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

Article 40-E Refusal of entry in the border return procedure

Artigo 40.º-E · Recusa de entrada no âmbito do procedimento de 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. The return decision shall be without prejudice to the possibility of enforcing a previously issued decision refusing entry, in which case no new decision shall be issued.

1 - A decisão de regresso não prejudica a possibilidade de execução de decisão de recusa de entrada anteriormente proferida, caso em que não é emitida nova decisão.

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2. In the case provided for in the preceding paragraph, a level of protection equivalent to that provided for in Directive 2008/115/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December and in the European Union law applicable to the border return procedure must be ensured for the person concerned.

2 - No caso previsto no número anterior, deve ser assegurado ao interessado um nível de proteção equivalente ao previsto na Diretiva 2008/115/CE do Parlamento Europeu e do Conselho, de 16 de dezembro, e no direito da União Europeia aplicável ao procedimento de regresso na fronteira.

What we checked in this article

Check that no new decision is issued where a previous refusal of entry is enforced and the equivalence of protection under Directive 2008/115/EC.

Moving to Portugal, or bringing a team or family? Article 40-E 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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