Immigrants rush to vocational training in Portugal for visas and legalization

Demand for professional courses in Portugal has increased since the government announced changes to the law on foreigners, as it is a way for immigrants to enter the country and for illegal immigrants to regularize their status, in addition to providing training, said a source in the sector.

On social media, "tips" are multiplying for getting around the announced changes, suggesting that prospective immigrants to Portugal enroll in a vocational training course lasting more than 13 months in this country.

This is because the Foreigners' Law allows students to apply for a residence permit in Portugal through their studies, highlighted the head of one of the companies interviewed by Lusa.

And if this is possible for those who want to leave their country to live in Portugal, it is also possible for those who are in an irregular situation in Portugal, who can thus apply for a residence permit, presenting an enrollment at a school that offers these courses.

At the Prepara Portugal training center, enrollments have increased by more than 100% in the last three months, going from 58 new monthly enrollments to 195, as the institution's founder and pedagogical director, Higor Cerqueira, told Lusa.

"Since discussions about the new law began, we've seen an even more significant increase in interest in our courses. We've been receiving dozens of messages daily through our channels (phone, WhatsApp, email, and social media) from people wanting to know how to enroll," he said.

Created by immigrants in Portugal and aimed primarily at this population, the center offers professional training courses lasting 18 months and costing, on average, one thousand euros.

These courses include students of 28 nationalities, the majority of whom are Brazilian (75%), followed by Moroccans and Angolans. The courses are taught in Portuguese, but with the possibility of courses in English and French.

According to Higor Cerqueira, these students are looking for specific training in less manual-intensive areas than they usually work in, such as catering, which will give them an advantage when looking for work.

The most sought-after areas are data analysis and information technology applied to management, digital marketing, and strategic planning, with nine trainers available for the student population.

Since Prepara Portugal is certified by the General Directorate of Employment and Labor Relations (DGERT), and the courses last more than 13 months, they have been highly sought after by foreigners who want to be immigrants in Portugal, but also by immigrants in an irregular situation who, as students, can apply for a residence permit.

"Our students can enroll in person or via WhatsApp. Many enroll while still in Brazil. Because our training is certified, they meet the visa requirements," he said.

Higor Cerqueira acknowledges that this is "a path to obtaining a visa," but highlights the importance of these immigrant communities obtaining training that will be an asset when seeking employment or moving to a better one.

He assured that students attend training sessions and that AIMA ensures this, always requesting that they provide proof of course attendance.

Lusa requested clarification from AIMA regarding the use of these training courses as a gateway to Portugal and whether student participation in the training courses is monitored, but did not receive a response in a timely manner.