Being Portuguese and knowing how these things work, I can assure all you that the target is not the expats or the immigrants from first world countries.
The target are the immigrants from hindustan, that come in flights full of men, just men, no families, just men of working age, arriving in PT saying that they are tourists. Many are brought by human traffickers and migrant smugglers. (I don't need to explain that.)
[We know that many just want PT documents and will disappear asap going to other economically stronger European countries, but being PT residents or even PT citizens... Their aim is not to integrate, it is just to get documents and move on.]
On people from PT speaking countries (Africans, mainly) and Brazilians, the problem is mainly because some are criminals and enter PT with no criminal background check - I believe that people should be able to start again, but many just want to expand criminal activities, and - worse - violent habits.
On «you» being affected by all that, fear not, new laws are not retroactive. That would be illegal to change the rules and affect previous ongoing processes. New ones, however, may become more restrictive and more scrutinized.
Nancy, thanks for a helpful post about something important to me as well. I am also approaching the five year mark as a resident, and have been hopeful of an effort towards citizenship. I really want a full connection to Portugal, which I feel is my country that I believe in. With the new immigration proposals, plus the backlog at AIMA, it all looks like a moving target. "Just a dream some of us had", from Joni Mitchell. A reoccurring theme in many lives. Thanks for having eternally springing hope!
That's true. The first one each month is free, and the top story (usually the most important story) is also free for all subscribers. He did explain why he needed to change to a more paid model after 5 years of running it for free
I find it interesting to read about politics in another country. I often wonder if the two party system is some of the downfall of the politics in the USA today. So it’s intriguing to see how countries with multiple political parties form governments.
My initial reaction is that the multi-party parliamentary system reduces the dramatic shifts we see in a 2-party system...especially when the President, Congress and the Supreme Court share 1 party.
A short, clear synopsis of the agonizing changes before the government. Confusion and misinformation is rampant; attorneys are reaching every person they can find, stirring up business to 'get on the record before it is too late' (it was too late on 20 June). All of us need to remain informed, be diligent about which resources to trust (the list is very, very short) and stay calm. My family, like yours, has options due to our objectives and years in-country. Others have fewer and we can help them with sound info, not 'I heard' stuff. Keep Portugal Decoded nearby! We can also see that the surge in migration is finally being felt across Europe, Canada, US and the tightened regulations are finally being offered.
We are in the same boat as you. Our five year anniversary for applying is in December too. Hope we will be grandfathered if it does pass. We just scheduled our CIPLE tests. Nov 13 in Mallorca (all PT sites were booked). At any rate the CIPLE is needed for permanent residency
It's pretty clear that you are not going to be grandfathered if the law passes. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news. I'm pretty much in the same boat so it looks like we can look forward to waiting another 5 years to apply and another god knows how many years for them to process the application.
I cannot substantiate this, but I've heard from some people I know here that getting the permanent residency is essentially impossible. I mean, it's theoretically possible, they just simply aren't processing them.
Is it too cynical of me to think that Portugual is deliberately slow-walking all of these processes in hopes that a lot of us will get frustrate and leave on our own?
Looks like you can run but you cannot hide. I do not have full understanding of what you wrote about, but I am sorry there might be a bit of a glitch in becoming full citizens of Portugal. America is quickly imploding. My former partner who has gone to live in Israel to be near her daughter spends frequent time in her home bomb shelter. Problems caused by humans need to be solved; no place is nirvana How to solve? I wish I knew....best to you and Denise.
Great update! As for me, I’m never giving up my USA citizenship because I really love my country, and especially my family, friends, and home state. I’m not ashamed to be an American but I am sad we, the wealthiest country on the planet, still haven’t solved poverty. But about immigration issues, it interesting that anti-immigration zealots in any country never call for the arrest and exile of folks who import and employ too-cheap-to-be-legal labor? My home state — California — rarely (if ever) shuts down the businesses where undocumented immigrants are being hunted and deported as we speak. Really the state only intervenes in the case of egregious child labor instances and/or the presence of farm slave camps — which yep we still have in California — and even then it’s usually only a fine. And isn’t it also interesting how the same anti-immigration zealots in any country claim that too-cheap-to-be-legal laborers are thieves and rapists? I mean, there must be a racist dogma playbook somewhere, right? I will say though that USA voters — Dems and Republicans alike — have never ever insisted on an immigration system that’s workable for everyone. Possibly because we like our cheap meat, dairy, and produce more than we abhor criminally cheap labor? I’ve never been more grateful for small local mercados in Portugal than I am now.
Yes, the petition that should be debated in Parliament as it has over 7500 signatures would grandfather in the 5-years-citizenship to those who already have Residency under that promise.
After one registers (I used my passport number and "Norte-Americana" as the country, and then verify by clicking in the email,) it's easy to sign other petitions too.
Thank you Nancy, good post - as always - insightful and personally relevant to many of us.
My sonar pings a little on every shift to the right, not enough to go to silent running but enough to perhaps elevate my awareness level. (Witness the most recent shift to the right in America.)
I think perhaps that the most important thing for my wife and I is to apply ourselves even more diligently to learning Portuguese, should the day ever come when we need to argue our case.
I most certainly wish you and Denise well in your application and hope that, when the day comes, we might also be in a position to apply.
Politics, in any country seems to be heavily influenced by listening to what people wish to hear in order to regurgitate those sentiments in hopes of winning votes. This, I am afraid, is being led by donkeys instead of leading like the lions we need.
I am a US expat living here since 2001. You left out some steps to becoming a citizen. There are two important steps for immigrants, like me, before full citizenship is gained. First is to obtain temporary residency, which lasts for five years. After this, you are able to obtain a permanent residency (which I have), and then after a period of permanent residency, you can apply for full citizenship. I will be doing this soon and then become a dual citizen, US and Portuguese. There are requirements for all of these steps, all of which are spelled out on the site of ESF.
Hi Nancy, Thank you for addressing something that is a quite important to many of your readers. For my part, I think the governments of both Portugal and the usa are shooting themselves in the foot. Neither country’s “real” citizens are producing enough children to support the social security systems for the countries as the citizens age. Neither country has enough workers to do those jobs that citizens consider beneath them or too low in pay. However, all of these jobs are necessary. Who is going to do them? I don’t get it. I’m especially puzzled with Portugal because it is one ☝️ f the poorest countries in the EU. I don’t know how they are planning to generate GDP and enough tax revenue to run-the country. I don’t profess to understand Portuguese politics in the least, but they seem about as well thought out as Americans at this time and the overriding principle is to shut out most people who are other than a white skin color. I guess we will wait and see how these strategies pan out for these countries but I predict it won’t be good.
Gayna, unfortunately I see many similarities with sentiments in the States and valid concerns. The graying of Portugal (do to extended life expectancy and low birthrates) is a real concern for the Social Security and already strain public healthcare system.
We could probably say that is true of UK, France etc. The immigration question really needs to be considered with respect to workers in health and care (and probably building too)
I imagine you have seen the petition that is currently circulating which intends to bring to discussion in Parliament the issue of grandfathering those residents who have begun the five-year clock to citizenship application? I heard it takes 7,500 signatures to bring the petition forward.
The growth of Chega, a populist party, was very much based on the discontent of the Portuguese population against the open-door policy of the previous government, which led to the entry of 1,200,000 legal emigrants (God knows how many illegal ones) in six years.
Everyone has realised this and, first and foremost, a country's government has to respond to the wishes of its people and, since this is the issue that most concerns the Portuguese, it's only natural that this government should choose controlling emigration as its first priority, because either it's controlled or the next government will be that of Chega.
There has to be a limit because resources are finite and public services are collapsing in order to keep the national accounts in order.
With this laws, the government respond to the wishes of the Portuguese and at the same, cut the popular support of the Chega.
How this is going to affect the different groups (expats, digital nomads, poors looking for a better life), remains to see, but everyone knows something has to be done.
My timeline runs parallel to yours and I feel the same way--I've been counting down the time when I could apply for citizenship but like you, if the residency period goes to ten years, then fine. I wasn't going to leave Portugal anyway. I have friends whose applications are in process and it will be interesting to see if they are grandfathered in or have to wait.
Being Portuguese and knowing how these things work, I can assure all you that the target is not the expats or the immigrants from first world countries.
The target are the immigrants from hindustan, that come in flights full of men, just men, no families, just men of working age, arriving in PT saying that they are tourists. Many are brought by human traffickers and migrant smugglers. (I don't need to explain that.)
[We know that many just want PT documents and will disappear asap going to other economically stronger European countries, but being PT residents or even PT citizens... Their aim is not to integrate, it is just to get documents and move on.]
On people from PT speaking countries (Africans, mainly) and Brazilians, the problem is mainly because some are criminals and enter PT with no criminal background check - I believe that people should be able to start again, but many just want to expand criminal activities, and - worse - violent habits.
On «you» being affected by all that, fear not, new laws are not retroactive. That would be illegal to change the rules and affect previous ongoing processes. New ones, however, may become more restrictive and more scrutinized.
Thank you so much for your perspective.
Thank you for the insight.
Nancy, thanks for a helpful post about something important to me as well. I am also approaching the five year mark as a resident, and have been hopeful of an effort towards citizenship. I really want a full connection to Portugal, which I feel is my country that I believe in. With the new immigration proposals, plus the backlog at AIMA, it all looks like a moving target. "Just a dream some of us had", from Joni Mitchell. A reoccurring theme in many lives. Thanks for having eternally springing hope!
"Portugal Weekly" by journalist Jorge Branco is another brilliant substack to follow! https://jorgebranco.substack.com/
Yes, he is on my recommended list. However, recently many of his editions require a subscription...
That's true. The first one each month is free, and the top story (usually the most important story) is also free for all subscribers. He did explain why he needed to change to a more paid model after 5 years of running it for free
I find it interesting to read about politics in another country. I often wonder if the two party system is some of the downfall of the politics in the USA today. So it’s intriguing to see how countries with multiple political parties form governments.
My initial reaction is that the multi-party parliamentary system reduces the dramatic shifts we see in a 2-party system...especially when the President, Congress and the Supreme Court share 1 party.
A short, clear synopsis of the agonizing changes before the government. Confusion and misinformation is rampant; attorneys are reaching every person they can find, stirring up business to 'get on the record before it is too late' (it was too late on 20 June). All of us need to remain informed, be diligent about which resources to trust (the list is very, very short) and stay calm. My family, like yours, has options due to our objectives and years in-country. Others have fewer and we can help them with sound info, not 'I heard' stuff. Keep Portugal Decoded nearby! We can also see that the surge in migration is finally being felt across Europe, Canada, US and the tightened regulations are finally being offered.
We are in the same boat as you. Our five year anniversary for applying is in December too. Hope we will be grandfathered if it does pass. We just scheduled our CIPLE tests. Nov 13 in Mallorca (all PT sites were booked). At any rate the CIPLE is needed for permanent residency
It's pretty clear that you are not going to be grandfathered if the law passes. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news. I'm pretty much in the same boat so it looks like we can look forward to waiting another 5 years to apply and another god knows how many years for them to process the application.
I cannot substantiate this, but I've heard from some people I know here that getting the permanent residency is essentially impossible. I mean, it's theoretically possible, they just simply aren't processing them.
Is it too cynical of me to think that Portugual is deliberately slow-walking all of these processes in hopes that a lot of us will get frustrate and leave on our own?
Looks like you can run but you cannot hide. I do not have full understanding of what you wrote about, but I am sorry there might be a bit of a glitch in becoming full citizens of Portugal. America is quickly imploding. My former partner who has gone to live in Israel to be near her daughter spends frequent time in her home bomb shelter. Problems caused by humans need to be solved; no place is nirvana How to solve? I wish I knew....best to you and Denise.
Great update! As for me, I’m never giving up my USA citizenship because I really love my country, and especially my family, friends, and home state. I’m not ashamed to be an American but I am sad we, the wealthiest country on the planet, still haven’t solved poverty. But about immigration issues, it interesting that anti-immigration zealots in any country never call for the arrest and exile of folks who import and employ too-cheap-to-be-legal labor? My home state — California — rarely (if ever) shuts down the businesses where undocumented immigrants are being hunted and deported as we speak. Really the state only intervenes in the case of egregious child labor instances and/or the presence of farm slave camps — which yep we still have in California — and even then it’s usually only a fine. And isn’t it also interesting how the same anti-immigration zealots in any country claim that too-cheap-to-be-legal laborers are thieves and rapists? I mean, there must be a racist dogma playbook somewhere, right? I will say though that USA voters — Dems and Republicans alike — have never ever insisted on an immigration system that’s workable for everyone. Possibly because we like our cheap meat, dairy, and produce more than we abhor criminally cheap labor? I’ve never been more grateful for small local mercados in Portugal than I am now.
Yes, the petition that should be debated in Parliament as it has over 7500 signatures would grandfather in the 5-years-citizenship to those who already have Residency under that promise.
After one registers (I used my passport number and "Norte-Americana" as the country, and then verify by clicking in the email,) it's easy to sign other petitions too.
One can sign the petition here: https://participacao.parlamento.pt/initiatives/5005?fbclid=IwY2xjawLPRStleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFTNWd0eHFFaTlzVU1JYjh3AR4E4RxKtFeOHp6pTlkuhKWFxAWGBgVIEiiXH9ccY08Z6SsS-uYdTvpHG42ySA_aem_EyYT0YPc1Hq-iq_5jgG6kw
Thank you Nancy, good post - as always - insightful and personally relevant to many of us.
My sonar pings a little on every shift to the right, not enough to go to silent running but enough to perhaps elevate my awareness level. (Witness the most recent shift to the right in America.)
I think perhaps that the most important thing for my wife and I is to apply ourselves even more diligently to learning Portuguese, should the day ever come when we need to argue our case.
I most certainly wish you and Denise well in your application and hope that, when the day comes, we might also be in a position to apply.
Politics, in any country seems to be heavily influenced by listening to what people wish to hear in order to regurgitate those sentiments in hopes of winning votes. This, I am afraid, is being led by donkeys instead of leading like the lions we need.
I am a US expat living here since 2001. You left out some steps to becoming a citizen. There are two important steps for immigrants, like me, before full citizenship is gained. First is to obtain temporary residency, which lasts for five years. After this, you are able to obtain a permanent residency (which I have), and then after a period of permanent residency, you can apply for full citizenship. I will be doing this soon and then become a dual citizen, US and Portuguese. There are requirements for all of these steps, all of which are spelled out on the site of ESF.
Hi Nancy, Thank you for addressing something that is a quite important to many of your readers. For my part, I think the governments of both Portugal and the usa are shooting themselves in the foot. Neither country’s “real” citizens are producing enough children to support the social security systems for the countries as the citizens age. Neither country has enough workers to do those jobs that citizens consider beneath them or too low in pay. However, all of these jobs are necessary. Who is going to do them? I don’t get it. I’m especially puzzled with Portugal because it is one ☝️ f the poorest countries in the EU. I don’t know how they are planning to generate GDP and enough tax revenue to run-the country. I don’t profess to understand Portuguese politics in the least, but they seem about as well thought out as Americans at this time and the overriding principle is to shut out most people who are other than a white skin color. I guess we will wait and see how these strategies pan out for these countries but I predict it won’t be good.
Gayna, unfortunately I see many similarities with sentiments in the States and valid concerns. The graying of Portugal (do to extended life expectancy and low birthrates) is a real concern for the Social Security and already strain public healthcare system.
We could probably say that is true of UK, France etc. The immigration question really needs to be considered with respect to workers in health and care (and probably building too)
I imagine you have seen the petition that is currently circulating which intends to bring to discussion in Parliament the issue of grandfathering those residents who have begun the five-year clock to citizenship application? I heard it takes 7,500 signatures to bring the petition forward.
Yes, and give our recent success with city hall…
It has gathered over 12K signatures so far: https://participacao.parlamento.pt/initiatives/?type=petitions&q&fbclid=IwY2xjawLHTXZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF2bkVlWHY1dWF3TTg2OG9PAR679oP1XfCMmXDbrL4aEkY87G98QyVB13Aa17toKMu77qx85y79zViz7kSoYQ_aem_MjCPe6fKK0XJDLF3oNbB9g
The growth of Chega, a populist party, was very much based on the discontent of the Portuguese population against the open-door policy of the previous government, which led to the entry of 1,200,000 legal emigrants (God knows how many illegal ones) in six years.
Everyone has realised this and, first and foremost, a country's government has to respond to the wishes of its people and, since this is the issue that most concerns the Portuguese, it's only natural that this government should choose controlling emigration as its first priority, because either it's controlled or the next government will be that of Chega.
There has to be a limit because resources are finite and public services are collapsing in order to keep the national accounts in order.
With this laws, the government respond to the wishes of the Portuguese and at the same, cut the popular support of the Chega.
How this is going to affect the different groups (expats, digital nomads, poors looking for a better life), remains to see, but everyone knows something has to be done.
What do you mean by "paying to keep your US citizenship"?
Sorry should have said paying to terminate my U.S. citizenship.
I checked and I did say "give up" my US citizenship...
My timeline runs parallel to yours and I feel the same way--I've been counting down the time when I could apply for citizenship but like you, if the residency period goes to ten years, then fine. I wasn't going to leave Portugal anyway. I have friends whose applications are in process and it will be interesting to see if they are grandfathered in or have to wait.
My assumption is that those who have already applied will be grandfathered, though there was discussion of setting a prior date.