Foreigners who disturb public order at housing protests could lose their residence permit and have 20 days to leave
Foreigners who disturb public order at housing protests could lose their residence permit. The warning came on 3 November from the secretary of state for immigration, Rui Armindo Freitas, during the parliamentary debate on the 2027 budget.
He said the law on foreigners is "very clear" on public security and order, and if the rules are broken, "the competent authorities will do their job". The consequence would be the cancellation of the residence permit. The secretary of state made clear that taking part in a protest is not in itself the issue: this is about people who "may put public order at risk". Forced removal from the country, he said, is not being considered.
If a residence permit is cancelled, the holder has 20 days to leave the country.
Protests demanding affordable housing have been taking place around the country since 10 October. Protesters want the new rental law scrapped, an end to evictions and demolitions when people are not offered somewhere else to live, a ban on investment funds buying up homes and a cap on rents. Overnight from Saturday to Sunday, 1 November, police again broke up tent camps in Rossio in Lisbon and in Praça D. João I in Porto, removing around 100 tents. More than 20 people were hurt, both protesters and police officers.
