Since the beginning of 2026, around 27,000 foreign nationals without legal grounds to remain in Portugal have received notices ordering them to leave the country. Only about 800 have complied voluntarily — roughly 3%. The figures were announced in parliament on October 7 by Minister of the Presidency António Leitão Amaro, DN reports.
The increase has been dramatic. According to RASI (the Annual Internal Security Report), 444 such notices were issued in 2024, compared with 23,134 in 2025. Most were sent to people whose applications to regularise their status had been rejected.
A source within the PSP (Public Security Police) expects more than 1,000 people to be forcibly deported by the end of the year, while around 25,000 notices will remain unfulfilled, The Portugal News reports. There are several reasons: some people have moved to other EU countries without officially registering their departure, others are challenging the decisions in court, and countries of origin can take a long time to issue the documents needed for their return.
The rules are now stricter. The Return Law, signed by the president on August 31, abolished the voluntary departure notice. A return decision now immediately obliges the person to leave, and those who remain can be detained by the police. However, the Constitutional Court has ruled that detention is permissible only as a last resort and with a judge’s authorisation.
These rules do not apply to people with a valid residence permit or those whose renewal is already being processed. However, it is advisable to apply for renewal in advance, before the current card expires.
