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Jun 18, 20261
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Portugal Ends Tourist-to-Student Visa Route, Tightens Rules for Foreign Students
Portugal has approved new immigration legislation requiring foreign students to obtain a student visa before traveling, ending the practice of entering as a tourist and later regularizing their stay through enrollment. The change, which primarily affects Brazilians, is part of broader migration policy tightening.
Quick Facts
Who
Portuguese Parliament
What
Approved amendments to immigration law
When
2026-06-18
Where
Portugal
- Approved amendments to immigration law
- Ended tourist-to-student visa conversion
- Required student visa before travel
- Tightened migration rules
- Portuguese Parliament
The Portuguese Parliament has approved amendments to immigration law that require foreign students to obtain a student visa before entering the country, ending the long-standing practice of entering as a tourist and later applying for residency through a university enrollment.
Under the new legislation, individuals wishing to pursue long-term studies in Portugal must apply for a student visa at Portuguese consulates in their country of origin. The change closes a loophole that allowed students to enter Portugal on a tourist visa and subsequently request a residency permit based on enrollment in a course.
While temporary tourist visits remain permitted, they can no longer be converted into a residency permit for study purposes. The reform is part of a broader tightening of immigration rules adopted by the Portuguese government in recent years and primarily affects Brazilian nationals, who constitute the largest foreign community in Portugal.
Immigration experts say the new regulations eliminate a route that was often used for purposes other than genuine study. “That mechanism ended up being used by many people who, in fact, did not have academic life as their main objective. Enrollment became used as a form of immigration legalization,” said Wilson Bicalho, CEO of Bicalho Consultancy in Portugal.
Felipe Ricardo, partner at law firm Q7R Advogados, described the changes as a shift from a policy of tolerated internal regularization to one of ex ante migration control. “There is a transition from a policy of tolerated internal regularization to a model of prior control of migratory flows,” he said.
Experts note that while the process may become more bureaucratic and costly for students, especially Brazilians, Portugal will likely continue to attract genuine students. “The student visa still exists and has not changed. Anyone who really wants to study in Portugal can continue to do so normally, as long as they apply for the visa in Brazil,” Bicalho explained.
Processes already submitted before the change are expected to be evaluated under the regulations in force at the time of their application, offering some protection for those already in the system.
Why This Matters
This policy change directly affects prospective students, particularly from Brazil, who plan to study in Portugal. They must now obtain a student visa from a Portuguese consulate before traveling, making the process more bureaucratic and potentially costly. Genuine students can still apply, but the loophole for converting tourist stays into study residency is closed, emphasizing prior migration control.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 18, 2026
WireRádio Itatiaia reports approval of new legislation by Portuguese Parliament