with the president [of the Government of Madeira] Miguel Albuquerque, that it was of interest to continue the project of gold visas, which in particular for our economies in the Azores and Madeira was relevant,” he noted, according to the Portugal News report.

Changes introduced earlier this month by Portugal’s government were also opposed by the President of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque, who considers them “counterproductive.”

While contesting the new changes introduced by the Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Costa, Albuquerque said that they make the Local Accommodation a meaningless scapegoat for housing problems, emphasising that it defrauds the confidence of investors.

Comments from the President of the Autonomous Region of Madeira mean that the changes introduced by the Government of Portugal will not be applied in Maderia.

Recently, a report from the Portugal News noted that a large number of requests for golden visas are still pending, despite the country’s decision to terminate the program.

The same source noted that, at present, there are over 21,000 applications for the Residence Permit for Investment in the pre-analysis phase.

As part of efforts to tackle the housing crisis, authorities in Portugal decided to put an end to the Residency by Investment Scheme, known as the Golden Visa Program, on February 16.

The decision came in spite of a total of 41.9 per cent surge in investments registered in Portugal last year through this scheme.

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According to the statistics, the national economy benefited €21.7 billion from foreign visitors’ spending in 2022, marking a startling year gain of 80.4 per cent – only 7.7 per cent below 2019 levels, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The president and CEO of WTTC, Julia Simpson, said that high tourist demand has encouraged Portugal’s travel and tourism industry’s strong and fast recovery.

“The future for the sector is very optimistic. By the end of this year, the sector’s contribution will surpass 2019 levels, and over the next decade, growth will surpass the national GDP and create 248,000 new workplaces over the decade, representing one in four jobs,” Simpson stated.

Number of Workplaces in Tourism Sector to Increase by 30k in 2023

The tourism industry will create about 30,000 new workplaces by the end of this year, bringing the total number of people engaged in travel and tourism to 950,000, just 68,000 less than in 2019.

Beyond Portugal, in 2022, the sector employed 34.7 million people in the region, increasing to 2.9 million from 2021, while remaining 3.2 million behind its highest level in 2019.

The industry has now rebounded more than 90 per cent of the jobs it had before the pandemic and it is expected that by the end of 2024, it will have completely recovered the employment opportunities lost due to the pandemic.

According to the Institute of Employment & Professional Training, unemployment in Portugal increased by 36.2 per cent during the period May 2019 – May 2020 and by 37.4 per cent during the period September 2019 – September 2020 due to the COVID-19 impact on the labour market.

It has been predicted that in the next ten years, one in four people could be working in the travel and tourism industry, with the same potentially employing more than 1.2 million people nationwide in total.

Over 1/5th of Portugal’s GDP in 2033 to Be Generated by Travel & Tourism

In 2022, the Travel & Tourism industry’s GDP contribution increased by 61.6 per cent to reach €38 billion, which represents 15.8 per cent of the Portuguese economy.

The region’s economy received €1.9 trillion from the European travel and tourism industry in 2022, just seven per cent less than it did in 2019. The regional sector’s GDP contribution will top €2.04 trillion in 2023 and be just over the 2019 peak.

By 2033, the industry is expected to contribute €56.4 billion to Portugal’s GDP, or more than one-fifth (21.1 per cent) of the country’s total GDP.

Spaniards, the French & Brits Are Portugal’s Largest Nationality Groups of Tourists

The top source markets for foreign arrivals in Portugal in 2022 were:

• Spain (16 per cent)
• France (12 per cent)
• the United Kingdom (11 per cent)
• Germany (eight per cent)
• the United States (eight per cent)

Earlier this month, data from the World Hotel Index by SiteMinder revealed that hotel bookings in Portugal increased by 22.72 per cent in 2023,  with reservations in Portuguese hotels increasing by 4.75 per cent in comparison to 2022.

Overall, reservations from foreign tourists outside of Portugal saw an increase of 75.85 per cent while reservations from local tourists of Portugal increased by 24.15 per cent.

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During the actions against the criminal network, six suspects have been arrested while searches were conducted at a total of 12 houses and hostels, following the investigation that started one and half years ago between Portugal and France, with the support of Germany and Spain as well as Europol and Eurojust.

According to Portugal Resident, the network is run out in several neighbourhoods of Greater Lisbon, while it has been facilitated by exploiting a law that is used in all the visa-free travel zone of the European Union,AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Based on a report of CNN Portugal, the 2007 law is considered as putting all the bloc at risk, especially when it comes to terrorism.

Local media reports said that there are about a dozen suspects, the majority of them from Southeast Asian countries.

These suspects set up a scheme in order to pervert the meaning of the SAPA platform, which is the SEF’s Automatic Pre-Arrangement System, by encouraging a large number of online applications for interviews by migrants based on purported work contracts.

The Minister for Interior Administration, Jose Luis Carneiro, said that there will be similar activities in the near future.

“It is important to convey this message: practices that constitute criminal offences of aiding illegal immigration and/ or trafficking in human beings must deserve prompt, effective action, which guarantees the safeguarding of the Rule of Law and protects fundamental rights,” he pointed out.

The Minister said that illegal and irregular practices that seek to overcome instruments created to support immigration in regular terms unduly are what the country has to condemn and keep a firm hand on.

Carneiro emphasised that the ongoing operations prove that the government is aware of illegal practices.

“The integration of SEF inspectors into the PJ will – as we will see in the near future – also empower our internal security system to combat illegal immigration and human trafficking practices,” he noted.

European Union countries are continuously dealing with a large number of people who attempt to reach these territories in an unlawful way.

Recently, the figures from the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) showed that a total of 132,370 people attempted to reach EU countries in an unlawful way in the first six months of this year, thus accounting for the highest total of the first half of the year since 2016.

The same source showed that the most active route for a period from January until June this year remained the Central Mediterranean route, with nearly 65,000 detections of illegal border crossings.

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The residence permits can be renewed on the website of Portugal’s Foreigners and Borders Services through an easy process that includes a few steps, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

As the Foreigners and Borders Service explains, the residence permits of around 84,000 citizens of other countries will expire by the end of September.

For this reason, the authorities said through an official statement that all of these residence permits could be renewed automatically without foreigners having to go personally to a service desk.

In order to be able to renew the residence permit, once the foreigners enter the website of the Foreigners and Borders Service, they need to access the “personal area” in the “automatic renewal”, Portugal News explains.

They then need to provide their personal information, and the request for the renewal of the residence permit will be sent.

The Foreigners and Borders Service notes that the possibility of automatically renewing residence permits has existed since July 2020. The same revealed that since then, around 300,000 automatic renewals have been carried out.

As part of its move to provide more foreigners with legal documents, Portugal decided earlier in February to grant one-year residence permits to citizens of Portuguese-Speaking countries.

Announcing the news, the government said back then that the documents would be granted automatically.

As the government explained, the move allowed around 150,000 immigrants from Portuguese-speaking countries o regularise their situation and continue residing in Portugal legally.

Moreover, the government stressed that such a move would also help the country tackle its labour shortage as more foreigners will be able to take up jobs in the country.

While the government said that all citizens of the Portuguese-speaking countries would get an extension of one year, it highlighted that to be eligible, they need to present a work contract.

Additionally, it was explained back then that the citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries would have to pay a fee of €15 when renewing their residence permit.

Portugal decided in 2022 to start applying less strict rules for all citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries in an attempt to allow more foreigners to enter and stay in the country for work and other purposes.

Following the good impact that such a move had, Portugal decided to permit all foreigners now to renew their residence permits automatically, but it did not reveal for how long they would remain valid.

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However, the program has not been put completely to an end, as there are still ways to get a Portuguese residence permit by simply investing in Portugal, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Upon the implementation of the new changes to the Golden visa scheme, there remain four routes of investment for getting residency in the country, as follows:

• Investment amounts required Investment in a fund – half a million euros
• A capital investment- €1.5 million
• For Science and Research – half a million euros
• Persons looking to create jobs will be required to invest half a million euros and also guarantee at least five new jobs

The proposal for new changes to the Golden Visa Program was introduced earlier this month by the Government of Portugal, and it was backed by the Assembly of the Portuguese Republic, with votes in favour of the Socialist Party, Bloque de Izquierda, as well as the Portuguese Communist Party.

The new amendments applied to the Residency by Investment Schemes of Portugal mean that real estate investment in the residential sector of Porto, Lisbon and Braga is banned. However, the autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira opposed such proposals.

In addition to considering it unilateral, the President of the Government of the Azores, Jose Manuel Bolieiro, condemned Portugal’s decision to terminate new residence permits for investments in housing.

Besides, Bolieiro said that the measures had relevance for the economic ties of the Azores.

“I will not be a commentator on the decisions. What I can say is the position of the Government of the Azores, which was favourable to the continuity of the golden visas and, taking into account their purpose, to express our disagreement and protest for the unilaterality of the decision,” he told Lusa agency.

At the same time, the President of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque, considered such changes counterproductive. He said that the project makes Local Accommodation a meaningless scapegoat in terms of housing problems, emphasising that it defrauds the confidence of the investors.

Authorities in Portugal announced that they would terminate their Golden Visa Scheme, as part of the More Housing Program, on February 16, due to the housing crisis with which the country is dealing.

The Golden Visa Program has permitted wealthy foreign investors for more than ten years now to acquire residency in Portugal, provided they met specific conditions and contributed to the country by making a financial investment.

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According to the Internal Security System report published today, 31,874 people have been inspected at land borders, 36,3587 at sea borders, and 438,402 passengers have gone through air border controls to enter Portugal in the last six days.

“As part of the operation, 83 people were refused entry, of which 50 were trying to reach Portugal by land and 33 by air,” the report reveals.

In total, 2,571 flights were subject to border controls since Sunday, at five airports – those of Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Madeira, and Ponta Delgada. Another 7,559 vehicles were checked at the land borders and, 635 vessels were controlled at maritime borders, 117 of which in the last 24 hours, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Portugal reinstated internal border controls last Sunday, ahead of the Catholic Festival World Youth Day that is set to be held in Lisbon between August 1 and 6. On the first day alone, over 77,000 people were inspected, and 17 of them were prevented from entering Portugal. Two people have been arrested, one at the Lisbon airport for illegal documents and stay and the other at the Faro airport under suspicions of human trafficking.

The measures will remain effective until August 7, and are being implemented by the Immigration and Borders Service SEF, with the assistance of the Public Security Police (PSP) and the National Republican Guard (GNR).

“Given the complexity of the event and the need to guarantee internal security, the Government understood that it was necessary to reintroduce documentary control at land borders,” Portugal’s SEF has said, arguing the necessity of such a measure to be reimposed.

Border officers are, in particular, focusing on selective controls based on prior risk analysis for Schengen flights and for children under 18 when unaccompanied by those exercising parental responsibilities.

World Youth Day 2023 is a Catholic festival that was originally set to be held in the summer of 2022 but was postponed to August 2023 by the Holy See due to the Coronavirus. The theme of the event for this year is “Mary arose and went with haste”.

Travellers have been warned to stay prepared for possible border delays due to the controls.

Reintroducing border controls for a few weeks is a common thing amongst the Schengen countries. Only recently, Finland had its border controls reintroduced during the visit of United States President Joe Biden and the US-Nordic Leaders’ Summit in Helsinki on July 13, 2023.

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Last week, the government of Portugal decided to reimpose internal border controls with Spain in order to enhance security during the festival.

According to the Spanish Ministry of the Interior, over 1.5 million pilgrims are expected to reach the Portuguese capital in the following days, what could lead to a considerable surge in traffic, in particular along the land routes connecting the French and Portuguese borders, as well as the access roads to Lisbon and the Sanctuary of Fátima.

To ensure road safety and effective traffic control on the main highways used by travellers wishing to participate in the festival across the national territory, whether by private or collective transport, a Specific Mobility Plan has been crafted on Spain’s side, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

As part of this plan, the Traffic Group of the Civil Guard will intensify its efforts to monitor, control, and regulate traffic along these vehicles’ primary and secondary routes.

“Specific controls will be established to verify that journeys, especially long-distance ones, are made safely, aimed at guaranteeing the vehicle’s general condition (tyres, load arrangement, etc.) and informing about the risks of driving without adequate rest,” the statement issued by the Ministry reads.

In light of ensuring safe travel, particularly for long-distance trips, authorities will implement specific controls to verify that journeys are conducted with safety measures in mind.

The ATGC transport specialist agents will also conduct targeted inspections on collective passenger transport during long-distance journeys. These inspections will focus on assessing drivers’ compliance with driving and rest time regulations and evaluating the safety conditions of the vehicles.

To keep drivers well-informed during the World Youth Days event, the Traffic Management Centers will utilise variable message panels to provide real-time updates on traffic incidents and conditions along transit routes.

In preparation for the event and collaboration with Portuguese authorities, the DGT (Directorate General of Traffic) initiated “Operation Paso Portugal” on July 1. This operation aims to provide comprehensive coverage for the approximately 250,000 vehicles that travel through Spanish territory from France to Portugal during the summer vacation period.

As the Ministry explains, the specific plan will primarily concentrate on two essential phases within the overall duration. The first phase has encompassed the last days of July, while the second phase will be from August 6 to 7.

Since the reintroduction of internal border controls in Portugal until Thursday, July 27, the Portuguese border authorities checked a total of 503,633 people. During this period, 83 individuals were prevented from entering the territory of Portugal.

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According to the authority, both regions will remain under a yellow warning until Thursday, with high temperatures being the main factor, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

IPMA also reveals that Lisbon will be under the same category, and more than 50 municipalities in the North and Centre region, as well as the Altro Alentejo and the Algarve, risk being captured by fires.

The risk of wildfires has increased significantly across the southern European countries. In the last few weeks, nine casualties were recorded in southern Europe, while the number of victims in Northern Africa alone has almost reached 40 due to extreme weather conditions.

More specifically, two pilots died while combating spreading fires on the Greek island of Rhodes, while thousands of residents were evacuated from their homes and a dozen flights returning tourists back home were operated.

Wildfires in Italy caused three casualties in the southern part of the country, in addition to considerable damages while the number of victims caused by storms that occurred in the last weeks has reached four, including a 16-year-old that was on a camping trip.

This has been one of the worst weeks of the year for Greece, as it was dealing with the wildfires that scarred the land as well as made the air heavily polluted.

The extreme weather conditions are expected to have a serious impact on the country’s tourism industry, which generates about ten per cent of the country’s GDP.

SchengenVisaInfo.com previously reported that the soaring temperatures in Greece might drift tourists away, who will be seeking cooler climates. According to the European Travel Commission (ETC), tourists to Europe have rather shifted their interest to countries like Denmark, Ireland as well as the Czech Republic, instead of France, Greece and Italy, which are known for being popular Mediterranean destinations for holidaymakers.

Regardless of the destination, it is highly advisable to purchase travel insurance as wildfires threaten some of the most beloved destinations in Europe.

Travel insurance protects visitors from unexpected expenses caused due to circumstances which can include flight cancellation, lost items or any medical emergency.

According to customer feedback, satisfaction and experience, Allianz Travel Insurance, AXA Travel Insurance, Europ Assistance, Mondial Care, Mutuaide, and DR-WALTER are some of Europe’s most recommended travel insurance deal providers.

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Authorities in Portugal are attempting to find these persons, with the youngest being 19 years old, emphasising that they are all in good standing after they benefit from a three-month visa in Portugal as well as other countries included in the EU’s borderless zone, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

“There is a first phase of identifying people, then evaluating the steps we take to locate the young people in the light of the information we have. People have an authorised period; after this phase, they will enter into an irregular situation, and there they will be subject to the law [ …] They have authorised stay, we just don’t know where they are”, the representative of the Foreigners and Borders Service said at a press conference to journalists, in Lisbon.

In addition to these pilgrims who didn’t show up, at least citizens from Angola have already expressed their willingness to remain in Portugal to the country’s authorities. If these citizens can prove that they are threatened in their country of origin, they are eligible to apply for refugee status in Portugal or another Schengen Zone country.

Many dioceses in Portuguese-speaking countries have been warned about the danger of immigration. Friar Gilson, who leads the delegation of nearly 700 people coming from Sao Tome as well as Principle told RFI that it is difficult to maintain the situation under control, even if surveillance was reinforced and there were several training sessions before leaving.

“We were careful to use some criteria, even to make it difficult for those who might come up with the idea of ??staying. We try to do it, but you can’t be sure if they’ll return or not because we don’t know what’s in their minds of each. We did our part; we had six months of formation in our diocese to show people the need to come and return,” he noted.

The number of citizens from Angola residing in Portugal marked a notable increase this year. According to the figures from the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF), in the past ten years, the number of Angolans residing in Portugal increased by over 50 per cent, from 20,366 in 2012 to a total of 31,435 last year.

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The pass is part of the measures included in the State Budget for this year and will work like any other pass, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

It permits passengers to travel on any regional service train and on any route. Still, the pass is not valid on other devices such as the Alfa Pendular, InterRegional, Intercidades, Internacional, and Urban services in Porto, Lisbon and Coimbra.

Regardless of origin or destination, the pass that became effective on August 1 permits their holders to use any regional train. Still, some areas of the territory are excluded from the pass, taking into account Alentejo Litoral and the Coimbra area.

Besides, among the sections that are not included are the following routes: Régua-Pocinho (Douro Line), Coimbra-Figueira da Foz (suburban Coimbra), Pinhal Novo-Évora and Pinhal Novo-Vila Nova da Baronia (Alentejo Line), Pinhal Novo-Tunes (Southern Line).

In order to buy a rail pass, persons are required to go to the physical CP ticket offices and are eligible from the 21st of the previous month until the 20th of the desired month.

Payment of the difference in value for another train of a different category is not permitted, in addition to the fact that the ticket does not accumulate with other discounts, such as the “Young”, “4-18”, “Under-23” discount, or others.

In order to have the National pass, people must hold a CP Client card, which can be requested at the ticket offices presenting the following documents: An official identification document (Citizen Card, Identity Card, Driving license or Passport); a current (original) passport-type colour photograph; CP Card Request Template, based on a report from Portugal News.

Authorities in European countries have tightened their effort to improve the eco-friendly means of transport, such as rail transport, and also tighten connections between European regions, cities, and countries for domestic and international travel.

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The European Union Agency for Railways (ERA) previously announced that it is planning to make Europe’s railway regulations fit pan-European travel in order to make a more increased number of passengers choose the train instead of other means of transport.

Besides, the Belgian politician Georges Gilkinet previously said that authorities in EU countries should ban short-haul flights and replace them with improved train services.

Cities like Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve region have gained immense popularity due to their unique charm, historic architecture, vibrant culture, and stunning coastal areas, registering a high number of arrivals during the summer months, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Moreover, movement to and from Portugal has increased, too, with flights connecting different cities in and out of Portugal.

According to the Portugal News, in August 2023, the residents of Portugal showed a strong inclination towards specific destinations, including Lisbon, Porto, Madeira, Palma, São Miguel, Paris, Barcelona, São Paulo, Faro, Madrid, Ibiza, Malta, Cabo Verde, Rome, Alicante, Athens, Porto Santo, Amsterdam, among many others.

At the same time, Europeans are displaying a heightened enthusiasm for travel to Portugal this August. Data provided by Jetcost revealed a remarkable surge in travel searches, with a 37 per cent increase compared to August 2019 and a 14 per cent rise compared to August of the previous year.

In addition, data has shown that travellers are dedicating 62 per cent more time to exploring different travel options, alternative prices, as well as flexible dates, to identify the ideal offer that aligns with their financial plans.

A Portuguese destination that is very popular among travellers is Porto. The city is currently the most sought-after by French, Spanish, German, Italian, British, and Dutch travellers.

Getaways to Faro are also in high demand by those looking for sun, beach, sea, good restaurants, and nightlife. As the Portugal News explains, Jetcost said that Faro is the most sought-after destination by British travellers, followed by Dutch, French, German, Italian, and Spanish travellers.

Turning to the islands, Madeira is also one of the most popular destinations among European tourists, registering a high number of tourists from France, Spain, and Italy, among others, every summer.

Previously, the Conde Nast Johansens travel guide studied Luxury Traveler Holiday Habits has revealed that Portugal has been included in the list of the top ten international luxury destinations for the current year.

Apart from Portugal, the list of top ten destinations poised to attract a large number of tourists this year includes the following:

• United Kingdom
• Greece
• Italy
• Spain
• Ireland
• Croatia
• United States
• Caribbean

Moreover, further data show that during July 2023, Portugal experienced substantial growth in hotel reservations, as revealed by data from the World Hotel Index compiled by SiteMinder.

Until July 2, the count of hotel reservations for the current year has exhibited a remarkable growth of 22.72 per cent compared to the figures registered in 2019. The same source also pointed out that this year’s reservations have also demonstrated a notable increase of 4.75 per cent compared to the previous year.

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As Portugal News explains, workers employed by Portway, a company that serves easyJet as its primary customer, have completed the initial phase of their strike on both Sunday and Monday, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

In his regard, the Union of Aviation and Airport Workers (Sitava) revealed that the strike saw a participation rate of approximately 30 per cent among the workers.

Yesterday, August 6, has started the second phase of the strike organised by various worker unions, including the Union of Merchant Marine Workers, Travel Agencies, Forwarding and Fishing Agencies (Simamevip), the Union of Aviation and Airport Workers (Sitava), the Airport Handling Technicians (STHA), and the Democratic Union of Airport and Aviation Workers (Sindav).

This strike follows a previous period of industrial action, and it is part of an ongoing labour dispute between these unions and Portway, which operates at airports and serves easyJet as its main customer.

Previously, these four Portway mentioned above jointly declared a comprehensive strike in Portugal. The strike was scheduled for specific dates: July 30 and 31, as well as August 5 and 6. In addition, they announced that starting from July 19, a strike would affect all overtime workers.

According to them, beginning August 1, the strike would also extend to impact holidays. Both strikes, involving overtime and holidays, were planned to continue indefinitely.

Moreover, the worker representatives have also announced plans for an indefinite strike on public holidays. The unions anticipate higher participation in this particular strike, as public holidays are seen as a pivotal aspect of the conflict between the workers and the company.

The ongoing strike and labour dispute between the worker unions and Portway appears to revolve around the interpretation and application of the Company Agreement (AE2020). As the unions explain, this agreement stipulates that work performed on a public holiday, which is considered a typical working day, should result in a 50 per cent increase in corresponding remuneration.

However, the unions contend that after eight months of implementing this agreement, the company unilaterally altered the method of calculating holiday payments, which goes against the agreed-upon spirit of the deal.

On the other hand, Portway has stated that it fully adheres to the Company Agreement (AE) concerning work on public holidays. The company claims it does not see valid grounds for the strike and emphasises its strict compliance with the agreement’s provisions.

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As the authorities have explained, they are offering such a salary in an attempt to attract skilled workers to the country amid the ongoing shortages in the sector, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

According to Publico, the National Health Service has already begun the process of recruitment of doctors from Brazil.

The same noted that the Central Administration of the Health System wants to attract doctors from Brazil to work in healthcare centres located in regions dealing with the largest shortage of family doctors.

The Portugal News explains that the country’s Ministry of Health will be offering a contract that will be valid for a period of three years to all workers from Brazil that will be employed in primary health care.

Moreover, it was revealed that doctors from Brazil would be mainly working in the regions of Alentejo and Algarve and Lisbon and Vale.

On the basis of the contract, doctors from Brazil will have to work 40 hours per week, and they will have the possibility to “concentrate the work week into four days”. They will also have the right to 22 vacation days.

Similar to Portugal, Germany also is working to boost skilled worker immigration from Brazil.

Germany and Brazil already signed a declaration on the matter earlier in June. During a visit to Brazil, Germany’s Minister of Labour Hubertus Heil and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock talked about the work opportunities in the country for skilled workers from Brazil.

Moreover, Minister Heil signed a declaration of intent with his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Marinho. By signing such a declaration, the German authorities said they want to create simplified structures and promote the immigration of workers from Brazil.

Moreover, the German authorities said that they also want to create fairer conditions for all skilled workers from Brazil.

As the authorities said, Germany will mainly focus on attracting more nurses from Brazil as the healthcare sector is dealing with one of the largest shortages.

Other sectors in Germany as well as in some other countries of the European Union are also dealing with shortages in various sectors, pushing them to recruit foreigners.

Recent data issued by the Federal Labour Agency of Germany show that 200 out of 1,200 professions surveyed last year dealt with shortages last year. Service jobs were among the most affected.

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According to local media reports, this number makes the security operation of this period the biggest ever in Portugal, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The operation was conducted in all air, land, and sea entries. Based on the recent operational balance of the Internal Security System, a total of 5,171 flights have been controlled up to this point, with the majority of them coming from outside Schengen Zone countries.

At the same time, 896,696 passengers were inspected; of the total, 57 were subject to entry denial.

Besides, at land borders, a total of 15,390 vehicles as well as 56,987 people, were controlled, with 102 being banned from reaching Portugal. In addition, 1,436 vessels and 72,254 passengers were inspected at sea entry points.

Portugal’s decision to reintroduce border controls with its neighbouring country, Spain, was confirmed through a statement by Portugal’s Foreigners and Border Service (SEF), while the same emphasised that such rules would remain effective until August 7, carried by SEF together with the Public Security Police (PSP) and the National Republic Guard (GNR).

“Given the complexity of the event and the need to guarantee internal security, the Government understood that it was necessary to reintroduce documentary control at land borders,” SEF noted in a statement.

Recently, authorities in Spain said that they would be assisting Portugal in managing frontier checks during World Youth Day, taking into account the significant increase in traffic expected during this event.

Authorities in Spain said that more than 1.5 million pilgrims are expected to reach Lisbon during World Youth Day, which could lead to a significant increase in traffic, especially along the land routes connecting the French and Portugal borders and also the access roads to Portugal’s capital and the Sanctuary of Fatima.

Therefore, authorities in Spain introduced a Specific Mobility Plan. According to the plan, the Traffic Group of the Civil Guard will intensify its efforts to control, monitor, and regulate traffic along these vehicles’ primary and secondary routes.

“Specific controls will be established to verify that journeys, especially long-distance ones, are made safely, aimed at guaranteeing the vehicle’s general condition (tyres, load arrangement, etc.) and informing about the risks of driving without adequate rest,” the Ministry’s statement noted.

Local media reports noted that Traffic Management Centers would use variable message panels to provide real-time updates on traffic incidents and as well as conditions along transit routes.

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According to local media, three fires burst in Portugal earlier this week, with the one in Odemia that is considered the biggest, forcing 1,400 evacuations, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The group of 1,000 firefighters combating the blaze is receiving help from 320 vehicles and nine aircraft while the fire has so far scorched around 7,000 hectares.

“We maintain two critical points: one to the north, in the Defeira area, which is creating a lot of concern, and also to the south, on the front-facing Monchique,” said the regional commander of Emergency and Civil Protection of the Alentejo, José Ribeiro, who also revealed that the authorities have moved 1,438 citizens as a precautionary measure.

The mayor of the Algarve, Paulo Alves, says that the fire initially broke out on Saturday in the municipality of Odemira, to further spread in the area of Alcanforadoin by the end of the afternoon and being concluded in the Faro district.

The main reason for the wildfires is believed to be the extreme weather conditions, while the national commander of ANEPC, André Fernandes, warned that high temperatures would continue in the afternoon. According to Fernandes, the next 24 hours are crucial to monitor whether the wildfire will spread to other regions.

The smoke and fires from Portugal are visible from space, while July 2023 have been recorded as the highest month in history, as the World Meteorological Organization reveals.

The neighbouring country of Spain is also dealing with wildfires this summer, although it is being able to contain them better despite the soaring temperatures scoring the country’s third heat wave this summer.

Portugal has been one of almost all coastal countries in Europe to have experienced a wildfire this summer, with the most recent being the wildfire in Greece, causing two casualties as acres of the Rhodes islands were being burned by climate changes. In addition, thousands of residents were evacuated, and tourists were sent home. As compensation for their lost days of vacation, the Greek government has enabled tourists to have a one-week free-of-charge vacation, which can be used in the spring or autumn season next year.

The wildfire in Sicily, the southern Italian region, has caused three victims and evacuations of thousands of residents, while the smoke of wildfires has caused Palermo Airport to be closed for some days.

Similarly, close to Nice airport in France, wildfires have burned lands of three villages. Croatia has also been affected by wildfires, while fatal blazes have been recorded in the North African countries of Algeria and Tunisia, with almost 40 casualties being recorded.

Travellers to European destinations are advised to purchase travel insurance as it protects them from unexpected expenses caused by natural disasters and wildfires. Additionally, travel insurance purchasers are eligible to refund their money fully or partially in cases of medical emergencies, cancellations or lost items.

Some of the best deals for travel insurance purchases can be Europ Assistance, AXA Travel Insurance, DR-WALTER, Mondial Care, Mutuaide, and Allianz Travel Insurance.

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Timóteo Macedo, from the Association for the Defense of Immigrants’ Rights, has said that mobility for citizens of CPLP countries in Portugal does not exist.

Complaining about the current state of CPLP countries’ citizens, Macedo stressed that despite them being subject to facilitated rules when applying for a visa, the document does not permit them to travel outside Portugal, saying that CPLP citizens are in an “open-air prison,” AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

“Circulation does not exist because those who arrive in Portugal with a CPLP visa can’t travel within the Schengen area like other Portuguese. It’s like an open-air prison,” the statement of Macedo reads.

In line with new rules that entered into force in October of last year, CPLP citizens have been subject to a more streamlined process when applying for a visa for Portugal. They no longer need to submit certain documents such as valid travel insurance, proof of sufficient financial means, and a roundtrip itinerary.

Nonetheless, they still face obstacles when it comes to travelling to other Schengen countries.

For this reason, Macedo said that the facilitation of visa rules for CPLP citizens is not sufficient, pointing out that it has become very difficult for them to secure an appointment in their home countries, Diario de Noticias explains.

Furthermore, he stressed that once they arrive in Portugal, they have their hopes of entering other Schengen countries crushed and, at the same time, argued that citizens of CPLP “should not even need a visa”.

“On one hand, we have CPLP nationals who opted for a visa and discover, upon arriving in Portugal, that they can’t travel to another European country and that they feel deceived and discriminated against compared to other Portuguese residents. But there are still those who are worse off and who don’t even have the right to the benefits of CPLP visas,” Macedo added.

Moreover, Diario de Noticias stressed that visas issued to CPLP citizens allow all of its holders to access public health services, social security, and a taxpayer identification number. Moreover, the visa also permits the automatic granting of residence permits.

Previously, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reported that more than 113,000 Portuguese-speaking immigrants were granted residence permits in Portugal since the launch of the online platform.

The online platform is aimed at easing the procedure for acquiring residency in Portugal, and according to EU Commission, the majority of those who were issued the document were from Brazil.

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According to the Portuguese police, World Youth Day brought over 1.5 million foreigners to the country, with thousands of them choosing not to follow the rules.

As it has been explained by the police, they found out as soon as the event was over that a large number of foreigners did not return back. The same stressed that they did so with the purpose of staying in Portugal or reaching another European Union country, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Executive Digest notes that the first signs of the phenomenon started to occur at the beginning of the event, with around 200 young people from Cabo Verde and Angola not attending the activities in which they were registered.

It has been revealed that of this group, 168 of the young people were from Cabo Verde, and the remaining part were from Angola. As for the other numbers, the authorities have not disclosed official information yet.

According to the Foreigners and Border Service (SEF), the disappearance of foreigners who entered the country to attend World Youth Day is a “significant threat” to the country.

The same said that they believe that the main objective of these young people who chose not to return to their home country was to find better opportunities in the bloc.

The authorities explained that the majority of young people from third countries who entered Portugal for World Youth Day were issued short-term visas. These visas were mainly valid for 18 to 23 days, which means that all of those who will not return once their visa expires will be irregularly staying in the territory of Portugal, breaching the rules.

“The visas were issued at the consular representations of Portugal and other Schengen States, and nationals of third countries may have entered either through Portuguese borders or through the borders of other states. Likewise, they will be able to leave through any external Schengen border other than the Portuguese one. They may also, within certain limits, request an extension of their stay,” SEF said.

While the authorities are trying to investigate the matter, it has been noted that it will be hard for them to determine the exact number of young people who have remained in the country after the event.

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In a letter sent to the Assembly together with the bill, the President has asked for more modifications to be made, before the legislation is brough again in front of him for final approval, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The President has criticised the measures foreseen to be taken through this legislation, claiming that it is unclear how the promised results will be achieved, and calling it a “poor initial response to a need that time has made dramatic, crucial, and extremely urgent.”

He has raised six problems, with the first being the promised housing construction, pointing out that aside from a limited extent and with European funds, the State will not directly assume responsibility for building new homes.

“Support given to cooperatives or the use of vacant public buildings, or privately acquired or contracted properties for affordable rentals, involve slow bureaucracy and reliance on entities overwhelmed with other tasks, such as the Development Bank, or lacking the necessary means, such as IHRU,” the President has said, listing this problem as the second one in the More Housing Bill.

Further, he has noted that making some rentals compulsory would be very time-consuming and a limited practice, that, in turn, would have very poor results and a high political cost. According to him, even the intended accommodation regime will doubtfully achieve the intended effects.

As a result, the President has asked the Parliament to modify the bill, in order to address the struggle faced by many families due to the burden of interest rate increases and, in numerous cases, rent hikes.

“…this present decree is not sufficiently credible for its short-term implementation…it fails to inspire mobilization for the challenge faced by all its indispensable protagonists – public, private, social, and above all, the Portuguese people in general,” he has said.

While the President has not mentioned the Golden Visa scheme in his letter, the More Housing Bill intends to terminate one of its most famous routes, the one granting residence permits to buyers of properties in Portugal.

In the final version of this legislation presented to the President, the Assembly wanted to scrap two pathways for a Portuguese Golden Visa – that of property purchase and capital transfer of at least €1 million in a Portuguese bank account.

And though the bill has been returned to the Parliament for more changes, it is unclear whether the Golden Visa part will go through any modifications at all.

Data by the Portuguese Immigration and Border Service (SEF) a total of 861 golden visas were granted in the first half of 2023, 475 in the second quarter of which in the second quarter. During the same period €7,157,485,864.42 in accumulated terms were invested in Portugal through this program.

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Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

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According to the Directorate-General for Health (DGS), residents should look for fresh and airy-conditioned environments for at least three hours during the day, increase water consumption, and avoid alcoholic beverages, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The authorities also recommend using sunscreen and applying it every two hours, while avoiding direct exposure to the sun, especially during the afternoon hours, is also highly advisable.

“Wear loose, opaque clothing that covers most of the body, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses with ultraviolet protection,” one of the recommendations reads.

Outdoor activities that require great physical exertion, such as sports and leisure activities, are discouraged, and people, especially children, the elderly, the chronically ill and pregnant women, are advised to stay inside.

Moreover, parents should make sure that children are hydrated and remain in cool and airy environments, while children under six months should not be exposed to direct sunlight.

The risk of fires spreading in Portugal is increasing, although temperatures are expected to drop in the following days.

ANEPC has pointed out that August 5 was the fifth day with the highest number of fires recorded in the month – a total of 80 ignitions, while the highest number of occurrences – 113, was recorded two days later.

“In Nelas, four people were removed from their homes in Senhorim as a precaution due to anxiety, having stayed overnight in a support area of ??the municipality. They’ve already returned home. And in Ourém, three children and a person with reduced mobility were also removed from the village of Carvalhal de Baixo as a precaution and have also returned to their homes,” the commander said at a press conference.

The national commander of Civil Protection, André Fernandes, noted that 20 fires were recorded today alone, with 389 operators and 100 vehicles being arranged to put down the fires. Around 18 occurrences are under surveillance and follow-up actions across the country, with two fires in Nelas and Ourém being highlighted.

Travel insurance can protect travellers from the unexpected expenses that occur due to natural disasters and wildfires. In addition, many other inconveniences, such as medical emergencies, cancellations or lost items, can be partial to fully reimbursed, so it is highly recommended to always purchase travel insurance before travelling.

Based on experience, reputation and customer responses, companies such as Europ Assistance, AXA Travel Insurance, DR-WALTER, Mondial Care, Mutuaide, and Allianz Travel Insurance offer some of the best deals for purchasing insurance.

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Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

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According to local media, Israelis have overtaken Brazilians as the first applicant nationality for Portuguese nationality, despite the South American country having a population 20 times higher than Israel and having strong and longstanding ties to Portugal in aspects like culture, history and linguistics, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

However, unlike other nationalities, Israelis don’t usually reside in Portugal, as only 569 Israeli citizens are residents despite 60,000 Israelis having Portuguese nationality as of 2022. As per  Brazilians, 239,744 of them continue residing in Portugal after obtaining citizenship.

The reason for this phenomenon is related to the Israeli passport, which is quite more restrictive compared to EU passports, and, in addition to that, the EU and the US visa waiver program for EU nationals is under discussion.

“This was a big deal for Israelis as carrying an Israeli passport is much more restrictive. This general conversation also touched on higher education. The academic prerequisites for state universities in Israel are high, and private schools are costly. In the EU, however, the terms of acceptance are more relaxed, and the cost is lower if you are an EU national. This general discussion motivated many families with European origins to apply for EU nationalities,” Lior, an Israeli national who now has Portuguese nationality, pointed out.

Online searches in Hebrew for Portuguese nationality and information about living in Portugal surged with over 100,000 results, while many businesses offer their services to Israelis who want to obtain Portuguese citizenship.

Some of the best benefits that Israelis have after obtaining Portuguese citizenship are paying less taxes, more affordable living costs, and, in general, a less stressful life.

On the other hand, the main disadvantages for Israelis can be the language barrier and lower income.

However, the easy access to the borderless zone and the benefits Portugal has to offer to Israelis as a European country aren’t the only things that attracted the nationality group.

Amikam, an Israeli healthcare professional who also applied for Portuguese nationality in 2017, said that opportunities that come with EU citizenship can also be good for the future.

“It made me think of the opportunities embodied in EU citizenship, and I also thought that living in the EU would better suit my liberal views. And it’s always good to have a plan B in case things in Israel turn for the worst. It [the process] cost 10,000 ILS (around 2,500€) and took about two years for most people,” he said.

The number of Israelis seeking Portuguese citizenship might drop next year as 2022 was the last window for Israelis to apply for nationality in Portugal under the Descendants Policy. In addition, the number of those seeking to obtain Portuguese nationality dropped from 21,263 in 2021 to 20,975, respectively.

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Data provided by TravelBI have revealed that this figure shows an increase of 28.8 per cent, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

According to these data, between April and June 2023, the workforce engaged in the accommodation, restoration, and similar sectors accounted for 6.7 per cent of the overall economy, marking an increase of 0.4 percentage points compared to the previous year’s second quarter.

During the second quarter of 2023, 54 per cent of the workforce in the accommodation, hospitality, and related sectors had a secondary education or higher qualifications. As a result, this figure marked a significant increase of five percentage points compared to the same period in 2022.

The same authority said that this data set affirms the continuous trend of a progressive increase in the qualifications of employees within the sector. This trend has been observed in recent years. TravelBI also added that this is highlighted by the fact that the percentage of workers with higher qualifications in these sectors was only 40 per cent in 2017.

Moreover, data from Statista revealed that in 2021, the Portuguese tourism sector experienced a decrease in its workforce, with about 332,400 employees recorded due to the pandemic. This represented a decline of 1.9 per cent when compared to the previous year’s figures. The country was home to around 74,000 active tourism companies during the same period.

In March of this year, the Ministry of the Interior in Portugal also launched a new initiative, including a comprehensive package of 20 different measures. Among these measures, a key component includes a strategic plan to strengthen the tourism sector workforce by 20 per cent.

In this regard, the Ministry of the Economy and Maritime Affairs emphasised that the primary objective of this agenda is to elevate the count of qualified tourism professionals with secondary and higher education by ten per cent.

At the same time, it also stated that it aims to augment the enrollment of students in tourism-related programs at all educational levels by 15 per cent. Furthermore, the Ministry added that a pivotal goal of the initiative is to enhance the workforce within the sector by 20 per cent.

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However, recent changes have left many wondering if they can still seize this golden opportunity. The answer is yes, and you can find out how!

Join us for an exclusive live webinar, organised by Holborn Assets in cooperation with AtoZSerwisPlus.pt, featuring Jason Swan, Senior Partner of Holborn Assets, Portugal’s foremost expert on investing for the Golden Visa program.

A Brief Overview of Portugal’s Golden Visa Program

Portugal’s Golden Visa program has been the choice of investors worldwide due to its enticing benefits, which include a pathway to Portuguese residency and eventual citizenship by making investments in the country. The program has traditionally required a minimum investment of €350,000 in real estate. However, recent developments have raised questions and concerns among prospective applicants.

President’s Unexpected & Game-Changing Move

In July of this year, the Parliament of Portugal approved the final version of the Golden Visa legislation, which included measures aimed at addressing the housing problem in the country.

However, on August 21, the President vetoed the “More Housing” package, which sought to raise the minimum investment requirement to 500,000 EUR in certain regions.

While this unexpected move from the President means that the Parliament has to reconfirm the proposal, the news has sparked curiosity and confusion among those interested in the program. For this reason, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt is organising this webinar to explain what the move means for potential investors and how they can still qualify for the Golden Visa Progam.

Jason Swan Will Answer All Your Questions

With years of experience and in-depth knowledge of the program, Jason Swan is the go-to resource for anyone seeking clarity and guidance in navigating the changing landscape of the Golden Visa.

Swan will be answering all your questions, from what will happen if you have started the legal process and chosen the investment to what to expect if you are yet to start the process.

What to Expect from the Webinar

1. The Latest Updates: Jason Swan will bring you up to speed on the most recent developments regarding Portugal’s Golden Visa program. Learn what the President’s rejection of the latest changes means for aspiring Golden Visa investors and how it benefits them.
2. Investment Options: Discover the available investment options that can still qualify you for the Golden Visa, even within reaching the minimum investment requirement set at €280,000.
3. Expert Insights: Gain invaluable insights from Jason Swan on how to make the most strategic investment choices for your Golden Visa application.
4. Q&A Session: Get all your questions answered by Jason himself during the live Q&A session.

Reserve Your Spot Today

Don’t miss this opportunity to get all your questions about the Golden Visa program answered and learn how you can still qualify with a minimum investment of €280,000. Register your spot for this exclusive webinar now, organised by Holborn Assets in cooperation with AtoZSerwisPlus.pt, and embark on your journey towards Portuguese residency and citizenship.

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The same data reveals that since the beginning of 2023, the Portuguese consulate in Cape Verde has received some 8,686 applications for long-term visas, and 8,125 or 95.8 per cent of those applications were approved, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Eight months into the year, the Portuguese Embassy issued 1,049 visas for 2022, while the average of visas issued per month until the end of August was 1,085 – considerably higher compared to a maximum of 700 in the last four years.

On the other hand, the rejection rate this year is 4.2 per cent, accounting for 353 visa applications denying entry to Cape Verdean applicants. Compared to previous years, the number of visa applications refused this year is evidently lower, as last year, around 15.9 per cent of applications were denied, while in 2021 and 2020, 42.2 and 23.9 per cent of applicants were rejected, respectively. In pre-pandemic times (2019), the rejection rate for Cape Verdean visa applicants was 29.5 per cent.

Portuguese generosity comes after VFS Global, the company providing visa services, overtook scheduling and sorting requests from the consular section in Praia, where citizens place their work, study, medical, and family reunification visa requests.

The Embassy reveals that work visas are the most requested, and, as a result, 4,948 of those have already been granted, while in the previous years, like 2022, only a total of 1,667 work visa applications were approved. According to the same data, 1,930 study visas and 1,247 in other categories have already been granted this year.

The recognition rate of visa applications filed by Cape Verdeans has also experienced a boost after the Portuguese government adopted a new law that facilitated the issuance of visas for citizens of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP), with Cape Verde being a founding member of this community.

Appointments for document delivery regarding national visas are made on the VFS Global website, which recently opened new facilities located in Praia Shopping, in Quebra Canela, with more branches, more employees, and better waiting conditions.

In addition, applications for short-term visas are filed at the Common Visa Centre (CCV), managed by Portugal, which since 2012 has been issuing such visas on behalf of the Schengen area.

To meet demands for Schengen visa applications, the dates and times for opening new vacancies have been announced – every 15 days. Two months ago, pre-payment of the service fee of non-refundable €40 was also implemented when scheduling national visa applications to avoid hoarding by third parties.

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According to Journal Jurid, all foreigners who have spent a certain time necessary to achieve naturalisation can be subject to this potential change. The Parliament is expected soon to analyse the current legislation and propose changes to the time required for a foreigner to stay in the country to acquire naturalisation, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

“Currently, a foreigner residing in the country has his time count reset when receiving formal authorisation to stay in Portugal,” the Journal Jurid points out.

The interest in Portuguese nationality has risen in the past few years, as the local media report that in 2022, around 37 per cent more people have filed their applications. According to the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF), the total number of applications during this time reached 74,506.

Out of this total, the respective authorities issued 64,040 opinions, with only 911 of those being negative, while the majority received a positive answer. As per the origin countries, the majority of those who obtained Portuguese citizenship in 2022 came from Israel (20,975), followed by Brazil (18,591) and Cape Verde (3662).

However, for the acquisition of nationality in terms of marriage or de facto union, the majority of applications were filed by Brazilian nationals (9,435), followed by Venezuelans (1,536) and Cape Verdeans (900).

Israeli nationals, who are the main nationality group that applied for Portuguese citizenship in recent years, have overtaken Brazil as the largest nationality group that wants to acquire Portuguese nationality, despite the fact that the European country and the South American country have longstanding ties in culture, linguistics as well as history.

What is really interesting about Israelis in Portugal is that, more than often, they don’t reside in the country after obtaining their citizenship. Only 569 Israeli citizens are Portuguese residents despite 60,000 Israelis having Portuguese nationality as of 2022. As per  Brazilians, 239,744 of them continue residing in Portugal after obtaining citizenship.

Some of the benefits that Israelis can enjoy after obtaining Portuguese citizenship include paying less taxes, having better living costs and, in general, spending a less stressful life compared to other countries. However, as pointed out, some disadvantages are the language barrier and lower income.

But one of the greatest benefits of Portuguese citizenship is travelling in the Schengen borderless zone, which Israeli passport holders are still subject to talks for the EU and US visa waiver programmes.

However, the number of Israelis applying for Portuguese citizenship might experience a decrease as 2022 was the last year when they could apply for nationality under the Descendants Policy – a programme that enables Israeli nationals with descendants in the country to acquire Portuguese nationality easier compared to other nationalities.

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More specifically, the number of passengers coming to the Azores was up by 9.7 per cent compared to the same time last year, while passenger arrivals through interisland routes were most common, as 137,670 people came to the country, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Furthermore, the number of passenger arrivals by air was very high – 259,916, surpassing 2022 figures. Passengers on international flights increased by 20.5 per cent compared to the same period last year, with a total of 43,391 arrivals.

The same data show that all islands in the archipelago showed positive monthly year-on-year variations in passenger arrivals in August, with even Graciosa island having a growth of 0.1 per cent, with four more passengers than in 2022.

However, the most evident increase in the number of arrivals was recorded in Sao Miguel – as 12.1 per cent more passengers arrived, followed by Santa Maria (9.4 per cent), Flores (9.3 per cent) and Pico (8.7 per cent). Corvo also saw a surge of 7.4 per cent in new arrivals, followed by Sao Jorge at seven per cent, Terceira at 6.7 per cent and Faial at 5.1 per cent.

Tourism is one of the most important industries in Portugal, where a good share of the population is employed. Portugal’s accommodation, catering, and related activities sectors saw a significant increase in employment, marking a total number of 332,400 workers in the second quarter of 2023.

TravelBI data show that the number of workers in this industry has increased by 28.8 per cent, while the workforce in the accommodation and similar sectors represented 6.7 per cent of the overall economy for the year’s second quarter. That is up by 0.4 percentage points compared to Q2 2022.

Statista data shows that in 2021, the Portuguese tourism sector witnessed a decrease in its workforce, with about 332,400 fewer employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This accounts for a 1.9 per cent decline compared to figures in the previous year. The country was home to around 74,000 active tourism companies during the same period.

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According to the National Statistics Institute (INE), around 117,000 passengers arrived during July, up from 104,300 passengers recorded at the same time last year, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The number of passengers has also increased compared to 2019 levels when no COVID-19 restrictions were imposed, showing a surge of 11.1 per cent in arrivals.

Furthermore, the Quick Air Transport statistics reveal that in July, seven million passengers and tons of cargo and mail moved through national airports, showing an increase of 12.5 per cent in passengers and a 5.7 per cent drop in cargo and mail transports. Compared to July 2019, there were increases of 10.8 per cent and 1.5 per cent, in the same order.

As per the first half of the year, between January and July, the number of passengers increased by 25.2 per cent compared to last year. On the other hand, the movement of cargo witnessed a decrease of 1.3 per cent. Once again, comparing 2022 levels to 2019, there were increases of 11.8 and 8.2 per cent in cargo moved, respectively.

In the seventh month of the year, around 81 per cent of passengers that arrived in Portugal corresponded to international traffic, for a total of three million passengers and 69 per cent of them came from the European continent – 13 per cent more than in July 2022.

Americans were the second-largest nationality to visit Portugal in July, representing 8.6 per cent of all arrivals – some 9.1 per cent more than in 2022. Airports on the American continent were the second leading destination for passengers, accounting for 9.8 per cent of the total and experiencing a surge of 13.6 per cent.

Most arrivals came to Porto airport, which received 22.4 per cent of total passengers – 25.7 per cent more than in the previous year, while Faro Airport experienced a 19.2 per cent increase in arrivals.

As per the volume of passengers that boarded international flights between January and July, the majority of those came from the United Kingdom, followed by those from France and Spain.

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The Residency by Investment Scheme brought to Portugal more than €32.8 million last month. Still, the figures were 12.5 per cent below those registered during the same month last year, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The Golden Visa Program dedicated to wealthy foreign investors brought over €493 million for a period from January until August this year, or 24 per cent more than those registered in the same period last year.

Among the top beneficiaries of the golden visa are the citizens of the United States, followed by China and Brazil. Besides, six golden visas were granted to citizens of Russia and another six to Turkey.

For a period from October 2012 until August 2023, a total of 12,561 residence permits were granted. The main beneficiaries were the citizens from the following countries:

• China 5,383,
• Brazil (1,246)
• USA (741)
• Turkey (603)
• South Africa (561)

The total investment amounts to over €7,247 million, of which 6,401 million was for the acquisition of real estate (11,284) and a total of 653 million for urban rehabilitation (1,830) for golden visas.

According to a report from Portugal News, the transfer pre-capital reached €846 million, 1,255 were granted, and the creation of jobs was responsible for the granting of 22 ARI.

Up to this point, visas have been issued to a total of 20,241 reunited family members.

Authorities in Portugal are attempting to apply new changes to the Golden Visa Program. In July, the government of Portugal approved new changes to this scheme, part of more Housing scheme, which, among others, included the termination of new residence permits for investment in housing and the option to transfer at least €1.5 million into a Portuguese bank account.

Still, such changes needed the approval of the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who had 20 days to decide in this regard.

However, the bill was rejected by the President; thus, it needs to undergo amendments in Parliament before it can be passed, which will take at least another month.

Through a letter addressed to the Assembly together with the bill, the President urged for more modifications to be made before the legislation is brought again to him for final approval.

The President considered unclear how the promised results would be achieved, calling it a poor initial response to a need that time has made dramatic, crucial and extremely urgent.

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The Bank of Portugal data shows that emigrants sent around €381.2 million in July 2022, some six million more than in 2023, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Despite the drop in July, remittances from emigrants in the first seven months of the year have totalled almost €2.3 billion, which is above €2.2 billion recorded between January and July of 2022.

On the other hand, the funds sent by foreigners working in Portugal increased by 14.3 per cent, from €46.6 million in July last year to €53.3 million in July this year. Moreover, Lusophone immigrants working in Portugal sent €3.8 million to their countries, representing a drop of 9.8 per cent compared to the €3.4 million sent in July last year.

However, the Portuguese budget is getting surplus by remittances and selling real estate properties. According to Statistics Portugal, 33,624 houses were sold in the second quarter of the year, with 31,089 purchased by residents and the remaining 7.6 per cent of all houses sold to foreign buyers, representing a 23.8 per cent increase compared to the previous year.

Purchases by tax resident buyers included in the other countries category were up by 10.8 per cent to 1,361 properties.

With regard to the amount invested in the acquisition of houses by citizens residing in Portugal, it surpassed €6 billion. This amount includes the amount spent by foreign citizens of the EU, which is around €349.2 million and other countries €522.1 million.

The high interest in Portuguese houses can be related to the Golden Visa Programme, which allows third-country nationals to obtain a visa by making a certain amount of investment in the country, thus having full access to the Schengen area.

However, just recently, the President of Portugal voted for the abolishment of the programme, and it has now passed without changes.

Once the new law enters force, new requests for granting residence visas for investment activities will not be accepted, which will not affect the possibility of renewing authorisations already granted.

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However, the opportunity to renew authorisations will not be affected, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

In July, Portugal’s government approved new changes to this program, including the abolishment of new residence permits for investment in housing as well as the option to transfer at least €1.5 million into a Portuguese bank account.

But the bill needed the approval of the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who had 20 days to decide regarding the issue.

Last month, the President rejected the proposal, meaning that it needed to go under amendments in Parliament before it could be passed, but the bill now passed without any changes.

However, requests for the granting as well as renewal of residence permits for investment activities continue to remain valid, taking into account those that are pending prior control procedures in municipal councils once the law becomes effective.

Besides, the granting or renewal of residence permits for family reunification has also been excluded from the adoption limitation.

According to the Portugal News report, the opposition parties introduced over 320 amendment proposals for voting in the plenary, but all of them were rejected by the socialist deputies as well as other parliamentary groups.

The Golden Visa scheme of Portugal allows foreign investors to acquire residency if they meet the needed conditions and invest financially in this country.

In spite of the new changes that the country attempts to include in this scheme, the country continues to issue a significant number of these kinds of visas. In August, a total of 64 golden visas were issued by Portuguese authorities, of them 42 were for the acquisition of real estate.

Last month, over €32.8 million were brought to Portugal through the Residency by Investment Scheme, known as the Golden Visa Program.

However, the figures were 12.5 per cent below those recorded during the same month in 2022. In addition, the scheme brought €493 million to Portugal, for a period from January until August this year, or 24 per cent more compared to the same period last year’s figures.

The More Housing Program was introduced previously by the government as part of efforts to tackle the housing crisis and help regulate the real estate market.

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Compared to the previous academic year, 2021/2022, the number of students enrolled has increased by three per cent, which converts to 12,811 more students this year – AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

However, the statistics indicate that the number of enrolled students has been sharply increasing since the 2015/2016 academic year by twenty-four per cent as in this academic year, the number of students enrolled grew to 358,450.

According to the data released by The Directorate-General For Education And Science Statistics (DGEEC) for the 2022/2023 academic year, a total of 446,000 students registered in higher school education institutions, of which 359,397 registered in public higher education and 86,631 registered in private higher education.

Furthermore, within public higher education, 223,564 students chose university higher education institutions, whereas 135,833 chose polytechnic higher education institutions.

Moreover, a rise in the number of students enrolled in the Master’s and Doctoral programs is evident – which is supported by data that show that 82,610 students enrolled in Master’s programs and 25,202 in Doctoral programs.

Out of more than 446,028 registered students, 155,082 registered for the first time in the first year.

Additionally, in the group of first-year enrollees, there was a greater representation of women than men in a wide range of academic fields, whereas male students were more dominant in disciplines such as “Information and Communication Technologies,” “Engineering, Manufacturing, and Construction” and “Services.”

Moreover, 17,822 students participated in international credit mobility initiatives like the Erasmus Program, emphasising the rising trend in the post-pandemic era.

Portugal’s appeal to international students was apparent, as it welcomed 74,597 students from abroad into its higher education system, forming 17 per cent of the overall enrollment.

This result boosts Portugal’s confidence in achieving its long-term education goals to have 60 per cent of 20-year-olds enrolled in higher education by 2030 and 50 per cent of people aged 30 to 34 with college degrees.

Previously, in February last year, it was reported that over 44 per cent of the population in Portugal currently holds a higher education degree, highlighting the nation’s dedication to educational excellence.

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In response to the infringement procedure launched by the EU Commission against Portugal, Secretary Antunes said that the country will continue to apply the CPLP mobility regime, meaning that CPLP citizens will continue to be subject to facilitated rules when applying for a visa.

The same authority said that Portugal is surprised by the decision of the EU Commission to open an infringement procedure as there is no incompatibility between the two regimes, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

As Publico explains, Secretary Antunes further highlighted that the country would not have adopted facilitated rules if they thought they were not in line with the Schengen regime.

In addition, he assured everyone that Portugal will continue to apply the CPLP mobility regime “within a framework of total legality.”

CPLP immigrants in Portugal previously complained over mobility restrictions, saying that despite being subject to facilitated visa application rules, the document does not permit them to travel outside Portugal.

Calling Portugal an open-air prison for those who arrive on a CPLP visa, Timóteo Macedo, from the Association for the Defense of Immigrants’ Rights, said that freedom of movement does not exist. The same called on the authorities to take measures on the matter.

On the other hand, Secretary Antunes said that there is no such thing as incompatibility, emphasising that the doubts raised by the Commission are based on the complaints made by an individual who has already received a clarification from the authorities.

Following complaints, the EU Commission considered that Portugal does not comply with the EU obligations that establish a uniform model of residence permits for third-country nationals and with the Schengen agreement on free movement, Publico notes.

The President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, has also rejected the incompatibility between the Portuguese and European visa regimes.

He said that the country has already explained several times that there is no clash between the two regimes.

In contrast, the Chega parliamentary group said that it would submit a request to the Parliament to revoke the CPLP mobility agreement, saying that this was “always nonsense and deception.”

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The law now will be addressed to the Parliament and the government for signatures before being published. The law will become effective within four to eight days, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Among the changes is abolishing real estate investment options through this program, which permitted international investments from €280,000 and more. However, the possibility of renewing authorisations is still eligible.

It means that acquiring residency in Portugal via the Residency by Investment scheme from now on is possible in the following ways:

• Creation of ten jobs or more
• Transfer of capital equal to or more than €500,000 applied to research activities by public or private scientific institutions
• Transfer of capital of €250,000 or more applied to investment or support for artistic production, recovery or maintenance of national cultural heritage through direct administration services, public institutes and public foundations, among others
• Transferring €500,000 or greater in capital intended for the acquisition of shares in collective investment organisms, also taking into account specific types of funds part of the Portuguese law
• A capital transfer exceeding €500,000 is intended for the incorporation of a commercial company with a registered office in the national territory together with the creation of five permanent jobs or for the reinforcement of the share of capital of a commercial company registered in the country.

The Golden Visa Program of Portugal allows internationals to acquire residency by financially contributing to this country. However, recently, Portugal has been dealing with the housing crisis, with the country’s authorities attempting to manage the situation.

Among the measures was the introduction of the “More Housing” bill, approved by the Parliament on July 19. Part of the law was also the termination of the possibility to acquire residency through real estate investment and the option to transfer €1.5 million or more into a Portuguese bank account.

But the bill was now approved by the President of Portugal, who had 20 days in order to make a decision in this regard. The rejection by President de Sousa meant that it needed to undergo changes in Parliament before it could be passed. However, recently, the bill was passed without any modifications.

The program is among the most famous ones in Europe when it comes to residency and citizenship schemes, in spite of the fact that it was often subject to criticism for being involved in illegal affairs.  In August alone, more than €32.8 million were brought to the country through this scheme.

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According to the Nazare Council, the attraction broke the record of two million visitors earlier this week and has paved the way for the destination to become ’a global reference’ for its contemplation of nature as well as big waves at Praia do Norte, which is a must-stop for surfers, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The Nazare Canyon Interpretive Center was opened in May 2015 and intends to transmit scientific information about the phenomenon that creates the giant waves – for which this area is known. The fort is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is open for international visitors.

Portuguese tourism is set to grow to new heights, as the first seven months of the year have been particularly good.

The period between January and July has been one of the best in the country’s tourism history, as the Secretary of State for Tourism, Nuno Fazeda, pointed out.

Data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE) reveals that from January to July, 16.8 million people have visited Portugal, recording 42.8 million overnight stays. This means that the number of nights spent by tourists has increased by ten per cent compared to the same month in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

In addition, tourists to Portugal generated €3.2 billion for the country’s wallet during this period – once again surpassing 2019 levels by some 39 per cent.

During July this year, the average revenue per occupied room peaked at €137.9, increasing by nearly ten per cent, surpassing the figures of August 2022 (which stood at €136). The average revenue per occupied room reached record-breaking highs this July, while the revenues generated from overnight stays in all hotel facilities surged, totalling 41.8 per cent.

Fazeda concluded that the data showcases that the tourism sector has fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic and it is demonstrating excellence as well as resilience. In addition, Porto was awarded as the Best European Destination for Urban Getaways, while Algarve received recognition for being the Best Beach Destination in Europe, and some other destinations were also acclaimed in several categories by the World Travel Awards.

Tourism plays an important role in Portugal’s economy as it represented around 15 per cent of the country’s cross domestic product (GDP) in pre-pandemic times. British tourists are especially important for Portuguese tourism, as it is the main source market, closely followed by visitors from the Spanish and American markets.

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According to rankings by the World Travel Awards, Portugal has collected a total of 22 awards this year, being acclaimed for its airline, resorts, hotels as well as tourism spots, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

More specifically, Passadiços do Paiva (Arouca UNESCO Global Geopark) has been awarded as Europe’s Leading Adventure Tourist Attraction for the sixth consecutive year, or ever since this category was introduced by the World Travel Awards in 2018. Similarly, TAP Air Portugal has been recognised as Europe’s Leading Airline to Africa and South America for the ninth consecutive year, making this airline an undisputable winner in these two categories.

Portugal also managed to snatch the award for Europe’s leading All-Inclusive Resort, which was granted to Pestana Porto Santo All-Inclusive for the second year in a row. Portuguese resorts have been Europe’s leading all-inclusive resorts since 2016, while in 2014, they took the award from the Turkish Concorde De Luxe Resort.

Portugal also remains a non-contestant winner for Europe’s Leading Beach Destination as it has been recognised for its Algarve beaches since 2012, only losing this title once to Oludeniz, Turkiye (2011) and Corfu (2014) as well as Peloponnese, Greece (2018).

Verride Palacio Santa Catarina managed to return to Portugal with the award for Europe’s Leading Boutique Hotel after having it taken from Kivotos Mykonos, Greece (2022) and Sunborn Yacht Hotel London, England (2021).

This year, the award for Europe’s Leading City Break Destination went to Porto, Portugal, while in 2022, Lisbon received this award. In general, this award was shared between destinations like Istanbul, London, Geneva, Lyon, Athens, and Saint Petersburg, as well as Porto and Lisbon in Portugal.

Lisbon was also recognised as Europe’s Leading City Destination for 2023, taking this award from Porto, which was awarded one year prior.

Furthermore, Lisbon Cruise Port in Portugal, once again, was selected as the Leading Cruise Port of the Year, making it the eighth time in a row for this cruise port to receive this award.

In addition, Portugal was awarded for the Leadins Island Resort, Landmark Hotel, Lifestyle Resort as well as Luxury Boutique Hotel.

The Luxury Business Hotel, Resort Vullas, Sports Resort, and Villa Resort for the Year all are awarded to Portugal, while the country was also recognised for having Europe’s Leading Wine Region Hotel, as well as for the Most Romantic Resort and Responsible Tourism Award.

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The 30th edition of the World Travel Awards took place on September 29 in Batumi, Georgia. Besides the “Europe’s leading city break destination” award, numerous other awards were presented during the ceremony. These awards recognised the best and leading destinations, attractions and airlines from around the world, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

According to the list that the World Travel Awards published, Porto was nominated next to 11 other destinations in Europe, all competing for the same award, which are as follows: Amsterdam, Netherlands; Athens, Greece; Berlin, Germany; Copenhagen, Denmark; Dublin, Ireland; Geneva, Switzerland; Lisbon, Portugal; London, England; Paris, France; Rome, Italy and Venice, Italy.

So far, Porto has won the “Europe’s Leading City Break Destination in 2023” award for the third time, previously taking home the honour in 2013 and 2020. Winning three times shows Porto is a top pick for European city breaks, making it a must-visit known for its culture and history.

Porto winning this award for the third time does not come as a coincidence.  According to InvestPorto, the city’s investment promotion agency, the number of tourist guests in Porto reached a historic number of 3.7 million in 2019.

Moreover, in August of last year, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reported that Porto ranked as Europe’s most affordable city for students. These data demonstrate Porto’s consistent commitment to attracting visitors and making it a great place to visit.

With Porto’s win for the third time, it is proven that the city is a must-visit for anyone looking for a fantastic European city break experience. This award is proof of the city’s strong appeal and attractions, famous for its rich culture and history.

Furthermore, in recent years, this prestigious award was claimed by Lisbon, Portugal, in 2022, and Saint Petersburg, Russia, in 2021.

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The Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa announced the move, which offers benefits for a ten-year period for people who move to the country, while income earned in Portugal remains subject to a 20 per cent tax rate. The income from abroad is generally exempted from such taxation, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

On the other hand, Portuguese citizens who do not benefit from the scheme can be obliged to pay up to 48 per cent in taxes. PM Costa called the scheme a ‘fiscal injustice’.

“It is no longer justified and is a biased way of inflating the housing market, which has reached unsustainable prices,” Prime Minister António Costa

The scheme was initially introduced to attract visitors and professionals to Portugal, but its success is causing residents to suffer from housing and financial crisis.

A report from Eurostat explains that Portugal is the fifth country in Europe for the highest house price index, around 190.17, falling behind Lithuania, Iceland, Czechia and Hungary.

In addition, data by Eurostat show that the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), which refers to the measure of inflation in the European Union (EU) and reflects change over time in the prices paid by households for a representative basket of goods and services, is generally low for Portugal.

In general, Portugal has the sixth cheapest prices of HICP – around 113.03 for 2022, falling behind Iceland, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus and Switzerland.

The most recent data for HICP, which was recorded in June, shows that Portugal had a rate of 119.79, being ranked seventh in Europe.

Living standards have experienced a drop compared to the European Union average, with the weight of taxation being one of the key factors, as a study by the Faculty of Economics of Porto has revealed.

The study also shows that “the weight of wealth-generating factors in GDP has shrunk in favour of taxes and contributions, unlike the EU, also helping to explain our lower economic growth, as it is necessary to first generate wealth before sharing it. Faculty of Economics of Porto

The same revealed that the share of the State has been increasingly going up, with the maximum tax burden of 36.4 per cent of GDP in 2022, which, after it is related to the standard of living, is converted into a tax effort of 17 per cent above the EU average, placing the country in the fifth highest position in the region.

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The awards ceremony took place on the evening of Friday, September 29, 2023, in the culturally rich city of Batumi, located in the heart of Georgia, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

For the past six years, Passadiços do Paiva has retained the title, and this year, it faced competition from popular attractions such as Chamonix-Mont-Blanc in France, Kalevala in Poland, The Fragas de São Simão Walkways in Portugal, and The Matterhorn in Zermatt, Switzerland.

Along with this award, Portugal won 17 other European awards in different categories.

Known as “The Paiva Walkways,” the captivating destination in Arouca, Portugal, offers an eight-kilometre wooden walkway that winds its way alongside the Pavia River. The pathway’s twists and turns make it an appealing spot for tourists looking to explore the natural beauty of the area.

The influx of tourists to Passadiços do Paiva has steadily increased in recent years. In 2015, it welcomed approximately 300,000 visitors, but by 2021, this number had surged to 1.2 million, clearly reflecting the upward trend in tourism in the area.

When visiting Passadiços do Paiva, one can explore a history spanning over a thousand years and uncover captivating geosites. The Paiva Walkways grant access to two recreational areas and a spot for a refreshing dip, ensuring travellers can cool off at the beginning, middle, and end of their trip.

Beginning the adventure from Areinho proves to be a strategic decision as it enables one to tackle the most demanding part of the hike right from the start, preventing exhaustion later on.

The entire trail extends over a distance of 8.7 kilometres in one direction, and it doubles for visitors deciding to go back and forth.

For a peaceful hiking experience, setting out in the early morning proves to be one of the most peaceful times to explore its beauty and avoid the crowds.

Visitors have the option to secure their tickets at the town centre, referred to as Loja Interativa de Turismo de Arouca. Alternatively, they may choose to purchase their tickets before entering. The daily visitor limit is, however, restricted to 2500 individuals.

“Europe’s Leading Adventure Tourist Attraction” welcomes visitors year-round, yet it truly shines in the warmer seasons, particularly during the splendid days of spring and the serene days of autumn. Given that there are limited shaded areas along the trail, opting for an excursion during these seasons is a wiser choice.

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The archipelago of four islands emerged as the top favourite island destination in a competition with another 12 other European destinations shortlisted in the same category.

The World Travel Awards have been recognising merit in travel and tourism since 1993. This year, on September 29, they marked their 30th edition with a celebration held in Batumi, Georgia. 

Appreciation was given to excellent airlines, destinations, and attractions from across the world through awards for the best and leading performers, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports. 

In the running for the award, the Madeira Islands were in competition with 12 other European candidates: 

1. Azores Islands
2. Canary Islands
3. Crete, Greece
4. Cyclades, Aegean Islands, Greece
5. Cyprus
6. Guernsey, Channel Islands
7. Ibiza, Spain
8. Jersey, Channel Islands
9. Mallorca, Spain
10. Malta
11. Sardinia, Italy
12. Sicily, Italy

Madeira Islands have a history of receiving nominations in two categories as the archipelago has succeeded in winning nine awards in the Europe’s Leading Destination category, along with another eight wins in the category of World’s Leading Island Destination.

Madeira Islands have been consistently present on the international stage of travel excellence, securing a total of 16 nominations in different categories since 2013, in categories such as World’s Leading Island Destination 2013, Europe’s Leading Beach Destination 2021 and World’s Leading Tourist Board 2022.

In addition to the recent award, it’s worth noting that in April of last year, European Best Destinations, as reported by AtoZSerwisPlus.pt, published a list of the top ten destinations in Europe that offer the best hotels, restaurants, and activities for tourists, with, Madeira Islands’ ranking third on this prestigious list. 

According to data from the Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira, in 2022, the city marked a record year in tourism with 1.8 million total guests and overnight stays nearly doubled to 9.6 million from the previous year. 

In December 2022 alone, there were 124.6 thousand guests, generating a total number of 663.1 thousand overnight stays. Both Portuguese and foreign visitors contributed to this growth, with a 63.9 per cent increase in Portuguese guests and a 43.1 per cent rise in foreign guests compared to December 2019 over the same month.

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Data by the Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira (DREM) shows that most new residents hold residence permits, with only one being a long-term visa holder, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Venezuelan citizens are the main nationality group residing in Madeira, representing 19.7 per cent of the population or a total of 2,323 inhabitants. However, DREM points out that the number of foreigners of Venezuelan nationality fell by 1.3 per cent between 2021 and 2022, from 2,353 to 2,323 people.

Brits follow second with 1,391 inhabitants, accounting for 11.8 per cent of the population, while Germans represent the remaining 9.4 per cent (1,108). Altogether with Brazilians (1,391) and Italians (648), these five nationalities account for 6,556 inhabitants or 55.6 per cent of the whole population in Madeira as of December 2022.

The highest increase in population groups is noticed among Germans, who have recorded a 24.5 per cent increase, accounting for 218 more Germans holding a residence permit. In 2021, there were 888 Germans living in Madeira, which number rose to 1,106 in the following year.

DREM notes that Germans were the main drivers of the increase in the foreign population between 2021 and 2022, adding around 2.1 percentage points to the 13.3 per cent increase in population.

DREM data also revealed that the resident population in Madeira is finally heading upward after decreasing drastically between 2012 and 2018. More specifically, the population started dropping from 264,700 in 2012 to 261,700 in the following year to plummet in 2018, with 14,300 fewer inhabitants and a decrease of 5.4 per cent recorded in a six-year period.

In 2019, the number of inhabitants in Madeira started recovering – recording a 0.11 per cent increase – some 300 more inhabitants than in 2018. In the following year, the population rose by 0.47 per cent – from 250,700 to 251,900, then to 252,700, to peak at 253,300 in 2022.

The population in Madeira rose by 1.15 per cent from 2018 to 2022, accounting for 2,900 more inhabitants on the island. The numbers increased especially during the post-pandemic period, scoring more than one percentage point increase during this period (2020-2022).

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The same shows that Lisbon and the Algarve are Portugal’s property growth hot spots, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The Property Market Index reveals that throughout the country, prices have increased to an average of 6.5 per cent in the last 12 months. However, in the Algarve, values have surged more than 15 per cent during the same time.

In Portugal’s capital, as well as towns such as Cascais, Estoril, Comporta, and Sintra, properties have also increased in value.

The report shows that Portugal benefits from “the triple-whammy of international investment, regeneration and tax incentives for affluent expats.”

The lack of new construction is among the main factors affecting prices, according to the Mansion Global report, while the data from the National Statistics Institute showed that housing stock was shrinking, with ten houses sold for every new one built for a period between 2018 and 2022.

According to the Property Market-Index report, Algarve’s Quinta do Lago was ranked as the top property hot spot, taking into account several factors, such as investment potential, infrastructure, and cultural offerings, among others.

Prices in this territory have increased by over 28 per cent since 2020 and are expected to increase another 19 per cent by 2025.

Portugal’s Golden Visa Program made a significant contribution to the country’s economy when it comes to the acquisition of real estate, in particular.

Since October 2012, when the program was first introduced until July 2023, a total of 12,497 golden visas were issued by authorities in this country. The main beneficiaries from this scheme are investors from China (5,366), Brazil (1,221), the United States (729), Turkey (584) and South Africa (534)

During this period, nearly €7.2 billion have been brought to Portugal’s economy.

Besides, in August this year, there were issued 64 golden visas; of them, 42 were for the acquisition of real estate. The scheme brought more than €32.8 million to the country during the same period.

However, earlier this month, the scheme experienced some new changes, which have been approved by the country’s President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, as part of the “More Housing” program.

Among them is the abolishment of real estate investment options from this program.

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Announcing the news, the Portuguese government said that all those who hold medical degrees issued by foreign institutions will have access to a “special recognition regime” aimed at hiring doctors for the country’s National Health Service, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The decision of Portugal to accelerate the recognition of foreign medical degrees comes amid the ongoing work shortage that the country is experiencing in the healthcare sector.

Taking into account the current situation, the government notes that it is important to make changes to the current laws that the country has.

Moreover, it notes that the country should be more open to hiring foreign health professionals, regardless of whether they have obtained their degree from a Portuguese education institution or not.

As the government explains, the country has taken several steps in recent years to make the process of recognition simpler. However, not everyone has been subject to facilitated recognition rules as the country has mainly focused on those having a degree in the area of science, technology, and health.

As part of its measures, the government emphasises that Portugal will now automatically recognise foreign degrees that have already been accepted by an EU Member State.

This means that if Germany, for example, has recognised a medical degree issued by a foreign education institution, Portugal will automatically recognise it, too, without requiring the holder to undergo any additional procedures.

Portugal is just one of the EU countries that has decided to facilitate the rules for foreign healthcare workers due to shortages.

Previously, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reported that Spain’s capital, Madrid, will now permit non-EU doctors to work without holding Spanish nationality.

By making such changes, the authorities of Spain aim to attract more non-EU workers to provide services in all kinds of specialities, especially in the ones that have reported the most significant shortages, such as paediatrics and family medicine.

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According to INE, the Government Office for National Statistics of Portugal, the guests spent around 10.1 million overnight stays in Portugal in the same month, leading to the highest monthly revenue ever recorded, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

This number of guests translates into a total revenue of €878.3 million, marking a 10.4 per cent increase compared to August 2022, with €709.8 million coming from accommodation.

On the other hand, when compared to August 2019, the increase was more significant – 37.6 per cent.

Additionally, the data reveals the differences in revenues per available room (RevPAR) and the daily average rate (ADR) between 2023 and 2019. In 2023, the RevPAR stood at €108.8, marking a 6.8 per cent increase, while the ADR reached €147.8, reflecting an 8.7 per cent increase compared to 2019.

Comparing the numbers to August 2019, certain municipalities contributed the most to total overnight stays.

Lisbon, which accounted for 14.9 per cent of the total, saw a 4.3 per cent increase in overnight stays. Albufeira, comprising 11.9 per cent of the total, fell short of 2019 levels, experiencing a decrease of 12.3 per cent.

In contrast, Porto, making up 6.5 per cent of the total, experienced a significant increase with a 29.1 per cent increase in overnight stays.

In addition to the above-mentioned, INE revealed that, from January to August 2023, there were 22.2 million guests and 59.1 million overnight stays, showing significant growth of 14.4 per cent and 11.6 per cent in overnight stays compared to the same period last year.

On the other hand, compared to the same period in 2019, overnight stays increased by 8.4 per cent in the first eight months of this year, with locals and non-residents contributing to this growth.

Moreover, in August 2023, there was a substantial year-on-year increase of 13.2 per cent in the number of passengers at national airports compared to August 2022, marking a historic high.

Additionally, between January and August 2023, there was a notable 23.1 per cent increase in the number of passengers compared to the same period in 2022.

These impressive numbers in overnight stays and passenger numbers come as no surprise.

Previously, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reported that Portugal received Europe’s Leading Destination Award for 2023, the second consecutive year. Portugal has collected 22 awards this year, acclaimed for its hotels, airlines, and tourism spots among many others.

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In March of this year, Portugal also announced a six-month extension to the temporary protection of Ukrainian refugees.

Based on data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, from the beginning of the conflict until April 6, Portugal has provided temporary protection to a total of 56,990 individuals, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Meanwhile, the European Commission revealed that in March, Portugal granted temporary protection to 58,414 individuals who have been displaced from Ukraine, including 34,099 women and 24,315 men.

Such data show that minors comprise 25 per cent of the total Ukrainian refugees receiving temporary protection in Portugal.

In terms of location, the municipalities that provide the most temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees are as follows:

• Lisbon (12,461)
• Cascais (3,714)
• Porto (2,995)
• Sintra (1,970)
• Albufeira (1,448)

In July 2023, the Portuguese Immigration and Border Service (SEF) reported a decline in the number of Ukrainian refugees in the past two months, with over 4,000 individuals having already departed.

According to SEF’s data, nearly 2,000 Ukrainians had requested the cancellation of their applications for temporary protection. At that time, there were 58,191 pending permits for temporary protection. Further data from SEF pointed out that it was seen a decrease of 1,663 permits, bringing the total number of existing permits for temporary protection to 56,528.

Previously, the EU Commission put forth a proposal to extend the temporary protection provided to Ukrainian refugees. The same authority said that this extension would cover the period from March 4, 2024, to March 3, 2025, to ensure their safety and provide assistance to over four million protection beneficiaries across the EU.

As the recent figures from the European Office for Statistics, Eurostat, revealed, as of August this year, almost 4.2 million non-EU citizens who fled Ukraine due to the war have been granted temporary protection in EU member states.

Eurostat also highlighted that Germany has taken in the largest share among the EU countries offering temporary protection to Ukrainian refugees, with 1,175,695 individuals, constituting 28 per cent of the total.

Poland issued the second-highest number of permits to Ukrainians, providing support to 960,550 beneficiaries, which accounts for 23 per cent of the total. Meanwhile, Czechia has offered assistance to 365,085 people, marking nine per cent of the overall number.

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The government of Portugal recently announced that starting in 2024, it plans to abolish the NHS tax regime, which gives foreigners the opportunity to benefit from reduced tax rates on income for a period of ten years,AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The decision was initiated with the aim of helping improve the housing market in the country.

While announcing the new changes, Portugal’s Prime Minister, Antonio Costa, considered that the non-habitual residents (NHR) is a measure of fiscal injustice and its maintenance is no longer justified after it has served its purpose and will only contribute to increasing housing prices, according to the Portugal News.

“In 2024, special taxation for non-habitual residents will end. Whoever has it will keep it,” Antonio Costa.

However, the PM clarified that internationals already in the country who have this tax advantage will be eligible to benefit from it for the duration of their 10-year term.

According to the consulting firm Portugal Pathways, new applicants are required to submit their request by December 31, 2023, and also complete their application or approval by March 31, 2024.

Local media have reported that this deadline triggered a new influx of remote work lovers who want to take advantage of this tax scheme while it is still available.

Among the main benefits brought from the NHR scheme is the opportunity to be excluded from income tax on certain types of foreign income for ten years, taking into account pensions, dividends, and royalties.

Furthermore, the potential for double tax relief is another benefit that attracts internationals interested in the NHR program.

Still, Portugal will introduce an NHR tax regime alternative for scientific research and innovation starting next year, permitting various professions to benefit from a ten-year income tax reduction.

Portugal is among the favourite countries for digital nomads, especially its capital, bringing each year a large number of internationals planning to live and work in this country.

The government’s decision to put an end to these tax schemes came amid concerns over the increasing cost of living and real estate prices in Portugal. Similar reasons led the country to also apply changes to its Residency by Investment scheme, known as the Golden Visa.

Recently, as part of the “More Housing” program, the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, approved new changes to the Golden Visa Program, which, among others, included the abolishment of the real estate options from this scheme.

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The Long-Haul Travel Barometer gathers insights into the travel intentions of long-haul travellers by conducting 1,000 online interviews across six prominent markets, comprising Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, and the United States, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Following Portugal, other popular destinations among Brazilians include France at 37 per cent, Italy at 34 per cent, Spain at 26 per cent, and Germany at 18 per cent.

According to the survey findings, when Brazilians choose Portugal as their travel destination, their preferred activity is to immerse themselves in its rich culture and history, which is the choice of 47 per cent of the respondents.

Gastronomic experiences closely follow, appealing to 42 per cent of those surveyed, while city life activities, such as exploring street art, secure the third spot, with 37 per cent of Brazilian travellers.

The deep historical and cultural connection between Brazilians and the Portuguese makes Portugal feel like a second home for Brazilian travellers due to their shared language and heritage.

Portugal’s allure lies in its rich history, diverse landscapes, and welcoming people. From ancient castles to beaches and vibrant cities, the country offers a unique blend of experiences.

Its cuisine, featuring dishes like seafood soupy rice and sweet egg tarts, adds another layer of charm for travellers.

Lately, however, there has been a growing interest among Brazilian respondents in contemplating Croatia as their travel destination for the period between September and December 2023, surpassing the levels recorded during the same timeframe in 2022.

The shift in travel preferences is not limited to the destination but extends to their choice of transportation, as there has been a notable shift in Brazilians’ preferences for cross-country travel services.

Low-cost flights have gained significant popularity, overtaking other options for the first time and showing a remarkable 13 per cent increase compared to the previous year.

Conversely, there has been a ten per cent rise in the demand for full-service flights compared to the previous year, and the trend suggests a more diverse range of travellers, with a noteworthy portion hailing from more affluent backgrounds.

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Both EU destinations have seen a noteworthy increase in Chinese travellers, becoming two new popular destinations for upcoming trips between September and December 2023, in contrast to the same period in 2022, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

On the other hand, similar to the previous year, France remains the top choice for Chinese travellers, with 47 per cent of the 1,000 respondents including it in their autumn 2023 itineraries, according to the latest Long-Haul Travel Barometer survey by the European Travel Commission (ETC).

The ETC conducts 1,000 online interviews in each of the six key markets—Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, and the United States—with the aim of understanding the travel intentions of long-haul travellers.

Chinese travellers have also shown a growing interest in exploring less popular destinations, including Bulgaria, Iceland, Sweden, and Ireland. Notably, some of these destinations were not among the top choices back in the autumn of 2019.

Following France, other destinations favoured by Chinese travellers include Germany, chosen by 23 per cent, and Italy and Denmark, both tied for third place at 20 per cent.

Austria follows closely at 19 per cent, while Switzerland, Greece, and Finland share the fifth most preferred destination spot among Chinese respondents with 13 per cent each.

When travelling to Europe, Chinese travellers expressed their preference for gastronomy experiences, with 40 per cent of respondents favouring this choice.

Specifically, the younger Chinese respondents aged 18-34 and 35-49, planning to visit Europe between September and December 2023, have a strong focus on savouring local cuisine and participating in cooking classes.

City life activities, such as street art, culture, and history, closely followed at 32 per cent, while nature-based activities, such as tourism and hiking, also drew significant interest, chosen by 29 per cent of the respondents.

Luxury shopping held a lower level of appeal, as it was the preferred activity for only 17 per cent of the respondents, making it the least favoured choice among Chinese travellers considering a trip to Europe.

In terms of transportation, the majority of Chinese respondents, roughly 83 per cent, plan to travel between European countries using full-service flights. An additional 29 per cent consider low-cost flights as an option.

Furthermore, train passes were the second choice among Chinese travellers, slightly lower at 25 per cent, while motorhomes, including campervans and truck campers, were the least preferred option, selected by only seven per cent of the respondents.

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Portugal’s government earlier this month said that it would abolish the NHR tax regime, which allows internationals to benefit from reduced tax rates on income for ten years, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The closure of the NHS tax regime by Portugal’s government has been taken as part of efforts to improve the housing market. However, Real Estate Consulting and Valuation companies don’t believe that it will solve the housing crisis in this country.

The President of the Association of Real Estate Consulting and Valuation Companies (ACAI), Jorge Bota, said that Spain immediately took advantage of the episode to publicise its scheme, which is similar to the Portuguese one after it recognised that it had lost a very competitive competitor.

He believes that it will not be a measure that will solve the housing crisis in Portugal, according to Portugal News.

Only 27 per cent of non-habitual resident (NHR) wealthy expats in this country have structured their financial and tax future beyond ten years, based on a survey by the World Digital Foundation.

Such statistics indicate that a large number of expats living in Portugal could be caught out by the abolishment of the NHS tax regime announced for next year.

Recently, Portugal News reported that a Swiss developer who had planned an investment of over €100 million in Lisbon decided to cancel the project, following the decision confirmed by Portugal’s Prime Minister, Antonio Costa.

According to the CEO of the Overseas developer, Pedro Vicente, at issue was a project of a total of 150 residential units for middle and upper-middle-class Portuguese in the centre of Lisbon, as reported by Jornal Economico.

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According to Portuguese media, more than half of the visitors attended for residency and visa information (54.5 per cent), followed by tax (46.6 per cent), housing prices (42.2 per cent) and investment opportunities (37.8 per cent), AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

This surge in interest shows that the market is changing, as the organisers pointed out.

Next year, another three events are expected to occur, including one in Dublin in early 2024 and two in London – in March 2024 and October 2024.

According to an SEF report from 2020, around 46,238 UK residents lived in Portugal, with the majority of those living in the Faro region.

More specifically, 49.8 per cent of residents, which translates to a total of 23,027 people, live in Faro, followed by another 9,633 or 20.8 per cent in Lisbon and Coimbra and Leiria as two other popular destinations for UK residents in Portugal. Around 4,959 Brits live in these two Portuguese cities, accounting for 10.7 per cent of all residents.

The data also shows that steady increases in British residents have reached 34.6 per cent between 2010 and 2019.

However, the truth is house prices in Portugal are some of the most expensive in Europe as the price per square meter on average is around €10,000, making Portugal the second-most expensive country to buy a house in the region. The first one is Switzerland, and a house there costs around €1 million, with a square meter costing around €13,280.

Moreover, Sweden is another expensive country to buy a house – with a square meter costing around €6,992, while a house of 100 square meters can go up to €699,200.

The same goes for Germany (€480,000), France (€463,900) and the Netherlands (€411,600), with the rural places being cheaper than urban areas.

On the other hand, countries with the lowest price of square meters are Bulgaria (€165,000), Romania (€137,000) and Lithuania (€114,500).

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How can AtoZ Serwis Plus assist you?

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• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
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• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
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Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

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The unit will be renamed the GNR Coastal and Border Control Unit, taking into account the extinction of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF), and will be responsible for monitoring, controlling, and inspecting maritime borders and land, including cruise terminals, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The Minister said that to monitor and control the borders, a total of 233 GNR officers have been trained from SEF, in addition to being temporarily assigned to this security force, the 80 SEF inspectors who already perform such functions, according to Portugal News.

Previously, the Minister also stressed that the reforms leading to the end of SEF would allow for the strengthening of security levels at border control and inspection.

Carneiro said that there are clear efficiency gains. He stressed that the reconstruction of SEF and the transition of powers to the GNR and the PSP related to border control and the activity of foreigners in Portugal bring challenges to integrated border management.

According to him, once the structuring political decisions phase has been overcome, it is important to ensure the success of the transition process.

The Minister emphasised that for many months, the PSP and GNR have been with SEF at the borders in a process of cooperation that increases the capacity to control people entering and leaving the country and also allows for a continuous and healthy exchange of experiences, which will be reflected in a positive way in the future.

He ensured that all issues were properly structured related to border control and supervision related to the country’s security.

In April this year, the Portuguese Council of Ministers approved the green light for the creation of a new agency that will replace the SEF and will include the High Commission for Migration (ACM).

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• Complete visa application support
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Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

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According to this report from ForwardKeys, Southern European destinations are approaching pre-pandemic levels in the last three months of this year, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Cities like Lisbon and Athens have seen a remarkable 13 per cent increase in arrival numbers in Q4 of this year. This is followed by Madrid, which has witnessed a nine per cent increase, Istanbul saw four per cent, and Milan saw a two per cent increase.

In the first three quarters of this year, Athens had already demonstrated a remarkable six per cent increase in visitor numbers when compared to pre-pandemic levels, while Lisbon managed to achieve pre-pandemic levels in the same quarter.

Furthermore, Spain’s travel market is rebounding faster than the global average, with studies also indicating a significant bouncing back in the country’s cultural tourism, which is now approaching or surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

In particular, departures to other European countries have increased by six per cent when compared to the same quarter in 2019.

Ponti also believes that the air travel capacity and demand surge will help many of the Southern European countries return to pre-pandemic levels.

“This increase in air supply is so far met by a sustained increase in demand, which we expect will push many destinations back to pre-pandemic levels while overall volumes continue their recovery towards 2024”, the statement of Ponti reads.

Moreover, London, Dublin and Rome are also making steady progress, increasing to the list of the most improved travel destinations.

London ( with only a two per cent decrease), Dublin (also with a two per cent decrease), and Rome (with a three per cent decrease) are also expected to come close to their pre-pandemic arrival figures.

There is a significant sense of optimism for the current year regarding the tourism industry’s recovery, with strong expectations that the travel and tourism sector within the European Union will make a remarkable recovery, potentially reaching up to 98 per cent of the pre-pandemic levels.

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• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

IRN will now handle Portuguese Electronic Passport (PEP), temporary passports, special passports, and passports for foreign nationals, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

According to a statement published on the official Portuguese website, applicants should use the SIGA platform, Information System for Service Management, in order to apply for a residence permit.

Applicants can lodge their request for residence permit or passport renewal at one of the IRN service counters, for which an appointment is mandatory. There are 34 branches available:

1. Civil Identification Department of the Lisbon Justice Campus
2. Boa Hora Civil Identification Department (Chiado) – Lisbon
3. Amora/Seixal Citizen’s Bureau
4. Aveiro Citizen’s Bureau
5. Braga Citizens’ Bureau
6. Castelo Branco Citizens’ Bureau
7. Coimbra Citizens’ Bureau
8. Faro Citizens’ Bureau
9. Guarda Citizens’ Bureau
10. Laranjeiras Citizens’ Bureau – Lisbon
11. Leiria Citizens’ Bureau
12. Marvila Citizens’ Bureau – Lisbon
13. Odivelas Citizens’ Bureau
14. Oporto Citizens’ Bureau
15. Saldanha Citizens’ Bureau – Lisbon
16. Tavira Citizens’ Bureau
17. Vila Real Citizens’ Bureau
18. Viseu Citizens’ Bureau
19. Beja Registration Centres
20. Bragança Registration Centre
21. Évora Registration Centre
22. Loulé Registration Centre
23. Marinha Grande Registration Centre
24. Pombal Registration Centre
25. Portalegre Registration Centre
26. Póvoa de Varzim Registration Area
27. Santarém Registration Centre
28. Setúbal Registration Centre
29. Cascais Civil Registry
30. Espinho Civil Registry
31. Civil, Land and Commercial Registry of Horta
32. Civil Registry of Ponta Delgada
33. Portimão Civil Registry
34. Civil Registry of Viana do Castelo

The Portuguese Institute of Registries and Notary (IRN) is a public institution under indirect State administration that registers citizens’ data since their birth and during the critical events in their lives. Thus, IRN is responsible for releasing certificates that offer proof of relevant legal facts related to a life event.

The Institute is now replacing the Immigration and Border Service (SEF), which was extinguished on October 29. Instead, a new agency was created, and its workers were integrated into three institutions: the Agency for Minorities, Migrations, and Asylum, Judiciary Police (PJ), and the Institute of Registries and Notary (IRN).

The creation of the new agency came as a response to the challenges of integrating migrants in Portugal, according to Ana Catarina Mendes, Minister in the Cabinet of the Prime Minister and for Parliamentary Affairs. During that time, Portuguese authorities also ended the Golden Visa Program.

Recently, Portugal’s Minister of Internal Administration, Jose Luis Carneiro, announced that with the extinction of SEF, the number of personnel controlling the country’s border will triple.

According to the Eurostat data, in 2022, there were 108,684 first residence permit holders in Portugal, marking an increase compared to the past years. Official data show that there are about half a million residence permit holders living in Portugal.

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• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
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• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

Since October 29, police forces are the ones responsible for carrying out passport controls at all points of entry and exit in Portugal, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Arriving passengers no longer report frequently cases of chaos at the airport, especially compared to prior measures when some passengers even fell ill due to long waiting times.

Passengers mostly responded positively to SEF no longer controlling passport checks, and on the first day that police took over border control duties, 79 flights and 13,128 passengers underwent checks by evening at the Portuguese airport.

The average waiting time was ten minutes, which is the shortest time since Faro Airport began operating.

There is more good news, as the airport announced the first direct air link between Faro and the United States, which is becoming an important market for the Algarve.

According to Carneiro, there will be more police agents deployed to finish their duties – around 2,500 new agents were also admitted to PSP and GNR police last year, showcasing the seriousness of the authorities to handle passengers and their demands.

The minister also said that another 1,500 will be admitted, with 580 new police officers finishing their training recently and another 500 will enter their training in November.

On the other hand, passengers at Lisbon Airport had a higher average waiting time – 30 minutes, but it was still one-third less than the average waiting time recorded between midnight and 10 a.m.

Carneiro also pointed out that security forces at Portuguese airports are fully operational and cooperating to offer their best service.

Now that SEF is no longer operating tasks regarding border security, it will also stop completing tasks related to the issuance of foreigners’ documents as the new Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) has been created. AIMA, which is taking on around 300,000 pending immigrant legalisation cases from SEF, will also take over the duties of the High Commissioner for Migration.

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• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

In 2024, the average increase in regulated fees at all Portuguese airports will be €1.60, with ANA Airports initially proposing an almost 18 per cent increase but ultimately settling on a 14.55 per cent hike, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Lisbon will see the most significant fee increase at 16.98 per cent, which equals €2.29, while Porto’s fees will go up by 11.92 per cent, which is €0.92.

The Vinci Group company’s executive committee has modified its initial tariff update plans for national airports. The change is a response to a decrease in inflation data across the 27 European Union countries, which decreased from 9.7 per cent to 8.8 per cent.

While revising the proposals downward, the executive committee still intends to recover revenue deviations from 2022.

ANA justified the proposed increase in airport fees for the coming year in their presentation to ECO News by pointing out that the adjustment aligns with the formulas outlined in their concession contract. Additionally, it stressed that the rise in plane ticket prices has exceeded the fee increase they proposed.

Nevertheless, airlines saw the price increases as potentially harmful to the tourism sector. Ryanair, in particular, labelled the increase as “excessive and justifiable,” expressing worries that it might negatively affect the national tourism industry, especially in the Azores and Madeira.

Furthermore, other airlines, including TAP Air Portugal, voiced their dissatisfaction with the proposed changes.

The funds are required to pay air traffic controllers, ground staff, and also the personnel responsible for baggage services.

The recent fee adjustment will take effect in February. In the Azores region, the increase amounts to €0.30, in Madeira, it is €0.80, and in Faro it’s €0.82.

Moreover, there will be an additional charge of ten per cent applied to each aircraft, and it is likely that the cost will be transferred to customers as well.

The fee hike follows two previous increases earlier in the year, where the first increase added an extra €3.46, and the second involved a charge of  €2.88 per passenger, introduced in September and February, respectively.

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• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

According to the Federal Police of Brazil, it is believed that the employees of the consulate helped the applicants who needed a visa secure appointments without having to undergo waiting times as the other applicants.

Moreover, it is suspected that the consulate employees also helped applicants falsify documents that are required when applying for a Portugal visa and documents required when applying for Portuguese citizenship, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

As the Federal Police of Brazil explained, five search and seizure warrants issued by the Public Ministry of Portugal were executed. The search and seizure warrants covered the Consulate General of Portugal and a number of residences in Rio and Saquarema.

The Embassy of Portugal in Brazil also commented on the matter, confirming that the investigation is underway.

The Embassy further said that the Portuguese authorities decided to take measures following a high number of complaints “from users”.

Since the investigation is still ongoing, the Embassy did not disclose any further information. It is not yet known how many people have obtained a Portugal visa through the help of employees and by submitting forged documents.

However, it is expected that the Portuguese and Brazilian authorities will take measures to ensure that the visas of all those who obtained them illegally will be revoked.

In addition, the authorities are also expected to take measures against the consulate employees involved in the matter.

While citizens of Brazil do not need a visa to enter Portugal or any other Schengen Area country, the applications in the consulate are mainly made by nationals of other countries who reside in Brazil.

Schengen Visa Statistics data show that the Consulate General of Portugal in Rio de Janeiro received 89 Schengen visa applications last year.

Of the total, 47 visa applications were approved, and 42 were denied, with the rejection rate being high compared to the number of applications.

Despite the low number of applications, the Consulate has faced criticism, with applicants saying that it takes too long to secure an appointment and receive a decision on their application.

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• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

According to the Portugal News, nationals from the United States, Brazil, and the United Kingdom have benefited the most from this kind of visa during this period, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Lawyer Ricardo Nascimento recently cited the reasons why a large number of digital nomads chose Portugal as their favourite destination.

According to him, this gives digital nomads the opportunity to experience a new culture and also connect with people from countries worldwide.

Portugal has been considered among the most favourite destinations for digital nomads, placing sixth in the Global Remote Work Index (GRWI) regarding the “Top ten remote work destinations”.

Recently, authorities in Portugal announced new tax changes and the closure of the Non-habitual Residence (NHR) tax regime for new entrants starting next year, which may also lead to an influx of digital nomads in this country who seek to benefit from the current regulations.

The NHR tax regime gives internationals the opportunity to benefit from reduced tax rates on income for a period of ten years.

Introducing the new decision, the Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Costa, said that the scheme is a measure of fiscal injustice and its maintenance is no longer justified after it has served its purpose and will only contribute to increasing housing prices, as reported by the Portugal News.

However, he emphasised that those already in the country with this tax advantage will be able to benefit from it for the duration of their ten-year term.

The Digital Nomad Visa allows foreigners to live in a specific country that offers such visas and work remotely for companies or businesses located outside the territory. Several EU countries are known for their Digital Nomad Visa Programs, among them the following ones: Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Malta, Romania, the Netherlands, and Norway.

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• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

The President of the Portuguese Association for Social Integration of Immigrants (APISI) told Deutsche Welle that the legalisation process in Portugal is very slow and bureaucratic, expressing his doubts that the Agency for Integration, Migrations and Asylum (AIMA) does not have the capacity to address all problems, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

He considers that even with CLP visas, legalisation procedures are not being accelerated through expressions of interest, warning that if there is no greater decentralisation, the situation will continue to remain the same.

However, the President of the Agency for Integration, Migrations and Asylum, Luís Goes Pinheiro, said Deutsche Welle that it would respond quickly to the anxieties of immigrant citizens.

The agency expects a year and a half to resolve the nearly 350,000 pending cases as well as 340,000 visa renewals for immigrants residing in this country.

Over one million immigrants have already obtained residence visas in Portugal since last year, while this year alone, more than 306,000 similar visas were granted, according to official sources.

In June this year, authorities in Portugal announced that they would update their online visa application platform as part of efforts to avoid a limited number of applications and long waiting times for a spot.

Such a decision was announced by the Secretary of State of Portuguese Communities, Paulo Cafôfo, stressing that changes are needed in order to make it easier for all those who plan to reach the country for all kinds of purposes.

According to him, in spite of efforts taken to introduce limitations, this hoarding continues to happen, and for such a reason, the update of the platform has been considered a necessary measure to prevent abuse.

Portugal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that new features of the visa portal include a single registration, stressing that once registered, everyone will be eligible to change their password or edit their personal data and also fill out a questionnaire to determine the type of visa they need and attach documents.

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• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

As Folha has revealed, so far, Portugal has granted nationality to at least two Hamas hostages who were kidnapped on October 7.

Moreover, another five people, two of whom are minors, may also soon be granted Portuguese nationality as the authorities have decided to accelerate the process for them, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

According to Folha, the granting of nationality to the hostages is made in line with a previously approved law. The law permits the granting of Portuguese nationality to descendants of Sephardic Jews who were expelled from the country during the Inquisition.

It has been noted that the hostages had already applied for Portuguese nationality. However, there were a high number of cases that needed to be processed before them.

Still, in an attempt to accelerate their release, the Portuguese authorities decided to process these cases before the ones in line. They believe that the granting of nationality to the hostages will contribute to their release.

It has been explained that the Portuguese authorities’ decision to give priority to the processing of these cases was taken after they received requests from the legal representatives of those being held hostage.

The first victims released had US passports. Taking this into account, Portugal believes that those holding its citizenship will be released soon, too.

As Folha reveals, the first person being held hostage who has been granted Portuguese nationality is a 52-year-old Israeli who applied for naturalisation back in September 2021.

Moreover, the same reveals that the other hostage is a 72-year-old woman who applied for naturalisation in 2020. In an interview, her granddaughter said that she hopes that the Portuguese nationality can contribute to her grandmother’s freedom.

While the Ministry of Justice of Portugal has not made any comment on the matter regarding the acceleration of the process, it is believed that if this move proves to be effective, Portuguese nationality may be granted to others who are at risk as well, provided that they have previously applied for naturalisation.

The regime for granting citizenship to descendants of Sephardic Jews has been in force since 2015, and the authorities plan to put an end to this mechanism soon.

Taking into account the current situation, it was expected that the Portuguese authorities would decide to extend the regime. However, the Minister of Justice Catarina Sarmento e Castro said that no regime of this type can be eternal.

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• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

The air transport report also states that in October 2023, a total of 171,245 passengers arrived at Azores airports, marking an increase of 7.3 per cent compared to the same month the previous year, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

According to SREA figures, the October numbers are the highest recorded for that month between 1986 and 2023, surpassing the previous record of 159,561 landings set in 2022.

Azores Welcomes More Visitors in October 2023 via Mainland & Madeira

Most passengers who landed in the Azores in October arrived on flights from the mainland or Madeira (80,715), experiencing a year-on-year monthly increase of 3.9 per cent.

Interisland flights accounted for 72,400 passengers, contributing to a 7.4 per cent growth in Azores arrivals compared to the same month in 2022, continuing the upward trend observed between June and September.

Based on these data, travellers arriving on international flights showed the most significant year-on-year monthly increase (25.7 per cent), totalling 18,130 landings.

Faial Dominates Monthly Year-on-Year Growth in Passengers

SREA’s report highlights a positive trend in monthly year-on-year variations in passenger arrivals across the archipelago, with Faial leading the growth at 10.8 per cent, followed by São Miguel (8.6 per cent), Santa Maria (6.7 per cent), Pico (5.8 per cent), and Graciosa (five per cent). On the other hand, Corvo saw a decline of 2.8 per cent.

Among the islands that emerged as the dominant players during October 2023 are as follows:

• São Miguel – 102,048 passengers
• Terceira – 35,782
• Faial – 11,124

Regarding departing passengers, the total reached 178,844, marking a 7.6 per cent growth compared to last year.

The data further reveals specific growth percentages for different flight types: a 5.6 per cent rise in passengers boarding flights to Madeira and mainland Portugal (84,931), a 7.7 per cent increase in inter-island flights (72,651), and a total of 16.2 per cent surge in international flights (21,262).

Previous data from SREA showed that in August of this year, the Azores experienced a surge in tourism, setting a fresh record with over 285,000 visitors. The figure represented a 9.7 per cent increase in passenger arrivals compared to the previous year.

The same source also noted that air travel played a significant role, with a total of 259,916 passengers arriving by air, surpassing the figures from 2022. At the same time, international flights witnessed a growth of 20.5 per cent, accommodating 43,391 arrivals during the same period last year.

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• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

Besides,1,000 Portuguese nationals have been registered on Switzerland’s platform Swiss Pension Now (SPNow), which helps them find out if they have money in their boxes, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Renata Santos, responsible for the company in Portugal, told Lusa that more than a third or about 35 per cent, have managed to obtain some amount, totalling €1 million, stressing that the values found differ between €150 and €20,000

According to the Swiss Federal Financial Control body, around €5 billion Swiss francs were distributed in over 625,000 intact accounts relating to the second Pillar reforms, waiting for their owners to claim them.

A large number of Portuguese emigrants who worked in Swiss territory didn’t know about the money belonging to them.

This must have been a result of changes in Swiss law; in 1985, the pillar of social security, known as Compulsory Professional Pension, aimed to complement workers’ retirement.

However, a report from Portugal News notes that whenever there were changes in the employees’ journey, such as unemployment, return to their origin countries or working in a new company, it was necessary to transfer funds, which didn’t happen.

The amounts of money remained in several boxes and were not claimed by the workers.

The Swiss Pension Now platform was created in 2021 to inform the population of ex-migrants in Switzerland about the possibility that they still have retirement funds to receive without knowing it.

Miguel Farranem, last year, said that considering the high number of Portuguese who emigrated to Switzerland and all workers who have migrated since the implementation of the legislation, the value of the Portuguese is lost.

According to him, the company only charges for services when it discovers money to be recovered, without knowing the amount, stressing that last year’s success reached 60 per cent.

After Spain and the United Kingdom, Switzerland is the third country in the world to which most Portuguese emigrate. Based on the statistics provided by the government of Switzerland, 260,000 nationals are living in Switzerland.

At the same time, 5,379 Swiss nationals were living in Portugal by the end of 2021.

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Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

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AtoZ Serwis Plus will provide the services listed below to get a European Country work visa:

• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

This would bring significant contributions to the country, taking into account the recent changes made by authorities in this country, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The Residency by Investment scheme of Portugal enables foreigners to acquire residency in this country by making financial investments and meeting some other conditions. Nevertheless, recently, the country has been struggling with the housing crisis, thus applying some changes to this program.

Among them was abolishing the real estate investment option from this program, which allowed internationals to make an investment of €280,000 or more. The decision came following the approval of the “More Housing” bill by the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

Last month, the government of Portugal announced the closure of the Non-Habitual Resident tax regime, which allows internationals to benefit from reduced tax rates on income for a period of ten years.

Announced by Portugal’s Prime Minister, Antonio Costa, the decision came as part of efforts to manage the housing crisis.

The law under discussion provides for a transitional provision under which the regime will continue to be applicable under the terms to all applicants who, on January 1, are already registered as NHR before the Tax Authority and, on December 31, meet the conditions for registration as NHR or hold a valid residence visa on December 31, this year.

However, the acquisition of shares in non-real estate Collective Investment Organizations (OIC), valid for a period of five years, is still effective, and at least 60 per cent of the value of the investments is made in commercial companies based in Portugal.

Such investments differ from the real estate investment after contributing directly to the country’s economy.

In addition, based on the current legal regime, in addition to the possibility of access through the Golden Visa Program, investment in OIC is one of the most active options from a tax and financial return perspective.

Portugal is among the most famous European destinations when it comes to the Golden Visa Program. In August alone, the scheme brought to Portugal a total of €32.2 million.

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Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the employer's questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

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AtoZ Serwis Plus will provide the services listed below to get a European Country work visa:

• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

According to the local media in Portugal, the PS party will carry on with a proposal to amend the law and introduce a transitional regime for this category in 2023. The act is a counter-response to concerns and potential negative impacts on workers, retirees and investors who planned to move to Portugal during this period, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The Socialist Government, which is still in power, was set to redirect these tax incentives in the field of scientific research and innovation, leaving out many professionals, investors and families.

The end of the NHR has brought a wave of concerns among economists and professionals across all sectors in Portugal, including real estate.

This PS proposal will include the transitional regime that was already foreseen by the Government, also applying to those who had already registered as an NHR or met the requirements to join the regime by the end of this year.

This indicates that families who present sufficient evidence that they have prepared their move to Portugal in 2023, will also be covered.

In the document, the Socialist Party explains that its intention throughout the new changes is to strengthen the transitional regime, enabling citizens in this category that undertake material steps to change their tax residence to Portugal and safeguard them, based on the regime that expires with the proposal of the State Budget for 2024.

This indicates that anyone who wants to benefit from the NHR scheme for 2023, will be able to do so by planning their move to Portugal within this year and providing the necessary documentation which includes a promise of an employment contract signed until the end of the year, which has to be within the territory of Portugal; leasing contract or other contract that

Granting the use of possession of property in Portugal until October of this year. In addition, the enrolment or registration for dependents at education establishments in the Portuguese territory until October as well as the residence visa or residence permit valid until December 21, 2023.

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Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.

Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the employer's questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

How can AtoZ Serwis Plus assist you?

AtoZ Serwis Plus will provide the services listed below to get a European Country work visa:

• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

According to local media, the NHR scheme is expected to come to an end as the State Budget Proposal for 2024 (OE2024) is under discussion. This scheme will now be accessible only to people with income from careers such as high education and scientific research, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

In addition, researchers from qualified jobs within the scope of benefits that are considered product investments of the Investment Tax Code will also be eligible for the NHR scheme.

The measure, recommended in the state budget for the upcoming year, sparked criticism from some actors, especially inspectors who considered it ineffective. The same is expanded to include jobs that can benefit up to 20 per cent at an IRS rate for a decade.

PCP and Bloco de Esquerda voted against the proposal, while PSD and Livre abstained.

The tax incentive for scientific research and innovation will be accessible to people who have not been residents in Portugal for at least five years and can become tax residents and get jobs in startups under the law.

Companies that have less than 250 workers are at issue since they have an annual turnover that does not exceed #50 million and have been operating for less than ten years. In addition, companies that have their headquarters in Portugal have less than 25 employees.

The tax scheme will also include “qualified jobs recognised by the Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade of Portugal or by IAPMEI, as relevant to the national economy, especially in the context of attracting productive investment.

The socialist proposal also includes extending the regime to the jobs and other activities carried out by tax residents in regions like the Azores and Madeira, as the regional legislative decree defines. The 20 per cent rate applies to income in categories A and B.

Discussions and voting on the state budget for 2024 were concluded in November.

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Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.

Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the employer's questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

How can AtoZ Serwis Plus assist you?

AtoZ Serwis Plus will provide the services listed below to get a European Country work visa:

• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

Portuguese companies are, in particular, facing challenges in recruiting individuals in sectors such as information and communication technologies, business support centres, healthcare, hospitality, agriculture, construction, and renewable energy, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

This implies that foreigners aspiring to live and work in Portugal stand a better chance of securing a Portuguese work visa if they fall within any of these professional categories.

To make things even easier for foreigners wishing to move into its territory for work purposes, the Portuguese government launched the “Working in Portugal” program last year. The program aids immigrants in obtaining the necessary documents for legal entry and stay in the country, and it also offers them employment opportunities.

In 2021, Portuguese authorities emphasised the necessity of migrants to address labour shortages in the country.

A contributing factor to Portugal’s reliance on foreign workers is the fact that this country has one of the oldest populations in Europe. According to Statista, last year, 23 per cent of the Portuguese population was over 65 years old.

The companies in Portugal are looking to employ mainly individuals that belong to the following occupations:

1. Information & Communication Technologies

The most in-demand jobs from this sector include occupations such as software developers, data analysts, cyber security specialists, and IT engineers with specific areas of expertise.

The average pay for a computer software engineer is €50,360 a year, whereas for cyber security specialists, it is €50,932, according to the Economic Research Institute (ERI).

2. Business Support Centres

As per this sector, companies in Portugal need to hire staff in sales administration, human resources, accounting, and management control. Also, professionals with very specific language skills are difficult to find in Portugal.

For Human Resources managers in Portugal, the average pay for a year is  €52,696, for accountants, it is €38,438 a year, and for sales representatives, the average salary is €30,242 a year.

3. Healthcare

In this sector, doctors and nurses with different specialisations are mainly in demand.

The annual average salary of doctors in Portugal varies depending on their specialisation and other factories. However, the average salary for medical doctors is €88,488 a year, whereas, for a registered nurse, it is €31,702 a year.

4. Hospitality & Tourism

Employers with an occupation related to hotels, restaurants, bars and cafes, and tourism in general, are also in demand in Portugal.

The average pay for a kitchen chef is €27,797 a year, for waiters, it is €14,609 and for a barista it is €12,932 a year.

Housekeepers have an average salary of  €14,902 per year, for receptionists it is €18,100, while for guide escorts it is €13,428 a year.

5. Agriculture

This sector usually needs seasonal workers, especially fruit and vegetable pickers. According to the SalaryExpert, fruit pickers have an average salary of €10,628 per year.

6. Construction

Plumbers, electricians, and other skilled tradespeople are also in demand in Portugal. The average pay for plumbers is €29,927 a year, whereas for electricians, it is €31,199 a year.

7. Renewable energy

This sector mainly needs workers with expertise in development, installation, and maintenance.

Salaries vary depending on the specific occupation. For example, the average pay for a solar energy system installer is €29,338 a year.

The majority of job vacancies are in The Centre region of Portugal, and the most in-demand occupations are related to personal care and healthcare, transportation, the pharmaceutical industry, civil construction, machine operators, and agriculture (seasonal unskilled workers).

Companies in this region also need proficient professionals with language, programming, and technical skills in the IT, electronics, and contact centre sectors.

On the other hand, individuals with an occupation related to economics, management, business studies, marketing, advertising, sales, teaching, social sciences, humanities, certain engineering fields, and tourism-related roles can potentially relocate within Europe, according to EURES.

Basic Rules Foreigners Must Know Before Applying for a Work Visa in Portugal

Citizens of EU/EFA countries and Switzerland don’t need a visa in order to work in Portugal. However, if they plan to live in the country for more than three months, they need a Residence Certificate.

Meanwhile, citizens of other countries need a work visa if they intend to work in Portugal. The application process must be completed by the employer through the Portuguese Labour Authorities.

Prior to submitting the application, the employer must confirm that the job vacancy has been posted for a minimum of one month for Portuguese workers to apply. This ensures that the relevant authorities can ascertain whether a Portuguese or EU citizen had the opportunity to fill the position during that period.

How Much Does It Cost to Live in Portugal?

Individuals who intend to live and work in Portugal, may also like to check first the living expenses in this country.

Portugal is ranked 28th in Europe and 66th in the world according to the Cost of Living Index by Numbeo.

A single person’s estimated monthly expenses, not including the rent, are €617. On the other hand, renting a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre costs approximately €773.78 per month. For those intending to save extra money may consider living outside the city centre, where the same size apartment costs approximately €598.84 per month.

A one-way ticket for the local transport costs about €1.75, whereas a monthly pass ticket costs €40.

On the other hand, the monthly expenses for a family of four members are estimated to be €2,168.6, not including the rent. Meanwhile, the monthly rent for a three-bedroom apartment located in the city centre is about €1,275.27. A similar-sized apartment but located outside the city centre costs less, with a monthly rent estimated at €992.89.

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Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.

Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the employer's questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

How can AtoZ Serwis Plus assist you?

AtoZ Serwis Plus will provide the services listed below to get a European Country work visa:

• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

Alongside the United Kingdom, Spain, and Norway, Portugal has witnessed a notable uptick in this pro-immigration sentiment since 2000, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

In a statement issued on November 29, the European Commission said there had been a significant shift in how the Portuguese perceive immigration from an economic standpoint. In 2002, a majority considered it a substantial “threat,” rating it above six on a ten-point scale.

As the same authority explains, this apprehension has decreased, with the corresponding figure barely surpassing level 4. This places Portugal slightly below the average observed across the surveyed countries, reflecting a significant attitude change over the years.

Recently, the Portuguese authorities have announced that starting next year, the Tax Regime for Non-Ordinary Residents (NHR) in Portugal, designed to attract immigrants and retirees to live and work in the country, may undergo changes.

At the same time, the PS party plans to propose amending the law and implementing a transitional regime for NHR in 2023. This move is seen as a response to concerns about potential negative impacts on individuals, including workers, retirees, and investors, who had intended to relocate to Portugal during this period.

The proposed transitional regime is likely aimed at providing a smoother transition for those affected by any changes in the tax framework, offering a degree of stability and predictability for individuals planning to take advantage of the NHR program.

Furthermore, Lisbon has emerged as a prominent destination for digital nomads in Portugal, attracting individuals with the lure of tax exemptions for foreigners. Data provided by the VisaGuide.World Digital Nomad Index has revealed that Portugal is positioned as the 6th country globally in terms of emigration rate as a percentage of the population. The ranking is determined by factors such as Taxes (20 per cent) and Tax-free period (20 per cent), with Portugal standing out with a tax-free period of six months

The phenomenon is partly attributed to the high tax burden within the country. While tax exemptions can benefit foreigners, the escalating tax regime presents challenges for employees and employers in Portugal. The progressive increase, ranging from 14.5 per cent to 48 per cent, underscores the strain on the workforce.

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Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.

Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the employer's questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

How can AtoZ Serwis Plus assist you?

AtoZ Serwis Plus will provide the services listed below to get a European Country work visa:

• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

During this period of time, Portugal granted 6,208 work visas for Cape Verdeans, sources from the Portuguese embassy in Praia told Lusa. Based on VFS Global data, of those, 2,276 were for subordinate or seasonal work visas and 3,932 for job-seeking purposes, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

During January-November of this year, citizens of Cape Verde have filled out a total of 12,549 long-term visas of all types. Of those, 394 were refused primarily because of the submission of forged documents, instances of employer fraud, or the applicants having a criminal record.

6,208 visas were issued for work purposes, 3,975 for study and training, 623 for family reunion and 615 for medical purposes.

Among other things, the embassy noted that over the course of five years, the consular section has consistently observed a “continued growth” in visa issuance of approximately 30 per cent per year.

This issuance was attributed to various factors, including legislative modifications within the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) mobility framework. This encompasses the complete implementation of new visa typologies, such as the work search visa.

Moreover, between January and August of this year, Portugal granted 4,948 work visas for citizens of Cape Verde. This marked a significant increase in the number of issued visas, taking into account that in the last four years, Portugal granted a total of 4,888 work-related visas for Cape Verdeans.

Besides the long-term visas, Cape Verdeans filled out a total of 14,857 applications of Schengen visas (up to 90 days) during January-November 2023. Of those, 11,610 were approved, according to the embassy.

Meanwhile, in 2022, Portugal received a total of 15,710 visa applications from Cape Verdeans. Of those visa applications, 11,371 were approved. After the citizens of Angola, Cape Verdeans were the second among countries that filled the most visa applications to Portugal.

However, Cape Verde led the list of countries with the most denied Schengen visas per capita, in 2022, with 844 rejections per 100,000 individuals.

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Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.

Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the employer's questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

How can AtoZ Serwis Plus assist you?

AtoZ Serwis Plus will provide the services listed below to get a European Country work visa:

• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

The NHR regime, which enables third-country nationals to obtain residency if they spend more than 183 days in the country throughout the year, was due to end on January 1, 2024. However, due to Portugal’s government collapsing earlier, as policymakers failed to come to terms regarding the next year’s budget, it was decided for the NHR regime to come to an end in December 2024, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

This scheme also includes a tax reduction of 20 per cent of income from high-value-added activities, which include professors, doctors, architects and other professions.

Overseas expats who move to Portugal also have a flat tax of ten per cent on pensions from a foreign source as well as a tax exemption on income that is generated outside the country, including rental payments from tenants if it is taxed in the country of origin.

Portuguese citizens who have lived abroad for more than five years are also eligible to benefit from the scheme.

However, to qualify for the expat tax extension, applicants must show evidence that they want to move to Portugal within this year, which can be done by signing an employment or housing contract.

The Socialist Party in Portugal had planned to terminate the scheme for new applicants as of January 1, 2024, describing it as a “fiscal injustice” and that it no longer made sense. The scheme was initially introduced as a recovery package due to the 2008 global financial crisis.

More than 70,000 people have benefited from the expat tax breaks scheme in the last decade, Portugal Pathways reveals.

The state budget for 2024 includes reductions to income tax and targets a budget surplus of 0.2 per cent. Depending on the political stage developments, changes to the scheme can be made after the elections, which are scheduled to take place on March 10.

Recently, the Portuguese parliament agreed to make changes to the tax regime for non-habitual residents, making workers from companies that are certified as start-ups eligible to benefit from the NHR scheme.

In addition, researchers from qualified jobs within the scope of benefits that are considered product investments of the Investment Tax Code will also be eligible for the NHR scheme.

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• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
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Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

Prime Minister of Portugal, Antonio Costa, has said that Lisbon follows the position of the European Commission, which recommends the opening of negotiations for the accession of Ukraine to the bloc, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Portugal’s Prime Minister emphasised that this process should not occur in isolation. He considered it impossible to disconnect the EU enlargement process from Ukraine without considering the Western Balkan countries’ candidacies. Costa mentioned his recent visits to Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia.

He expressed his hopes that the European Council meeting would result in an unequivocal commitment from the EU to the expectations it has created for Ukraine and the Western Balkan states.

In November this year, the European Commission recommended opening EU membership negotiations with Ukraine while stressing that Kyiv has met all the needed conditions for EU membership.

The proposal will be discussed this week at the Brussels summit by the EU’s heads of government.

However, Hungary opposed Ukraine’s accession to the bloc. Last month, Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjártó, said that Ukraine’s accession to the EU would bring war to the bloc.

Responding to the European Commission’s new enlargement package, the Minister noted that the analysis was correct in concluding that Ukraine failed to meet the requirements for EU candidate status, emphasizing its violations of national minority rights.

Unlike Hungary, a recent poll of six EU member countries for the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) revealed that there had been considerable support for Ukraine’s candidacies.

The poll revealed that Ukraine’s accession to the EU has the most significant support in Denmark, with 50 per cent of participants in the poll supporting Ukraine’s accession to the EU.

Poland shows 47 per cent in favor of Ukraine’s membership in the EU. Romania exhibits divided opinions, with 32 per cent for and 29 per cent against Ukraine’s accession.

In Germany, 37 per cent of respondents back Ukraine’s accession to the bloc, while 39 per cent are against it. France shows 29 per cent support for Ukraine’s EU accession, while 35 per cent are against this process. In Austria, 52 per cent of participants opposed Ukraine’s accession to the EU.

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Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

Ferriera has revealed that reservations are still being made at the same rate as they have been for the entire year, despite concerns they may be affected by recent developments, unstable political environments, and other issues, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

In regard to the bookings for the upcoming year, he expressed optimism that 2024 may be the best year ever for tourism in Portugal.

President Ferriera made such evaluations in an interview for the Portuguese News Agency Lusa.

Although the Algarve and Madeira have historically been the most popular destinations, Alentejo, Lisbon, the Center, the North, and the Azores have recently created more attractive alternative offers, managing to lure more tourists.

When it comes to international travel, some of the most popular places for Portuguese travelers are Brazil, Cape Verde, Sao Tome, Cuba, and Disneyland Paris.

Data released on October 27 by the National Institute of Statistics (INE) show that Portuguese citizens took 5.7 million trips in the second quarter of 2023, marking a 6.1 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2022, and one per cent more compared to the second quarter of 2019.

Domestic trips, which accounted for 85.6 per cent of the trips made, marked a 5.5 per cent increase to 4.8 million. Whereas trips abroad accounted for 14.4 per cent of the total, or 812.2 thousand trips made.

In general terms, tourism in Portugal has seen significant growth so far this year. Portugal has already surpassed the pre-pandemic figures by setting new records for overnight stays and tourism revenue compared to 2019.

Between January and July 2023, Portugal welcomed 16.8 million tourists, and during the same time, there were a total of 42.8 million overnight stays, according to INE data. These figures marked a ten per cent increase compared to the same time in 2019, which was a record year for the tourism industry in Portugal.

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Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

As revealed, all Israelis who have left their country due to the war are completing the procedures very fast, with the authorities granting them the “refugee visa” within 24 hours, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

In order to be issued “refugee visas”, Israelis need to apply for asylum upon their arrival in Portugal and hold a valid passport.

Once the application process has been completed, Israelis are being issued the visa within 24 hours.

This type of visa allows Israelis to reside legally in Portugal as well as take up jobs. Moreover, Israelis holding this document are also entitled to financial assistance from the Portuguese government. As revealed, many Israelis in the country have already received financial support.

A refugee from Israel who applied for a “refugee visa” in Portugal said that as soon as he entered the country, he immediately went to the immigration office.

He further revealed that immediately after the Portuguese authorities knew that he was from Israel, they issued him the document within hours.

Under the current rules, all citizens of Israel arriving in Portugal are eligible for the document which permits them to reside as well as work in the country.

The “refugee visa” remains valid for two months, and once this period expires, all those eligible need to renew it.

Commenting on the number of Israelis deciding to leave the country and reach Portugal, a lawyer said that this reflects their discontent with the current situation.

Moreover, it has been noted that some are also using this opportunity to find a job in Portugal and then move to another EU Member State later on.

Portugal has been very open to offering easier rules for Israelis. Earlier in November, the authorities decided to grant nationality to two Israelis being held hostage by Hamas and speed up the process for some others in hopes that they would be released soon.

The Portuguese authorities said that the granting of nationality to this group of people is made in line with a law that was previously approved. The current law that Portugal has permits the granting of nationality to descendants of Sephardic Jews who were expelled during the Inquisition.

While the Portuguese government did not confirm anything, it is believed that if similar measures prove to be effective, they will further ease the process.

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• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
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Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

As reported by Portugal News, ship operators will handle payment using the Janela Única Logística platform,AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

In this regard, the Port of Lisbon Authority (APL) revealed that they are finalising the procedural details based on a future protocol with the Lisbon City Council (CML), with additional annual revenues anticipated from taxes amounting to €1.2 million.

The APL affirmed that the necessary conditions for tax implementation have been created. The same stated that it is completing a protocol that will be signed with the Lisbon City Council to regulate the tourist tax collection, reflecting the procedures in force for the hotel industry.

The APL further informed that operators were notified of the fee collection in 2024 several months ago. This communication was conducted through the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the representative body for cruise ship owners.

The authority also emphasised that the fee was not imposed in 2023 because cruise activity sales occurred in advance. The decision to implement the fee in 2024 allowed for the inclusion of the tax value at the time of sale.

Moreover, an annual survey conducted by a prominent association of travel agents and tour operators ABTA, Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, has clinched the title of the most budget-friendly city in Europe for a short getaway this year.

The survey, spanning 35 European cities, assessed expenses across 12 tourist activities, including sightseeing tours, a two-night stay at a three-star accommodation, a dinner for two with wine, and local transportation. Following Lisbon, Vilnius in Lithuania, Krakow in Poland, and Athens in Greece secured the second, third, and fourth spots, respectively.

Lisbon, celebrated for its pedestrian-friendly environment, claimed the top spot with a winning bid of £225 (INR 23,095). The survey also delved into popular tourist attractions in Lisbon for potential visitors.

Furthermore, the prices in Lisbon from the previous year saw only a modest increase of two per cent. This indicates a comparatively minor uptick compared to the more substantial increases observed in other cities.

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• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
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Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

Meanwhile, the daily average number of arriving passengers at Portuguese airports exceeded 100,000 during the same month, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

According to INE, this figure signifies an 11.6 per cent increase compared to the same month last year, when the daily average passenger count was 90.700. In addition, the current number of arrivals exceeded the 2019 pre-pandemic figures, with a daily average of 85.900 passengers in October.

The arrival figures from January to the end of October 2023 exceeded those of the same months in the previous year, as well.

During this period, Lisbon Airport had the highest number of arriving passengers, with 49 per cent of the total handled passengers (28.7 million). Such a figure represented a 21.3 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2022 and a 7.7 per cent increase compared to pre-pandemic year 2019.

Porto Airport had 22.4 per cent of total passengers and also marked an increase of 21.9 per cent compared to the previous year, whereas Faro Airport increased by 18.3 per cent.

The United Kingdom was the primary country of origin and destination for flights, accounting for 17.5 per cent of the total number of passengers disembarked and 17.6 per cent of those embarked on international flights between January and October 2023. According to INE, these numbers represented year-over-year growth.

France and Spain followed as the second and third countries of origin and destination for flights.

In general terms, Portugal’s airports have witnessed an increase in passenger numbers since the start of 2023. Specifically, in July 2023, they recorded the highest passenger count for that month, totalling seven million tourists, a 12.5 per cent growth compared to the previous year.

Last month this year, ANA Airports in Portugal assessed their tariff suggestions, planning an average rise of €1.60 across national airports in the upcoming year. More specifically, Lisbon will see the most notable fee growth, standing at 16.98 per cent, equivalent to €2.29, whereas Porto’s fees will experience an 11.92 per cent increase, amounting to €0.92.

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• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
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Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

Recent data reveals a consistent increase in the foreign population, nearly doubling compared to a decade ago (+90 per cent). For instance, in 2013, the number of foreigners living in Portugal was 408,006, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

However, Portugal experienced a decrease in the number of immigrants only between 2010 and 2015. But after this period, the figures started to increase each year.

Yet, the country marked the highest number of immigrants only last year, with a record figure of 118,000.

On the other hand, within the same year, 31,000 individuals emigrated from Portugal, marking a decrease of 23,000 (-43 per cent) compared to the year with the highest number of departures, which was 2013.

The majority of foreigners living in Portugal in 2022, specifically 76 per cent, were nationals of non-European countries. According to the same source, the unemployment rate among this foreign population was more than twice the national average.

As outlined in the report, the most representative nationalities in Portugal include Brazilian (29.3 per cent), British (six per cent), Cape Verdean (4.9 per cent), Italian (4.4 per cent), Indian (4.3 per cent) and Romanian (4.1 per cent).

Pordata also revealed that in the last 15 years, approximately half a million foreigners were granted Portuguese nationality, including both residents and non-residents in Portugal.

In addition, Portugal is listed among nations with an increasing trend of openness to immigrants since 2000. European Social Survey (ESS) recently revealed that Portuguese participants exhibit elevated receptiveness towards immigrants.

Despite this, Eurostat data shows that Portugal ranks as the 10th country in the European Union with the lowest proportion of foreigners.

At the top of the list of countries with the highest presence of foreigners are Luxembourg (47 per cent) and Malta (21 per cent). On the contrary, in Romania, Croatia, Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania, and Bulgaria, the proportion of foreigners is less than 2 per cent.

One factor contributing to the rising number of foreigners in Portugal could be labour shortages.

In 2021, Portuguese authorities highlighted the importance of migrants to address labour shortages in the country, and recent data shows that Portuguese companies are facing challenges in filling job vacancies across various sectors.

To simplify the process for foreigners seeking to live in Portugal for employment reasons, the Portuguese government introduced the “Working in Portugal” program last year.

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• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
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• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

In a recent report by the Office for National Statistics, the British community in Portugal, especially, is increasing, with more senior British citizens coming to this European country, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The Department for Work and Pensions revealed that over a million (1,152,585) British pensioners are currently living overseas while receiving their UK state pension. In addition, this number surpasses the count of pensioners currently residing in London (922,162).

Post-Brexit, Portugal has emerged as the top sought-after destination for British retirees, especially due to its inviting climate and attractive tax benefits.

Before Brexit happened, the phenomenon of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union, British citizens could easily relocate to Portugal under EU membership. However, post-Brexit regulations now require British passport holders to apply for a visa to move to Portugal.

Portugal, on the other hand, offers accessible residency visas, with the D7 and the Portuguese Golden Visa being the most popular among Brits. The D7 visa is convenient for individuals with passive income sources, such as pensions or rental property earnings, demanding proof of income exceeding the Portuguese minimum wage. This visa in particular is ranking Portugal as an attractive option for many British senior citizens whose pension income surpasses the national minimum wage in this EU country.

Another reason why Brits are flocking to Portugal can be related to the cost of living crisis in the UK,  which is leading to the increasing number of retirees seeking to live abroad.

According to a survey by Unbiased, three-quarters of individuals aged 50 and over are concerned about the impact of the cost of living on their retirement plans. A total of 53 per cent fear they will not have enough income to sustain themselves in their post-work years.

Despite the rising cost of living, the workforce participation rate among those aged 50-64 in the UK has increased by 68,000 from its mid-2022 low. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) notes a more significant drop in the employment rate for those aged 55-64 in the UK compared to other countries with advanced economies.

As employment rates have fallen steadily from the 50s, especially after 55, and dropped sharply in the early 60s, retirement becomes a primary factor. The Bank of England’s recent forecast suggests that Britain’s overall labour force participation rate is likely to remain below pre-pandemic levels for the upcoming years.

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• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

According to the INE report, the country experienced an overall real GDP increase of 6.8 per cent, with these three regions surpassing the national average due to substantial growth in commerce, transport, accommodation, and restaurants, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

INE’s Regional Accounts show that the Algarve region achieved a growth of 17 percentage points, while Madeira followed closely with 14.2 per cent, and the Lisbon Metropolitan Area’s rates were 8.2 percentage points higher.

The report also revealed that regions showing more modest performances in 2022 had experienced lesser impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic in the preceding years. On the other hand, areas experiencing intense growth in 2022 had dealt with stronger impacts during the pandemic.

Estimates further show that the nominal GDP of all regions has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, with a countrywide average variation of 13 per cent. More specifically, the autonomous region of Madeira showcased a 17.4 per cent increase compared to 2019, exceeding the national average. Overall, the country’s GDP recorded a growth of 12.2 percentage points.

The Algarve region, Madeira, and the Lisbon Metropolitan Area demonstrated resilience and recovery, recording growth rates of 21.3, 19.8 and 14.1 per cent, respectively. The Azores recorded a 12 per cent increase, while the North and Alentejo regions’ GDP was up by 10.4 per cent, mirroring each other closely. The Center region, slightly trailing behind, experienced a growth of 9.1 per cent.

INE also pointed out that the gross added value (GVA) in sectors such as commerce, transport, accommodation and restaurants, and services provided to companies in these three regions played a pivotal role. These sectors, integral to the productive structure of these regions, significantly contributed to their economic recovery.

In conclusion, Portugal’s economic growth in 2022 experienced an increase, with key regions such as the Algarve, Madeira, and the Lisbon Metropolitan Area’s robust growth in vital sectors accelerating the nation’s economic recovery.

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• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

In fact, the housing prices in Lisbon remain above European levels, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Such conclusions have been reached in the recent report of Bloomberg which emphasises that Portugal’s appealing factors, like a mild climate, quality of life, security as well as good health and education services still attract internationals to live in Portugal.

In addition, housing prices in Portugal’s capital remain attractive, being nearly half of those in Zurich or Paris.

According to Bloomberg, homes for sale in Lisbon are on the rise, reaching a record high in November. Particularly, house prices in Lisbon surged by a total of 5.8 per cent in comparison to the previous year, reaching €5,426 per meter square.

After Lisbon, house prices in Stockholm went up by a total of five per cent while Madrid and Milan experienced steady increases of more than three per cent. At the same time, Paris saw a 6.1 per cent decrease in prices while Berlin registered a nearly three per cent decrease.

Lisbon’s current housing prices have increased mainly after there aren’t enough homes in order to meet the high demand, largely driven by internationals, thus most residents are not eligible to afford these higher prices, putting even more pressure on their ability to buy homes.

A previous report from Property Market-Index also said that the approval of new changes to Portugal’s Golden Visa would not affect property values, noting that home prices are expected to increase 8.7 per cent in 2024.

In October this year, the government of Portugal announced that it would abolish its Non-habitual Residence NHR tax regime, starting from 2024, which gives foreigners the opportunity to benefit from reduced tax rates on income for a period of ten years.

Such a decision was taken as part of efforts to improve the housing crisis.

As for the Golden Visa Program of Portugal, it permits wealthy internationals to acquire residency if they contribute financially and meet specific conditions.

However, in October this year, the country applied some new changes to this scheme, among them abolishing the real estate investment option through this scheme.

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AtoZ Serwis Plus will provide the services listed below to get a European Country work visa:

• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

Through a statement through the electronic channel to access the services of Portugal, ePortugal,  it was revealed that the event was held at the Central Registry Office in Lisbon, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The event was attended by the Secretary of State for Digitisation and Administrative Modernisation, Mário Campolargo, as well as the Secretary of State for Justice, Pedro Ferrão Tavares, and the Board of Directors of the Institute of Registries and Notaries.  

The updated BackOffice Platform in the Civil Registry system aims to help automate various tasks by using Artificial Intelligence and also connecting with other entities line the Judicial Police (PJ), as well as the Directorate General for the Administration of Justice (DGAJ), and the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA).

The project is funded by Recover Portugal (PRR) with an initial budget of a total of  €1.4 million.

The introduction of this platform is a new phase in the development of nationality procedures, following the introduction of the Nationality Online services in February this year.

Since June 14, authorities in Portugal made it eligible to request Portuguese nationality online, emphasising that online applications can only be made by a lawyer or solicitor.

At present, the online service is available for all cases of application for Portuguese nationality.

In order to submit an online request, the lawyer or solicitor is required to verify their identity using the professional order certificate and also have the digital signature with professional attributes active.

Recently, it was reported that the Ministry of Justice platform for electronically submitting nationality requests has registered a total of 16,000 requests as of February this year.

The platform, now entirely operational, automates the integration of the Civil Registry to issue birth certificates, expediting around 23,000 registration processes.

The Ministry of Justice said that it is estimated that 20,000 hours of work will be saved, the equivalent of 86 people freed up for other high-value tasks.

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Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

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How can AtoZ Serwis Plus assist you?

AtoZ Serwis Plus will provide the services listed below to get a European Country work visa:

• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

Characterised by its mild temperatures, rich culinary traditions, picturesque Atlantic coastline, and reasonable cost of living, Portugal is a perfect destination for those with flexible work arrangements, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

According to Portugal’s official travel and tourism website, Visit Portugal, the country offers various destinations based on the digital nomads’ preferences and hobbies to make their stay in the country as enjoyable as possible.

Currently, Portugal ranks as the sixth-best country in the world for digital nomads, and whether you love to surf, the country’s culture, nature, well-being, golf, sea, and trails, Portugal has them all.

Porto & North for Culture

Porto and the northern region serve as an open door to a rich culture. Theatres, museums, art galleries, and bookshops offer a diverse backdrop for creative thinking for all digital nomads.

With various cultural experiences, including social gatherings, Porto makes sure to offer an incredible experience for digital nomads. It also keeps digital nomads updated and their working methods enriched.

Lisboa Region for Surf

Portugal’s Lisbon region presents an opportunity to refresh ideas and bring creativity to light, while at the same time offering an incredible environment for surfers.

Idyllic beaches like Guincho, Ericeira, Peniche, and Nazare offer the best conditions for the sport. The days start fresh in this part of the country, with surfing lessons refreshing ideas and providing new work perspectives for digital nomads.

Centre of Portugal for Heritage & Well-Being

In central Portugal, the remote working methodology is closely tied to well-being and tranquillity.

Historical Villages and Schist Villages offer relaxing mountainous landscapes, calming water courses, as well as picturesque scenarios.

According to Visit Portugal, slowing down becomes a secret to a healthier life, with heritage-rich surroundings enhancing the experience of digital nomads working from the country.

Algarve for Golf

Known for its diverse golf courses, Algarve is the perfect destination for digital nomads who like the sport.

This region provides an outdoor office that combines countryside and beach at the same time. It also offers the needed isolation for uninterrupted work.

The Azores for Sea

The Azores is a magnet for digital nomads, particularly for those who are interested in whale watching.

As one of the largest sanctuaries for whales in the world, the Azores has more than 20 species in its waters.

For digital nomads who are seeking an eco-friendly workspace, Azores is the perfect place to be.

Madeira for Trails

Committed to biodiversity and environmental heritage, Madeira is another place to be for digital nomads.

Digital nomads in Madeira can take a break by exploring the islands’s hiking trails. The Laurel Forest, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, provides a great environment, fostering new solutions as well as ideas for remote work.

In Portugal’s offerings, digital nomads find a harmonious blend of work and leisure, making the country not just a destination but also a dynamic and inspiring office space.

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Step 1: Fill out the employer's questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customise our services for you.  Fill in the form.

Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.

Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the employer's questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

How can AtoZ Serwis Plus assist you?

AtoZ Serwis Plus will provide the services listed below to get a European Country work visa:

• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

The announcement has officially been confirmed by the Portuguese government through a statement, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Moreover, those who earned their academic degrees prior to 2023 can also benefit from the new changes, as long as the number of years elapsed does not surpass the duration of their bachelor’s or master’s degree.

The ordinance announced by Prime Minister Antonio Costa in September of last year, defining the rules for granting salary bonuses, was officially published on December 28.

 “According to the diploma, the premium applies to all taxpayers residing in national territory, up to the age of 35, who have obtained a bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in national higher education institutions (public or private) in the years of 2023 and following (also applying to the same academic degrees obtained abroad, as long as they are recognised in Portugal).” Portugal’s government.

The government emphasises that the support is specifically dedicated to those falling under Category A (dependent work) and Category B (self-employed workers), with regulated tax as well as social security statuses.

Graduates and master’s degree holders who meet the needed conditions will be entitled to an annual salary bonus worth €697 for each year of their bachelor’s degree and €1,500 for each year of their master’s degree.

“The salary premium may also be claimed by young graduates and masters who have obtained an academic degree before 2023, as long as the number of years following the award of the academic degree is less than the number of years of the study cycle.”

On November 29, the Council of Ministers approved a decree-law that creates a salary premium that would be granted to young people who finish their higher education in Portugal.

Portugal is attracting a significant number of international students. Furthermore, the figures provided by the Directorate-General for Education and Science Statistics (DGEEC) revealed that the number of students at higher education institutions in Portugal reached a record high in the 2022/23 academic year.

According to DGEEC, the number of students reached 446,028 during the last academic year, thus accounting for an increase of a total of 12,811 or three per cent compared to last year’s statistics.

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Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.

Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the employer's questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

How can AtoZ Serwis Plus assist you?

AtoZ Serwis Plus will provide the services listed below to get a European Country work visa:

• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

Such a figure represents a 37 per cent increase compared to 2019, which had been the best tourism year until then, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Whereas compared to 2022, tourism in Portugal marked an 18.5 per cent increase in generated revenues.

Portugal welcomed 30 million guests in 2023, thus marking a ten per cent growth compared to 2019, the pre-pandemic year. During 2023, Portugal also recorded a total of 77 million overnight stays.

Commenting on the surge in tourism revenues, Nuno Fazenda, the Secretary of State for Tourism, Trade, and Services, referred to this as a structural change in Portugal’s tourism.

Additionally, he expressed his belief that Portugal’s tourism will experience further growth in 2024.

During 2023, Portuguese authorities have reported high numbers of tourists and arriving passengers in general.

In August 2023, Portugal welcomed 3.5 million guests, who spent 10.1 million overnight stays within that month. According to INE, the Government Office for National Statistics of Portugal, such a figure led to the highest monthly revenue ever recorded, which was €878.3 million, or 10.4 per cent more compared to August 2022.

Portugal saw an increase in passenger traffic as well. As revealed last month by INE, national airports in Portugal registered 6.4 million passengers and handled 20.4 thousand tonnes of freight and mail in October 2023.

The number of arriving passengers at Portuguese airports exceeded 100,000 during the same month, 11.6 per cent more compared to the same period in 2022.

Such an influx of visitors can also be attributed to the recognition of several Portuguese destinations as top destinations in Europe in 2023.

In October last year, Passadiços do Paiva won the title of “Europe’s Leading Adventure Tourist Attraction 2023” for the sixth year in a row at the World Travel Awards. This popular tourist destination within Portugal’s Arouca UNESCO Global Geopark triumphed over four other renowned destinations.

Within the same month, Madeira Islands in Portugal received the award of Europe’s Leading Destination in 2023 by the World Travel Awards. In this competition, Madeira Islands triumphed over 12 other European destinations.

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Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.

Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the employer's questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

How can AtoZ Serwis Plus assist you?

AtoZ Serwis Plus will provide the services listed below to get a European Country work visa:

• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

The Residency by Investment Scheme permits wealthy internationals to acquire residency in this country by meeting some conditions and investing financially in this territory, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

However, the program is now subject to some different rules. Among them is also the abolishment of the option to acquire residency through investment options, which allowed internationals to acquire residency by making investments of €280,000 or more.

The new changes came following the decision of Portugal’s President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, to approve the “More Housing” bill. The decision came as part of efforts to better manage the housing crisis, with the country’s authorities attempting to find effective ways to deal with this situation.

However, such changes have not brought any significant impact on the country’s housing market, especially in Lisbon.

The housing prices in Lisbon remain above European levels, according to a Bloomberg report provided last month, which also emphasized that Portugal’s appealing factors, such as security, mild quality of life, and good health services, among others, continue to attract a large number of internationals planning to live in Portugal.

Besides, housing prices in Lisbon remain attractive, being nearly half of those in Paris or Zurich.

Despite these changes, we have seen an increase in the number of requests for information from our foreign clients; there are simply not enough houses to meet demand, even with the slowdown in sales. Paulo Silva, from Savills in Portugal

Bloomberg’s report also noted that homes in Portugal’s capital continue to increase, reaching a record high in November. In particular, house prices in Lisbon increased by 5.8 per cent in comparison to the previous year, reaching a total of €5,426 per square meter.

According to a previous report from the Property Market Index, the approval of new changes to Portugal’s Golden Visa scheme, part of the “More Housing” bill, would not affect property values, as home prices are expected to increase 8.7 per cent this year.

Lisbon and the Algarve emerged as the first locations for property growth in Portugal. The same noted that in other towns, such as Estoril, Cascais, Comporta, and Sintra, properties have also increased in value.

Portugal’s Golden Visa scheme has contributed significantly to the country’s economy. Since October 12, when it was first introduced, a total of 12,497 golden visas were issued by authorities in this country.

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Step 1: Fill out the employer's questionnaire. Please provide us with the necessary details about your job requirements and company. We'll use this information to customise our services for you.  Fill in the form.

Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.

Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the employer's questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

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AtoZ Serwis Plus will provide the services listed below to get a European Country work visa:

• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

In contrast to December 2019, a pre-pandemic era unaffected by the impact of COVID-19 on tourism, the last month of 2023 suffered a drop of 1.2 percentage points, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

In addition, the primary contributors to the year-on-year surge were the Dutch market, which contributed 0.6 percentage points, and the German and Irish markets, which contributed 0.2 percentage points each.

Regarding geographical areas, the Vilamoura/Quarteira/Quinta do Lago region, encompassing three key tourist destinations in the Loulé municipality, experienced the most substantial growth, surpassing December 2022 by over 4.8 percentage points. Moreover, Albufeira also saw a significant increase, exceeding the previous year’s figures by more than 1.9 percentage points.

Portuguese authorities celebrated last year as a triumphant year in tourism, reaching a record revenue of €25 billion. Such a figure means a notable increase of 37 per cent compared to the previous peak year of 2019.

Compared to 2022, the tourism sector in Portugal experienced a significant increase of 18.5 per cent in the income generated, highlighting the country’s recovery and strong growth in the industry.

Portugal’s popularity as a tourist destination was underlined by welcoming 30 million guests in 2023, marking a significant ten per cent expansion compared to the pre-pandemic year 2019. Furthermore, the country recorded an impressive total of 77 million overnight stays during 2023.

In August of this year, Portugal also hosted about 3.5 million guests in accommodation establishments.

The Government Office for National Statistics of Portugal (INE) reported that these guests collectively contributed to an impressive 10.1 million overnight stays, resulting in the country’s highest monthly revenue ever recorded.

The total revenue for August reached a total of €878.3 million, indicating a 10.4 per cent increase compared to the same month in 2022.

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• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

In an analysis that the agency made by collecting data on immigration from 2009 to 2021, key findings show that Sweden is the easiest country for non-EU residents to gain citizenship, as one in ten applicants, or 9.3 per cent, is granted citizenship. In addition, Sweden has the highest acceptance rates for both men and women, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Women have an advantage, with an acceptance rate of 10.02 per cent, compared to 8.66 per cent for men.

Furthermore, the list of countries that grant citizenship the easiest is concluded with the Netherlands, Portugal, and Iceland, which are the second to fifth countries where acquisition rates are the highest – exceeding one in 25 (four per cent).

Portugal ranks fourth among the 32 European countries to acquire citizenship the easiest, with more than three in every 50 residents of third countries becoming citizens, which corresponds to 6.6 per cent of the total.

However, commenters of the Portugal News do not agree entirely with these findings.

The report further shows that Estonia is the first among the ten countries that have the most difficulty in obtaining nationality.

It has the lowest average percentage of residents obtaining nationality, around one in every 200 (0.6 per cent). Men are less likely to be accepted, with a lower acquisition rate of 0.58 per cent compared to 0.69 per cent for women.

Latvia, the Czech Republic, and Lithuania follow the list of the most difficult countries, with less than one per cent of their third-country residents doing so, compared to the European average of 3.56 per cent.

Austria, Liechtenstein, and Slovakia are the fifth, sixth, and seventh countries, respectively, where obtaining citizenship is the hardest, while Slovenia and Germany follow next, granting citizenship to less than one in 50 (two per cent) third-country residents.

However, no one beats Denmark, the country where it is most difficult to obtain citizenship, with an acquisition rate of two per cent.

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• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

The revamped laws, which include alterations to the Regulatory Decree of the Foreigners’ Law, align with the restructuring of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF). The initiative is part of a broader effort to adapt to evolving needs and improve security requirements in immigration-related matters, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA) has been at the forefront of implementing these changes. According to AIMA, the institution’s digital services portal will soon be launched, allowing for smoother residence permit applications for family reunification. This digital platform is expected to smooth processes and enhance overall security measures in line with immigration services.

Established on October 29, 2023, AIMA has inherited a substantial workload, with 347,000 cases to date. The agency’s primary objective is to regularise family reunification cases by the end of the year, a task that has yet to be done.

According to Ana Catarina Mendes, the minister responsible for AIMA, the agency is committed not only to improving its technological service but also to responding more easily to the needs of citizens.

To meet these objectives, AIMA works with municipalities and local immigrant support offices in the first three months of the year. The new changes aim to resolve pending immigration processes in addition to allocating more resources to address existing cases. The mission is to create a better and more responsive immigration system that aligns with contemporary requirements and ensures the prompt reunification of families.

According to a report by the OECD, Portugal received 80,000 new immigrants on a long-term or permanent basis (including changes of status and free mobility) in 2020, which is 18.6 per cent less than in the previous year.

In addition, 19 per cent of immigrants were benefitting from free mobility, 40.7 per cent moved for economic reasons, and 35.1 per cent had family reunification purposes (including accompanying family).

Around 12,000 permits were issued to international students at higher levels of education. In addition, 29,000 intra-EU postings were recorded in 2020, around 42 per cent less than in 2019. These posted workers are generally on short-term contracts.

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Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

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• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

According to Researcher Ana Rita Gil, this law allows those who are in the country irregularly to be regularised without the necessary documentation, indicating that non-Portuguese nationals can remain in the country easily, while Portugal is already dealing with increased immigration, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Gil, who is also a professor at Lisbon Public Law (Research Centre for Public Law at the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon), points out that because of this legal framework, she believes this will lead to a rise in far-right or more extremist discourses, as the Portuguese have already started reacting to the sharp increase in immigration.

Article 88 of the law of foreigners allows citizens of other countries who have entered Portugal legally, with the purpose of expressing interest, to apply for a residence permit provided they have an employment contract and are registered with social security.

This article, as well as the other one that enables self-employed professionals or entrepreneurs to apply for a residence permit, is believed to be the reason for the high volume of pending regularisation processes, estimated at 300,000.

The research also pointed out that the work-seeker visa was created to encourage people to come legally straight away, but the consulates don’t have enough staff and aren’t able to respond to requests, so “people end up preferring to continue coming illegally.”

According to Gil, the country is also going against the EU laws with its Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) authorisation. She noted that Portugal could not create residence permits that are not recognised in the Schengen area.

The articles (88 and 89) also go against “the history of decisions by the European Council,” which has made recommendations against this type of measure that essentially lures immigrants.

Statistics Portugal reveals that the resident population in the country has increased by 49,249 inhabitants compared to the previous year.

It is estimated that, in 2022, 117,843 permanent immigrants have entered Portugal, 21.3 per cent more than in 2021 (97,119), and that 30,954 permanent emigrants have left, 23.4 per cent more than in 2021 (25,079). The migration balance was positive (86,889) for the sixth consecutive year.

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Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

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AtoZ Serwis Plus will provide the services listed below to get a European Country work visa:

• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

The figures show that wealthy foreigners’ interest in acquiring residency in Portugal through this option has marked an increase for a period between January and September last year.

The surge is expected to continue following the country’s decision to abolish the real estate investment option from the Golden Visa Program in October last year,AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Based on the law under Portugal’s Article 90A Residence for Investment purposes, the investment funds include the following:

The Golden Visa Fund is the capital transfer of €500,000 or higher in order to acquire units of investment funds or venture capital funds dedicated to capitalising companies, capital injected under the Portuguese legislation, whose maturity, at the moment of investment, is at least of five years, at least 60 per cent of investment is realised in commercial companies with head office in national territory.

According to ECO, in the first nine months of last year, investment funds or venture capital funds that invest in Portuguese companies received more than €125 million under this scheme, or 45 per cent higher than those registered in 2022.

The same source revealed that for every ten investment residence permits (ARI) granted, three had their origin through the acquisition of participation units of investment funds in national shares.

Director of IMGA Ações Portugal, Mário Freitas, has expressed his belief that these funds should continue to be an alternative to obtaining golden visas if the climate of stability and economic growth in Portugal continues.

Earlier this month, it was also revealed that ending the real estate option from the Golden Visa Program has also led a more significant number of internationals to choose the cultural production option.

Portugal’s Golden Visa scheme, which allows internationals to acquire residency if they make an investment in this country and meet the needed conditions, was subject to new changes introduced in October last year as part of efforts to manage the housing crisis.

Among the changes approved by Portugal’s President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, through the “More Housing” bill was also the abolishment of the real estate investment option.

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• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

According to SEF, from the beginning of 2018 until the end of 2022, which represents a five-year period, the number of citizenship applications filed by Brazilian nationals increased by 81 per cent, with around 89,000 Brazilians filing a citizenship application in these years.

This represents a sharp rise compared to the previous years and suggests that more Brazilians wanted to obtain a Portuguese passport, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

Data provided by SEF show that in 2018 alone, around 11,500 nationals of Brazil submitted an application for Portuguese citizenship.

The number continued to remain high in the following years, too. Only two years later, in 2020, the number of citizenship applications filed by Brazilians reached more than 20,900, and by the end of 2022, the total stood at around 89,000.

With the increase in citizenship applications, the number of Brazilians in Portugal increased, too.

As Rádio e Televisão Record SA explains, by the end of 2022, Brazilians represented around 30.7 per cent of the foreigners in Portugal – one of the main foreign nationalities in the country.

The high number of citizenship applications filed by Brazilians not only in Portugal but in the other EU countries is further supported by data from the EU’s statistical office, Eurostat.

Eurostat revealed earlier this year that Brazilians were among the top ten main recipients of an EU Member State citizenship in 2021.

According to data provided by Eurostat, insixth place, Brazilians represented 2.5 per cent of EU citizenship recipients in 2021.

In 2021, about 20,400 Brazilians were granted citizenship in an EU country. While Brazilians applied for citizenship in the other EU countries too, Eurostat notes that 65 per cent of them acquired citizenship in Portugal or Italy. The remaining part acquired citizenship of the other EU Member States.

Differently from Brazilians, Moroccans were the largest group of foreigners who were granted citizenship in an EU Member State in 2021. Back then, 86,200 Moroccans acquired EU citizenship, with 71 per cent of them acquiring Spanish or French citizenship.

The second and third largest groups of foreigners who acquired EU citizenship in 2021 were Syrians and Albanians. In 2021, 83,500 Syrians and 32,300 Albanians obtained citizenship in an EU country.

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• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
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• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

This joint operation resulted in a total of 15 arrests, with 13 people caught in Cyprus, one in Latvia, and another in Portugal. Four arrested suspects have been identified as high-value targets, spread across two in Cyprus, one in Latvia, and one in Portugal, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The individuals involved in the criminal network came mainly from India, Pakistan, and Portugal. Through a statement, Europol also noted that significant seizures were made during the operation, including the confiscation of electronic equipment and essential documentation related to the illegal activities of the dismantled network.

These citizens coordinated the purchase of flight tickets, passports, and other necessary documents. The fraudulent marriage ceremonies were strategically held in Aradippou, Livadia, and Nicosia, Cyprus municipalities.

The OTF conducted extensive work, leading to searches and apprehensions within Cyprus and the capture of two key organisers in Latvia and Portugal. Their arrests were made possible through European Arrest Warrants issued by Cyprus.

Europol played a crucial role throughout the action day by actively supporting field operations. The authority also crosschecked operational information collected during the operation and provided operational analysis to furnish investigators on the ground with potential leads.

A total of nine cases were initiated at Eurojust between 2022 and 2024 to facilitate the execution of European Investigation Orders and European Arrest Warrants. At the same time, Eurojust played a pivotal role in organising dedicated coordination meetings and facilitating judicial cooperation among the authorities involved during the action day.

In a cooperative effort in November 2023, Greek and Belgian authorities, together with Europol and Eurojust, dismantled a criminal organisation that was illegally transporting migrants from Athens to Northern Europe.

This operation led to the capture of 11 people, with eight arrested in Belgium, two in Greece, and one in Sweden. Enforcement also included the execution of 16 search warrants, 12 carried out in Belgium and four in Greece.

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• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
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• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

According to the Guardian, Da Silva’s lawyer has said that Da Silva’s case can serve as evidence for the hostile environment policy that the UK has towards EU citizens, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

His boss, Domenic Tomeo, who hired Da Silva in 2007, says the Portuguese plumber is like family to him.

Da Silva tried to apply for EUSS through the Hom Office app in 2019, but his Portuguese ID card was not scanned; regardless of the fact that he applied for a new ID card, he still was unable to scan his documents.

He also tried to apply online, but he was unable to do so because he did not have the correct devices, prompting him to contact the Home Office for more information. However, due to his speech impediment, Da Silva was not understood by the people at the Home Office.

After finally finding a community organisation to help him submit an application, he did so on November 7, but it was rejected just over two weeks later.

Despite Da Silva explaining that he had submitted the late application because of issues related to his speech impediment, this reason was not considered a reasonable ground for the delay by the officials, who listed 11 points of measures that awaited Da Silva, as he is considered to be staying unlawfully in the country.

Some of the things that can happen to Da Silva include fines, detention, imprisonment, or even being banned from the UK. In addition, he cannot appeal against the rejection.

Naga Kandiah, Da Silva’s lawyer, has started a legal challenge against the rejection, saying that it does not align with the EU withdrawal agreement. She also called on the Home Office to accept her client’s application and allow a right of appeal for specific cases such as this one.

The Home Office made criteria more stringent for what is considered reasonable grounds in late applications.

During August, there were 9,470 applications deemed “invalid,” marking a threefold increase compared to the monthly average of 2,943 in previous months. In September, the number of invalid applications surged to 13,930, nearly quintupling the previous monthly average.

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Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

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More specifically, the PSD proposal recommended the chamber conduct a study that would update the tourist tax in the city, as the PSD Deputy argues that residents in the Portuguese capital should not be paying tourist taxes at all. Currently, they pay €2 in fees for each night of their stay in accommodation spots, including hotels and local establishments,  AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

At the presentation of the proposal, PSD argues that the tourist pressure on urban hygiene, maintenance of public spaces, pollution, and noise in the city of Lisbon have accumulated high costs, which must be alleviated urgently.

As the local media, The Portugal News reports, the PSD’s proposal for a study to update the tourist tax in Lisbon received positive feedback, being approved with votes against from PEV, PCP, and Chega, the abstention of BE and IL, and votes in favor by Livre, two independent deputies of Cidadãos Por Lisboa (elected by the PS/Livre coalition), PS, PSD, PAN, MPT, PPM, Aliança and CDS-PP.

The tourist tax in the city of Lisbon was applied on overnight stays by national students, including Lisbon residents, as well as foreigners in hotels and other accommodation establishments, and was implemented initially in January 2016.

While the tourist tax was €1 then, three years later, it was increased to €2 per night. Cruise ship passengers only started paying the fee this year.

Protesting the new and existing taxes, a CDS-PP deputy recommended that the tourist tax be applied at different rates, depending on the city area.

He further argued that tourist taxes should be lower or scrapped entirely in areas with fewer tourist visits, while in areas where tourist pressure is greater, the tourist tax value would be higher.

Maria Escaja, from the BE party, explained why she chose to abstain by saying that the way tourist tax money is spent needs to be revised. She pointed out that only one per cent is used for cleaning the city, while the rest is invested in tourism.

Escaja believes the tourist tax should help reduce the negative impacts of tourism, not just make the tourism industry bigger while PCP deputy Fernando Correira raised the issue that funds are not allocated for the city’s maintenance, saying the money from the tourist tax is not used for such purposes, as it should be.

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Step 2: Choose the best offer. Once we receive your completed questionnaire, we'll prepare a tailored proposal for recruitment, employee leasing, or outsourcing services.

Step 3: Welcome your new employee. We'll utilise our extensive network and resources to find the ideal candidate for your business. Please don't worry; we'll ensure favourable conditions for you and the employee.

Take advantage of exceptional talent for your company. Complete the employer's questionnaire today, and let us handle your hiring needs.

How can AtoZ Serwis Plus assist you?

AtoZ Serwis Plus will provide the services listed below to get a European Country work visa:

• Counselling: Get AtoZ Serwis Plus’ free counselling services.
• Job services: Avail of AtoZ Serwis Plus’ job search services to find jobs in European Country
• Reviewing requirements: AtoZ Serwis Plus reviews all your European Country work visa requirements.
• Application process: We also help in completing your application process
• Requirements checklist: AtoZ Serwis Plus also helps you in arranging the requirements for a European Country work visa
• Complete visa application support
• Assistance with collecting supporting documentation
• Visa Interview Preparation – if required
• Updates and follow-up with the Consulate

Willing to work in a European Country? Talk to AtoZ Serwis Plus, Europe’s no. 1 overseas immigration consultant.

Would you like some advice? So that you know, the information I've included here is for you to review. You'll always need to consult with your legal and tax advisor(s) and follow their guidance. AtoZ Serwis Plus cannot assist with legal or tax matters. The information presented is not specific to any particular company or workforce nor reflects how AtoZ Serwis Plus products are distributed in any jurisdiction. Instead, it is general. AtoZ Serwis Plus makes no representations or warranties regarding this information's accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. It shall not be liable for any losses from using or relying on it. It is your responsibility to exercise caution when using this information.

Disclaimer: atozserwisplus.pt is a FREE visa database and marketplace for immigration experts. This page's content does not provide legal advice. Before applying, kindly consult an expert.

According to Booking’s Traveller Review Awards, the ranking for this year has been made from reviews gathered from over 309 million customers.

Numerous European countries have dominated the list of global award recipients for this year, with Italy leading the pack at 181,012, trailed by Spain (125,611), France (124,361), Germany (86,910), and the United Kingdom (74,754).

The top ten list of most welcoming countries also includes other EU nations like Poland, Croatia, and Portugal, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

The compilation of the world’s most inviting cities showcases an EU influence, with four out of the top ten located on the continent.

The Booking’s Traveller Review Awards show that Brazil’s Arraial d’Ajuda claimed the top spot as the most welcoming destination in the world, followed by Ermoupoli in Greece, Viana do Castelo in Portugal, Daylesford in Australia, and Grindelwald in Switzerland, rounding out the top five.

Securing their positions as the world’s most welcoming destinations for 2024, the winning countries have garnered incredible comments from travellers who have already visited these destinations. Those who gave a review praised these destinations’ hospitality and service offerings, among many others.

Greece’s Ermoupoli Claims Spot as Second Most Welcoming Destination