Portugal News

Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) has made significant strides in addressing the backlog of over 400,000 pending residency applications, having processed more than 200,000 cases and issued at least 6,000 residence permits. This effort is supported by a €5.97 million investment in the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), as outlined in Resolution No. 7/2025, published on January 21 in the Official Gazette.

There, judicial notifications that should be issued within a maximum of 48 hours are taking more than three months to reach the rightful recipient.

Due to a lack of court officers, the Administrative Court of the Lisbon District is not issuing decisions for the Institute of Registries and Notaries (IRN) to urgently grant Portuguese nationality.

The first residence permits for those who have already passed through the AIMA task force centers are starting to arrive, but there are many immigrants whose cases have been rejected. Find out the reasons.

The Supreme Federal Court recognizes that the excess of processes involving the immigration agency, combined with the lack of personnel, is hindering the progress of justice. There are many complaints.

The majority of agricultural companies in the southwest of Alentejo (83%) consider immigrants to be essential for the success of their activity. Around 73% of companies already have more than half of their jobs filled by immigrants. Nepal leads the nationalities of foreign workers in the sector, followed by India and Thailand.

Under strong criticism from lawyers and investors, AIMA reports that thousands of processes related to Golden Visas are at a standstill. The agency held a meeting to clarify doubts on the topic. 

The Portuguese State's difficulty in offering efficient and effective responses to immigrants seeking assistance from the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (Aima), the successor to the former Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF), is evident.

Without up-to-date documents, immigrants cannot leave Portugal. Responsible for updating the residence card, IRN cannot meet the demand. Government tends to extend validity until the end of the year.

CP notice about it and the solution for passengers - "From January 12, 2025, the railway connection between Coimbra and Coimbra-B stations will close.

Trains that have their origin or destination at Coimbra station now have their origin/destination at Coimbra-B station.

To guarantee transport between Coimbra and Coimbra-B stations, Metro Mondego will provide connecting buses."