Portugal Tightens Immigration Laws as Spain Faces Policy Shift
Portugal has implemented strict visa and citizenship reforms to curb migration, while Spain considers similar restrictive measures ahead of a November snap election.
The government of Portugal has implemented strict immigration reforms to regain control of its migration-regulation system after the foreign-born population grew from 4% to 14% between 2017 and 2024. Under Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, the country now requires appropriate visas, has re-established a border force, and restricted family reunions. The government also extended citizenship timelines to between seven and ten years. These measures have successfully reduced net migration from 270,000 to 60,000 per year.
Spain has historically maintained a more open approach under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who recently announced an amnesty for undocumented migrants. However, Spain faces similar pressures, with a foreign-born population exceeding 20% and strained housing and public services. The Spanish exclave of Ceuta saw a surge of over 80,000 migrants in July.
Spain's policy is expected to shift ahead of a snap general election scheduled for November 29, 2026. Conservative leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo has proposed a points system and quotas mirroring the Portuguese model, while the populist Vox party has risen to approximately 19% in polls.
