The Portuguese government has suggested opening a new path that would allow foreigners who have received a job offer to apply for residence permits and temporary work visas more quickly.

The government stated in its plan that they hope to handle these kinds of applications in 20 days.

However, considering the backlog of applications and the volume of requests the Portuguese consulates have been getting, there is doubt that the authorities will be able to respond in the allotted time, according to Daily Dazzling Dawn.

Data show that the Portuguese consulates, especially the one in Brazil, are flooded with applications for work visas. This is causing long delays, which in some cases extend to more than six months.

Commenting on the delays, Immigration lawyer Priscila Corrêa said that consulates do not have enough resources to accommodate all applications, O Globo explains.

The same further stressed that the authorities need to take all the necessary steps to ensure that applicants no longer have to have delays of over six months.

Why is there a problem with the arrival of immigrants? Because the consulates did not properly assess what needed to be changed. Visas are stuck, some for more than six months.
-Immigration Lawyer Priscila Corrêa

There have also been months-long delays as a result of Portugal's Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA) processing a high volume of applications.

In an attempt to address the issue, the government presented the so-called "green route" plan to make it easier for foreign workers to enter Portugal during a meeting with business executives.

However, detractors claim that this plan won't succeed unless the nation's consulates and AIMA are well-staffed and organised.