The government will include a rule in the next state budget that will make it possible to extend the automatic renewal of residence permits of foreigners living in the country by 2023, the interior minister announced on Wednesday.
“We have taken the decision to automatically extend the residence permit until December 31. In consultation with the Secretary of State for Parliamentary Affairs, it is envisaged that we can include a rule in the proposal for the state budget to ensure that this mechanism of automation can be extended until 2023 with regard to renewal of residence permits”said Jose Luis Carneiro.
During the specialist assessment of the National Budget Proposal for 2023 (OE2023), the Minister indicated that these citizens who can automatically renew expired residence permits are those of whom “biometric data is collected” and “the documentation is already known to the SEF”.
In recent days, it has been reported that thousands of immigrants, most of them Brazilians, are unable to renew their long-expired residence permits, leaving them unable to leave Portugal and, many of them, unable to find work or open a bank account.
In response to PAN deputy Inês Sousa Real, the minister said that the mysteries of Foreign Affairs, Internal Administration and Economy will carry out an evaluation of the “golden visas” and that this modality for obtaining residence permits could end.
“After this review, it is likely that a decision will be made to eliminate this modality as they have performed one of the key functions of attracting investment and now also respond to other concerns.”said.
The prime minister had also stated this Wednesday that the government is evaluating the continuity of the golden visa regime for obtaining a residence permit in Portugal, admitting its maintenance may no longer be warranted.
Source: DN
