Chapter IX · Criminal provisions

Article 183 Aiding illegal immigration

Artigo 183.º · Auxílio à imigração ilegal

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. Anyone who in any way encourages or facilitates the illegal entry or transit of a foreign national into or through national territory shall be punished with imprisonment of up to 3 years.

1 - Quem favorecer ou facilitar, por qualquer forma, a entrada ou o trânsito ilegais de cidadão estrangeiro em território nacional é punido com pena de prisão até 3 anos.

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2. Anyone who in any way encourages or facilitates the illegal entry, stay or transit of a foreign national in national territory, with intent to make a profit, shall be punished with imprisonment of one to five years.

2 - Quem favorecer ou facilitar, por qualquer forma, a entrada, a permanência ou o trânsito ilegais de cidadão estrangeiro em território nacional, com intenção lucrativa, é punido com pena de prisão de um a cinco anos.

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3. If the acts are committed by transporting or keeping the foreign national in inhuman or degrading conditions, or by endangering their life or causing them serious physical injury or death, the perpetrator shall be punished with imprisonment of 2 to 8 years.

3 - Se os factos forem praticados mediante transporte ou manutenção do cidadão estrangeiro em condições desumanas ou degradantes ou pondo em perigo a sua vida ou causando-lhe ofensa grave à integridade física ou a morte, o agente é punido com pena de prisão de 2 a 8 anos.

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4. Attempt is punishable.

4 - A tentativa é punível.

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5. The penalties applicable to the entities referred to in Article 182(1) are a fine, the minimum and maximum limits of which are doubled, or a ban on carrying on the activity for one to five years.

5 - As penas aplicáveis às entidades referidas no n.º 1 do artigo 182.º são as de multa, cujos limites mínimo e máximo são elevados ao dobro, ou de interdição do exercício da actividade de um a cinco anos.

What we checked in this article

Verify the penalty ranges (up to 3 years; 1 to 5 years; 2 to 8 years), the profit-intent element in paragraph 2, and the penalties for entities under Article 182(1).

Moving to Portugal, or bringing a team or family? Article 183 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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