Chapter II · Entry into and exit from national territory · Section VII · Refusal of entry and stay · Subsection III · Border return procedure

Article 40-D Time limits and enforcement of return at the border

Artigo 40.º-D · Prazos e execução do regresso na fronteira

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. Third-country nationals and stateless persons subject to the border return procedure shall remain in the designated place for a period not exceeding 12 weeks, counted from the date on which their right to remain ends following the decision not to accept the application for international protection taken in the asylum border procedure.

1 - Os nacionais de países terceiros e os apátridas sujeitos a procedimento de regresso na fronteira mantêm-se no local designado por período não superior a 12 semanas, a contar da data em que cesse o direito de permanência na sequência da decisão de não aceitação do pedido de proteção internacional proferida no âmbito do procedimento de asilo na fronteira.

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2. In a crisis situation within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2024/1359 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024, the period referred to in the preceding paragraph may be extended by a maximum of six weeks.

2 - Em situação de crise, na aceção prevista no Regulamento (UE) 2024/1359 do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho, de 14 de maio de 2024, o prazo referido no número anterior pode ser prorrogado por um período máximo de seis semanas.

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3. During the period referred to in the preceding paragraphs, the competent authorities shall ensure that the return decision is enforced.

3 - Durante o período referido nos números anteriores, as autoridades competentes asseguram a execução da decisão de regresso.

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4. If the return decision cannot be enforced within the applicable maximum period, the person concerned shall be authorised to enter national territory, Chapter VIII shall apply and the border return procedure shall cease to apply.

4 - Caso não seja possível executar a decisão de regresso no prazo máximo aplicável, o interessado é autorizado a entrar em território nacional, aplicando-se o disposto no capítulo viii e cessando a aplicação do procedimento de regresso na fronteira.

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5. In the case provided for in the preceding paragraph, the time spent in the border return procedure shall be counted in accordance with Article 146(3) or Article 160(3)(a).

5 - No caso previsto no número anterior, o prazo decorrido no procedimento de regresso na fronteira é contabilizado nos termos do n.º 3 do artigo 146.º ou da alínea a) do n.º 3 do artigo 160.º

What we checked in this article

Check the 12-week maximum and its starting point, the six-week crisis extension under Regulation (EU) 2024/1359, the reference to Chapter VIII, and the references to Article 146(3) and Article 160(3)(a).

Moving to Portugal, or bringing a team or family? Article 40-D may decide what you can apply for.

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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

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