At the beginning of a hearing at the Assembly of the Republic, as part of the detailed examination of the proposed 2027 State Budget (OE2027), Rui Armindo Freitas said the integration plan would involve municipalities, businesses and civil society.
“Anyone who chooses Portugal as a place to live must learn our language, respect our laws and genuinely want to belong to our community,” the Secretary of State said, adding that “with this Government, integration policy is non-negotiable. Integration policy is not, and cannot be, a dance without a partner”.
Rui Armindo Freitas also stressed that “the immigration budget is paid for by immigration”, with the Minister for the Presidency adding that “the National Integration Plan will be financed through revenue generated by fees paid by immigrants and, on the other hand, through European funds for immigration”.
The National Integration Plan, promised by the Government a year ago, already has several measures underway, including an increase in language and cultural mediators in schools and additional funding for immigrant associations.
In an interview with Lusa in October, Rui Armindo Freitas explained that the plan does not involve small-scale initiatives, but seeks to “look at foreign citizens as people who must go through a process of integration in Portugal when they come to us seeking a career in the Portuguese economy”.
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You first need to allow foreigners the conditions to assimilate. Not all foreigners are golden visa holders, most work as hard or even harder than the domicile population because we don't have the security of the cartão de cidadão. We lose our job the next step is deportation. Then you double the years needed to qualify for a citizenship so instead of increasing the need for assimilation you delay it for 5 extra years. So any foreigner is thinking okay...I have 10 years to learn the language and integrate. Why should I do it in 5? And you do this hoping that these extra 5 years allow you time to sort out the ridiculous number of pending citizenship requirements and also residence permit requests. So get off your high horse, and take a really good look at what you're trying to do. Because the outcome of this won't be that you lower the number of pending citizenship request you will just lose your golden goose visa holders. You will only be left with us, regular people trying to survive day by day just like everyone else.
By Mishel from Other on 03 Nov 2026, 22:18
What Mishel said.
All this government has done over the last year in knee jerk reactions to throw red meat to Chega voters.
Come up with a plan before everybody leaves and this place regresses to the economy of 1973.
By Shawn from Lisbon on 05 Nov 2026, 12:57