New (2025 Oct) language and civics requirements for family members renewal

From the new Foreigners Law: https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/detalhe/lei/61-2025-941547426

Artigo 101.º

3 - Os familiares do requerente devem, após a concessão de autorização de residência para reagrupamento familiar, cumprir medidas de integração correspondentes à frequência de formação em língua portuguesa e de formação relativa a princípios e valores constitucionais portugueses, bem como à frequência do ensino obrigatório, no caso de menores, nos termos previstos em decreto regulamentar.

4 - Salvo por motivo não imputável aos familiares do requerente, a renovação da autorização de residência para reagrupamento familiar depende de ser comprovado o cumprimento dos critérios e medidas a que se referem os números anteriores, incluindo quanto à não contabilização de apoios sociais, assim como o conhecimento da língua, princípios e valores constitucionais portugueses.

Translation (Deepl):

3 - After being granted a residence permit for family reunification, the applicant’s family members must comply with integration measures corresponding to attendance at Portuguese language classes and training on Portuguese constitutional principles and values, as well as compulsory education in the case of minors, under the terms set out in a regulatory decree.

4 - Except for reasons not attributable to the applicant’s family members, the renewal of the residence permit for family reunification depends on proof of compliance with the criteria and measures referred to in the previous paragraphs, including not receiving social assistance, as well as knowledge of the Portuguese language, principles, and constitutional values.

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Wasn’t the ARI supposed to be exempted from most of these family reunification changes? Sounds like maybe it wasn’t?

Yes, ARI was exempted from the residence/cohabitation (net new) requirements fully.

These requirements for renewal quoted above are indeed new and not exempted for ARI, but for the practical implementation we will need to wait for the regulations decree as it says here in the law.

On the positive side, all the points listed seem to be easily ‘compliable’. Even on the language part it only requires ‘attendance’ not any exam passing or certification (which remains the requirement for citizenship or PR). Also for the education of minors, it does not even say it must be in Portugal, but for ARI specifically knowing 7 days per year is a legal requirement, I very much doubt AIMA would hold people from renewals on this basis.

@Lala mentions that this change is starting to be enforced

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