Chapter VIII · Removal from national territory · Section III · Judicial expulsion · Subsection II · Autonomous judicial expulsion measure

Article 153 Expulsion proceedings

Artigo 153.º · Processo de expulsão

Lei n.º 23/2007, de 4 de julho (Lei de Estrangeiros) · consolidated text, as amended by Law No. 62/2026, checked 26 October 2026

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1. Whenever any security force or service or administrative authority becomes aware of a fact that may constitute grounds for expulsion, it shall report it to the PSP, which shall open proceedings to gather the evidence on which a decision can be based.

1 - Sempre que qualquer força ou serviço de segurança ou autoridade administrativa tenha conhecimento de facto que possa constituir fundamento de expulsão, deve comunicá-lo à PSP, que instaura um processo para recolha de provas que habilitem a decisão.

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2. Expulsion proceedings begin with the order (despacho) opening them and must contain, in addition to the identification of the foreign national against whom they were opened, all other relevant evidence concerning that person, in particular whether or not they are resident in the country and, if so, the period of residence.

2 - O processo de expulsão inicia-se com o despacho que o mandou instaurar e deve conter, além da identificação do cidadão estrangeiro contra o qual foi mandado instaurar, todos os demais elementos de prova relevantes que lhe respeitem, designadamente a circunstância de ser ou não residente no País e, sendo-o, o período de residência.

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3. (Repealed.)

3 - (Revogado.)

What we checked in this article

Verify that reports go to the PSP, which opens the proceedings, the required content of the case file (identification, residence status and period of residence), and that paragraph 3 is shown as repealed.

Moving to Portugal, or bringing a team or family? Article 153 may decide what you can apply for.

We map the visa and residence route that fits your activity, prepare the company side (contracts, payroll, registrations) and coordinate with immigration lawyers for the application itself. A written answer and a fixed quote within one working day.

Unofficial English translation prepared by BCA Portugal for reference. Only the Portuguese text published in the Diário da República has legal force. Editorial notes are ours and are not part of the statute.

Applying the law

Visas and residence in Portugal, planned together with the company

The permit depends on what you will do here: employment, your own company, remote work for a foreign employer or investment. Tell us the plan, and we will set out which route the Act gives you and what the company needs to have in place.

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