AIMA starts operations with 34 service counters throughout the country and will open at least 10 fewer new branches in the space of a year
Agency inherits about 347 thousand pending issues and launches digital portal by the end of the year for online applications for the granting and renewal of residence permits
The Agency will move forward with a strong investment in digital infrastructure and in terms of human resources, with the hiring of more than 190 employees
The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) starts its operations today. The creation of AIMA responds to the Government's desire to implement a new paradigm in terms of reception, integration and asylum. AIMA takes office with an overall budget of EUR 81 million. more than 95% of which is financed by own revenues or European funds. The launch of AIMA embodies the separation of police and administrative functions. Is It is now possible to initiate a range of new measures, functionalities and policies that will broaden the and improving the quality of access to services by enhancing the safety of processes and procedures and the trust and credibility of users and society in the system.
Backlogs: 347 thousand
The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum starts operations with a total of 347 thousand cases this being one of the Agency's initial priorities, in particular in cases where Family reunifications are at stake, and in the first quarter of next year it will be launched a specific operation to deal with backlogs.
The Present and the Future: More Resources, More Digitalization, More Security
The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum starts its operations with a small number of staff above the 740 workers spread across the country. This framework, however, will be strengthened with the 190 more workers, an essential reinforcement to improve the quality and speed of the services offered.
To give priority to pending cases, AIMA plans to set up a mega-operation of recovery of pending issues in the first quarter of next year, counting on the involvement of municipalities and the network of Local Support Centres for the Integration of Migrants.
The improvement of the services offered by AIMA, however, will go far beyond immediate solutions to resolve pending issues. The installation of an AIMA Contact Centre, the installation of shops within Citizen's Shops, the creation of their own shops, or the expansion of the presence of through partnerships with municipalities, universities and other entities, are among the steps already decided and which will be disclosed by the Agency itself in due course.
The reinforcement of the security associated with the issuance of documents will also be a component of the AIMA's performance, with the creation of a permanent audit team of the procedures and to combat and prevent fraud.
MAIN MEASURES
BY THE END OF 2023:
• Development and availability of the AIMA Portal
The Portal will be launched by the end of the year to handle regrouping applications family members of older residents, dispensing with telephone scheduling.
FIRST QUARTER OF 2024:
• Mega operation to recover 347 thousand pending issues
Operation with the involvement of municipalities, professional associations and employees of the Local Support Centers for the Integration of Migrants to recover pending issues.
• Strategic plan for the promotion of the Portuguese language among migrants.