Portugal Suspends Job Search Visa: Impact on Tunisian Applicants
As of October 23, 2025, Portugal has officially suspended the issuance of job search visas, a measure that affects numerous applicants, including many Tunisians seeking professional opportunities in Europe.
Background
This decision stems from Law No. 61/2025, published on October 22 in the Portuguese Official Journal, which profoundly reforms the country's migration policy. The text abolishes the old visa regime open to all job applicants, replacing it with a new visa exclusively for highly skilled workers.
Rationale
According to Portuguese authorities, this overhaul aims to "respond to the labor market's needs for specialized skills" and "better regulate migration flows." However, the implementing provisions of the new system have not yet been published, resulting in a complete suspension of applications and appointments.
Canceled Appointments and Uncertainty for Applicants
The Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that all scheduled appointments from October 23 onwards have been automatically canceled. Embassies and consulates, including those in North Africa, have suspended the reception of applications.
Tunisian candidates who had already booked a submission date (sometimes several months in advance) are now left without the possibility of pursuing their applications, awaiting new instructions.
Many young Tunisian graduates had turned to this visa due to its simplicity and the opportunity it offered to legally seek employment in Portugal for four months, extendable once.
Towards a Selective Visa for Qualified Profiles
The future highly skilled job search visa will target only professionals with specific technical skills, to be defined later by decree. This orientation is part of the Portuguese government's desire to prioritize "skill-based" immigration over "open" immigration.
Next Steps
Until the new regulatory framework is implemented, no job search visa applications can be submitted, and Tunisian candidates are invited to wait. Portuguese consulates are expected to publish new guidelines in the coming weeks.
