Lisbon, June 2025 – As the Portuguese government presses forward with a wave of anti-immigrant measures, a troubling silence persists—not from the immigrant communities themselves, but from their lack of unified resistance.
While Brazilian organizations have spoken out, and activists from across civil society have begun to raise concern, the reality is clear: immigrant communities in Portugal remain divided, reacting in pockets, scattered in voices, and yet to step forward as one movement.
It’s unfortunate, but the service that was bad managed to get worse. I had no idea to say this, but I miss the SEF, the defunct Foreign and Borders Service.
A few days ago, I was at the Cidadão de Laranjeiras Shop in Lisbon, and it was to scare the size of the line. About 200 people were waiting for the doors to open. Most were immigrants seeking information or scheduling to obtain a residence permit in Portugal.
by Nazir Ahmed
The recent talk from Portugal’s center-right coalition about changing the nationality law seems more like a political message for voters than a serious plan. The idea of extending the minimum residency requirement from 5 to 10 years and demanding stricter physical presence rules sounds firm on paper—but in reality, it’s highly unlikely to move forward.
As Portugal approaches the upcoming elections, one thing has become clear: to win votes, some politicians believe they only need to attack immigrants. Instead of addressing the real issues affecting the country—like the struggling economy, healthcare, or education—certain parties have made immigration their primary target, using fear and division as their campaign tools.
Find out the complete process for getting your Pakistani educational qualifications recognized in Portugal.
Educational equivalency in Portugal allows individuals with foreign qualifications, including degrees from Pakistan, to have their credentials officially recognized. This is essential for further education, job applications, and professional licensing in Portugal.
Navigating the immigration process in Portugal can be a complex task. The Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF), or Foreigners and Borders Service (now AIMA), is the primary government body responsible for controlling the entry and stay of foreign nationals in Portugal. Whether you are applying for a visa, seeking a residency permit, or checking your application status, understanding how SEF works is crucial.
José Malheiros, a geographer and migration specialist, has already admitted that these immigration flows will not solve the problem of aging in Portugal. And he does not hesitate: “We are and will continue to age.”
Empathy, Mr. Prime Minister. That is what I wish you this Christmas. Prove that your “no means no” was not a camouflaged and cowardly “yes means yes.”
Mr Prime Minister, try to answer this set of questions honestly and without thinking about whether your answers will attract voters who have voted for the far right.
1. Have you ever been an emigrant and felt what it's like to be treated with contempt for not speaking the language of the country where you are?
Portugal needs between 50 and 100 thousand new immigrant workers per year to fuel the Portuguese economy, revealed this Wednesday the study 'Migrations and Human Rights' presented by the UGT, quoted by radio 'Renascença': Jorge Malheiros, responsible for the research, highlighted that this need will continue in the coming decades.
Imagine if there were a general strike of all immigrants living in Portugal? The country would come to a standstill. Imagine if everyone with some immigrant ancestry left the country? Would there still be a Lusitanian nation? When you think about it, it is very contradictory to have marches against immigration in a country that was and still is built by immigrants. Both those from there who migrate here and those from here who migrate there. Portugal has always been borderless. It was like that when it launched its caravels overseas.
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