In a note sent to PÚBLICO Brasil, the migration agency ensures that self-employed immigrants, with at least 12 contributions to Social Security, but without expressing interest, will be assisted.
According to the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) all immigrants who use green receipts to provide services in Portugal will be covered by the transitional regime for the expression of interest. In other words, they will be able to regularize their situation. To do so, however, they must prove at least 12 months of contributions, even if spaced out, to Social Security.
According to AIMA, the “Transitional Regime is intended for all immigrants who did not submit their Expression of Interest, but who, before June 4, 2024, registered and made contributions to Social Security with the aim of completing, in the minimum of 12 months of contributions, whether employed or casual”.
This understanding, highlights AIMA, is provided for in the legislation: “According to the current wording of paragraph b) of number 2 of article 3 of Decree-Law no. 37-A/2024, of June 3, the following fall within this Regime: Transitory the «[...] cases in which, demonstrably, the person demonstrates that, prior to its entry into force, regardless of whether or not they had presented the expression of interests, they were registered with Social Security and making contributions under professional activity subordinate or independent, with a view to completing the 12 months indicated in § 6 of article 88 of Law no. 23/2007, of July 4, in its previous wording»”.
AIMA recommends that immigrants in this situation access the “services.aima.gov.pt platform, click on 'I don't have an MI, but I am registered and made contributions to Social Security before June 4, 2024' and provide all the data requested, including the Social Security Identification Number (SIN)”. With this clarification, AIMA intends to put an end to questions raised by lawyers, that it was not clear whether self-employed or independent workers were included in the transitional regime.
It is important to remember that the expression of interest was extinguished on June 3, 2024, within the migration plan announced by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro. The abrupt way in which the instrument that allowed foreigners to regularize their status in Portugal was terminated raised a series of criticisms of the Government, as it left many people in limbo, by not providing for a transition period.
In addition to these immigrants, AIMA is working to resolve the pending issues of more than 400,000 requests for residence permits. Around 200,000 people have already been assisted and the processes are underway in the 20 mission centers (task force) opened since September last year. Another 108,000 had their residency applications rejected, but are being called to resolve pending issues, including payment of fees required by the immigration agency.