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Manifestação de Interesse Portugal 2026: Is It Over?
Manifestação de interesse (expression of interest) was, for years, the most common way for immigrants to get legal status in Portugal after arriving as tourists. In 2026 people still search a lot for “manifestação de interesse Portugal”, but it no longer exists as a way in. This guide explains what happened, what is left of the transition regime and what the alternatives are.
What was manifestação de interesse?
It was a procedure set out in no. 2 of articles 88 (employed work) and 89 (self-employed work) of the Lei de Estrangeiros (Foreigners Law), in the version before 2024 — the AIMA fee table still calls it a “pedido de dispensa de visto consular de residência” (request to be exempted from a consular residence visa). It allowed people who were already in Portugal, working and paying social security contributions, to apply for a residence permit without a residence visa. In the old version, the law also presumed legal entry for people with 12 months of social security contributions.
When and how did manifestação de interesse end?
| Date | Law | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| 3 June 2024 | Decree-Law no. 37-A/2024 | Revoked the residence permit procedures based on manifestação de interesse and created a transition regime |
| 7 Nov. 2024 | Law no. 40/2024 | Extended the transition regime to people already registered with Segurança Social (social security) and paying contributions before the revocation |
| 22 Oct. 2025 | Law no. 61/2025 | Set the final deadline of the transition regime: 31 December 2025 |
Who was covered by the transition regime?
According to AIMA, foreign citizens who, before 4 June 2024:
- met the conditions to submit manifestação de interesse but did not do it; or
- did not yet meet the conditions (for example, no proof of legal entry and not 12 months of contributions), but were already registered with Segurança Social and paying contributions for that purpose.
For employed work, an employment contract was required; for self-employed work, a company contract, a declaration of start of activity with Finanças (tax office) and Segurança Social, or a service contract.
Is the transition regime still open?
No. Law no. 61/2025 changed art. 3 of Decree-Law no. 37-A/2024: applications had to be submitted by 31 December 2025 at the latest, or the right would lapse. In October 2026 it is no longer possible to submit new applications this way.
If you have a transition regime application or an old manifestação de interesse still waiting for a decision, follow the case through AIMA’s channels (aima.gov.pt) (AIMA — Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo, the immigration agency) and check there the current guidance for your case.
I have a pending manifestação de interesse. What should I do?
- Keep all your proof — case number, receipts, emails from AIMA.
- Keep paying social security contributions and keep your tax situation in order.
- Answer AIMA’s notifications within the deadlines. Under the new Decreto Regulamentar (regulatory decree), people who owed money were notified to pay within 10 working days, later 15; without payment, the procedure may be closed.
- Keep your email and address up to date — these are the channels used for notifications.
- Do not travel outside Portugal relying on your application receipt: AIMA explains that the receipt is not a travel document.
- If there are serious delays, Law no. 61/2025 regulates the court order (intimação judicial) against AIMA; talk to a lawyer.
What are the alternatives to manifestação de interesse today?
| Your profile | Alternative |
|---|---|
| You have a job offer | Work visa |
| You work remotely for clients or employers abroad | Digital nomad visa |
| Retired or with passive income | D7 visa |
| You want to study | Student visa |
| Citizen of a CPLP country | CPLP residence permit |
| You have a family member living in Portugal | Family reunification |
| Looking for a skilled job | Job seeker visa (not yet available) |
See the full overview in Portugal visa types.
What does this mean in practice?
Before 2024, you could enter Portugal as a tourist, find a job, pay social security and only then apply for residence. Today the order is the opposite: first the visa at the consulate, then residence at AIMA. The only relevant exception that survived was the transition regime, which is now closed.
Common mistakes
- Believing old videos that still explain manifestação de interesse as if it existed.
- Paying middlemen who promise to “open” manifestações de interesse or special regimes.
- Staying in Portugal after the 90 days as a tourist while waiting for a new route — this is illegal stay.
- Ignoring AIMA notifications in a pending case.
- Confusing the “manifestação individualizada de interesse da entidade empregadora” (an employer’s individual statement of interest), a document accepted by the consulate for the work visa, with the old manifestação de interesse regime. They are different things.
Next steps
Frequently asked questions
Does manifestação de interesse still exist in Portugal?
No. It was revoked by Decree-Law no. 37-A/2024, of 3 June. You can no longer apply for a residence permit based on manifestação de interesse.
Until when could I use the transition regime?
Law no. 61/2025 set that applications under the transition regime had to be submitted by 31 December 2025 at the latest, or the right would lapse.
I submitted manifestação de interesse before June 2024. Is my case dead?
Not necessarily. Cases submitted under the old regime are still being handled by AIMA. Follow your case through AIMA's official channels.
I came to Portugal as a tourist in 2025. Can I get legal status?
As a rule, not through manifestação de interesse. Ask AIMA or a lawyer about your specific situation.
What is the alternative to manifestação de interesse?
Apply at the consulate for the right visa: work, study, D7, digital nomad or CPLP, and then apply for the residence permit at AIMA.