Chapter VIII · Removal from national territory · Section V · Readmission

Article 168 Passive readmission

Artigo 168.º · Readmissão passiva

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. A foreign national readmitted to Portuguese territory who does not meet the legal conditions for remaining in the country shall be subject to a measure of removal from national territory provided for in this Chapter.

1 - O cidadão estrangeiro readmitido em território português, que não reúna as condições legalmente exigidas para permanecer no País, é objecto de medida de afastamento do território nacional prevista no presente capítulo.

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2. The following third-country nationals shall be readmitted to national territory immediately and without formalities, namely those who:

2 - São readmitidos, imediatamente e sem formalidades, em território nacional, os nacionais de Estados terceiros que:

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a) Have acquired long-term resident status in Portugal, together with their family members, whenever they have been subject to a forced removal decision by the Member State in which they exercised their right of residence;

a) Tenham adquirido o estatuto de residente de longa duração em Portugal, bem como os seus familiares, sempre que tenham sido sujeitos a uma decisão de afastamento coercivo do Estado membro onde exerceram o seu direito de residência;

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b) Hold a residence permit (‘EU Blue Card’) issued under Article 121-A et seq., together with their family members, even if that permit has lapsed or been withdrawn while the application was being examined, whenever they have been subject to a forced removal decision by the Member State to which they moved for highly qualified employment;

b) Sejam titulares de autorização de residência ('cartão azul UE'), emitido nos termos dos artigos 121.º-A e seguintes, bem como os seus familiares, ainda que aquele esteja caducado ou tenha sido retirado durante a análise do pedido, sempre que tenham sido sujeitos a uma decisão de afastamento coercivo do Estado membro para onde se deslocaram para efeitos de trabalho altamente qualificado;

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c) Are the subject of a request for acceptance made by another Member State under agreements or conventions to that effect, provided that they hold documents entitling them to stay or reside legally in national territory.

c) Sejam objeto de pedido de aceitação formulado por outro Estado membro, ao abrigo de acordos ou convenções nesse sentido, na condição de serem portadores de títulos que os habilitem a permanecer ou residir legalmente em território nacional.

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3. The readmission obligation referred to in the preceding paragraph does not affect the possibility of the long-term resident and their family members moving to a third Member State.

3 - A obrigação de readmissão referida no número anterior não prejudica a possibilidade de o residente de longa duração e os seus familiares se mudarem para um terceiro Estado membro.

What we checked in this article

Verify the three categories readmitted immediately and without formalities, the cross-reference to Article 121-A et seq. for the EU Blue Card, and the carve-out in paragraph 3 for moving to a third Member State.

Moving to Portugal, or bringing a team or family? Article 168 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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