Law 18/2022 implemented Portugal's CPLP Mobility Agreement commitments, creating substantially simplified residence procedures for citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries.
Law 18/2022 eliminated SEF's prior opinion requirement for many family reunification categories, reducing delays and streamlining documentation and financial criteria.
Law 18/2022 introduced the job-seeker visa, allowing foreign nationals to enter Portugal for up to 180 days to search for employment, reversing the previous requirement to secure a job offer from abroad.
Law 18/2022 simplified student visa pathways by removing SEF prior opinion requirements and clarifying transfers between academic programmes and work-based permits.
Law 18/2022 abolished Portugal's annual quota system for foreign workers and streamlined hiring processes, creating faster pathways to legal employment for non-EU nationals.
Law 18/2022 introduced sweeping immigration reforms including a job-seeker visa, clearer pathways for digital nomads, and the abolition of annual work permit quotas to attract foreign talent.