Portugal had granted 5,883 work visas under the Cooperation Protocol for Regulated Labour Migration by 27 May 2026, Minister of the Presidency António Leitão Amaro said. The scheme lets employers seek work visas for prospective hires while they remain in their home countries.
Leitão Amaro gave the total at a hearing of the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees. Since the protocol began, officials had received 8,435 applications and issued visas through 40 consular posts.
Companies have increased their use of the route. The minister said their share of monthly applications rose from 20% to 30%, and that approximately 64% of applications had been approved.
The scheme handles overseas recruitment. Employers and workers have duties before a visa is issued.
Agriculture accounted for approximately 3,000 visas, while 1,179 went to civil construction workers. An earlier breakdown, dated 30 April 2026, reported the distribution by sector as follows:
| Sector | Visas reported by 27 May | Share in 30 April breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture | Approximately 3,000 | 66% |
| Construction | 1,179 | 23% |
| Trade, services and industry | Not reported | 11% |
Workers must arrange the visa and contract before leaving home
Portugal introduced the scheme in 2024 to speed work-visa processing through its diplomatic network. Portuguese diplomatic posts process applications abroad, while employers can apply for prospective employees.
The protocol calls for a response within 21 days. The reported average approval time was also 21 days, described as nine days faster than the protocol’s 30-day target.
The route took on a larger role after Portugal discontinued the “manifestation of interest” mechanism. That process had allowed some people who entered without a work visa to seek a residence permit. The work visa is now the route to legal residency through formal employment.
Applicants must secure the visa abroad and finalize an employment contract before departure. The scheme provides no post-arrival regularization, informal alternative or grace period for job-seeking. The employment arrangement must be in place first.
Employers take on support responsibilities in exchange for faster processing. They must arrange housing and integration resources, including an accommodation plan, access to vocational training and Portuguese language instruction. Participating companies also must meet social responsibility criteria and provide dignified conditions for foreign workers.
April figures show the channel’s reach across companies and consulates
As of 30 April 2026, the scheme had received 6,080 applications and approved 4,042. It covered citizens of 32 nationalities, with processing through 38 consular posts in 29 countries.
The consular network had been reinforced with about 50 visa experts under the Action Plan for Migration. By the same date, 142 companies were using the protocol. It is available to both large groups and small and medium-sized enterprises.
A separate earlier benchmark recorded 3,328 approved visas in a review of the program’s first year. Another account described 3,328 work permits issued in less than a year after the launch in April 2024. It also recorded 1,163 applications in the preceding 20 working days, out of 5,183 applications filed overall at that point.
The visa channel forms part of a wider migration overhaul
Leitão Amaro presented the protocol within what he called a “structural and profound reform.” Two years into implementation, the Migration Action Plan had reached 75% completion, he told Parliament. The country had issued half a million residence cards during that period.
He said the government’s response to earlier gaps in immigration controls was not to seal borders. Instead, he described its goal as creating “orderly and regular” entry flows.
“I believe we showed that moderation is possible and it is happening in Portugal with results.”
The minister said annual work visas had increased from a previous total of up to 20,000 to 50,000 per year. Total consular visas had reached “just over 60,000.”
On family reunification, he recalled a time when Portugal approved “20,000 cases per year,” and only “when ordered by the courts,” because “the doors were closed.” This year, he said, 55,000 appointments had already been scheduled and 35,000 cases processed.
“When we grant papers, we grant dignity.”
Leitão Amaro identified integration as the next major challenge after processing arrivals. The Action Plan’s implementation stood at 75%, with support for newcomers still part of the work ahead.
