Chapter II · Entry into and exit from national territory · Section VII · Refusal of entry and stay · Subsection IV · Screening

Article 40-L Procedures

Artigo 40.º-L · Procedimentos

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 third-country national detected staying illegally in national territory who is subject to the screening procedure is transported by the police authority to the competent screening centre.

1 - O nacional de país terceiro detetado em território nacional em permanência ilegal sujeito ao procedimento de triagem é transportado pela autoridade policial para o centro de triagem competente.

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2. Once the screening procedure has ended, the police authority responsible for managing the screening centre determines the applicable subsequent procedure, deciding, where appropriate, on detention for the purposes of forced removal.

2 - Findo o procedimento de triagem, a autoridade policial responsável pela gestão do centro de triagem determina o procedimento subsequente aplicável, decidindo, quando for o caso, pela detenção para efeitos de afastamento coercivo.

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3. Where the third-country national is detained, the procedural steps laid down in Article 146 apply.

3 - Nas situações em que o nacional de país terceiro seja detido, seguem-se os trâmites procedimentais previstos no artigo 146.º

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4. Where the third-country national is not detained, the police authority responsible for managing the screening centre notifies the competent authority for the purposes of initiating forced removal proceedings.

4 - Nas situações em que o nacional de país terceiro não seja detido, a autoridade policial responsável pela gestão do centro de triagem notifica a autoridade competente para efeitos de instauração do processo de afastamento coercivo.

What we checked in this article

Check who decides on the subsequent procedure and on detention (the police authority managing the screening centre), the cross-reference to Article 146 and the notification in paragraph 4.

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