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Decreto-Lei 37-A/2024: Manifestação de Interesse abolished

in Law

Effective 4 June 2024, Decreto-Lei n.º 37-A/2024 abolished the "Manifestação de Interesse" pathway that let non-EU foreigners on a tourist visa or visa-exempt stay regularise on the basis of a work contract. Applications already filed before 3 June 2024 keep moving under the old regime; no new ones are accepted.

The Portuguese government has abolished the Manifestação de Interesse ("MI") pathway with Decreto-Lei n.º 37-A/2024, in force 4 June 2024. The MI was the mechanism through which a non-EU citizen who had entered Portugal on a tourist visa (or visa-exempt) could request a residence permit on the basis of an active work contract registered with Segurança Social — without first leaving the country.

What changed

  • New MIs not accepted. AIMA stopped accepting new Manifestação de Interesse filings on 3 June 2024.
  • Backlog continues. All MIs filed before 3 June 2024 continue to be processed under the prior regime. AIMA had a ~400k-case backlog at the time of the change and is working through it through 2025–2026.
  • Tourist-to-residency channel closed. Anyone arriving on a tourist visa or under visa-exempt rules can no longer convert to a residence permit from inside Portugal. The correct path now is to apply for a residence visa (D-series) at the Portuguese consulate before travel.
  • Work-search visa available. Those who specifically want to enter Portugal to look for employment can use the Visto para Procura de Trabalho (work-search visa) introduced in 2022.

Risk surface for current applicants

  • If you are still in Portugal on a tourist visa hoping to file an MI: that route is closed. Plan a return to your country of legal residence and apply for the correct D-visa from the consulate.
  • If your MI was filed before 3 June 2024: keep it open. AIMA is honouring the prior regime for these. The processing wait is long (12–24 months in many cases).
  • Some applicants on MI have been asked by AIMA for additional documentation in 2025 — respond promptly and keep proof of all submissions.

What Greenlight recommends

  1. Talk to an OA-registered lawyer about the right D-visa for your profile (D1 employment, D2 self-employment, D3 highly-qualified, D7 passive-income, D8 digital nomad). Greenlight's Visa Advisor can help triage.
  2. If you have an in-flight MI: keep all paperwork organised in your Greenlight vault. AIMA's communications often arrive by post or AIMA portal with short response windows.
  3. Do not arrive in Portugal on a tourist visa with the intent of filing an MI — that pathway is closed and overstaying carries fines, deportation risk, and a re-entry ban.

This article is informational. For your specific situation, consult an OA-registered lawyer. Greenlight connects you with one in two clicks.