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Portugal Extends Validity of Visas and Residency Permits

28 June 2024

The Portuguese Government approved a one-year extension for the validity of visas and residency permits; they are now valid until 30th June 2025. This extension was officially announced on the 25th of June 2024.

The extension is a direct response to the substantial delay of pending documents at the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), the authority currently overseeing migration processes in Portugal. The massive number of pending cases has posed significant challenges in the timely renewal of migration-related documents.

The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) currently faces an estimated backlog of 410,000 cases, significantly impeding the renewal processes for residence permits, work visas, and mobility visas from the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP).

The validity extension is one of three key measures implemented under the newly approved decree-law, in alignment with Portugal’s New Action Plan for Migrations, previously presented. The other two measures include AIMA's mission to proactively attract immigrants, assuming and valuing the Migration Observatory as an integral part of AIMA's organisational structure.

At the same time, the Portuguese Government has approved the establishment of a Mission Structure for the Recovery of Pending Cases at AIMA. This new structure, which will operate until 2nd June 2025, will be tasked with the analysis and resolution of pending processes concerning the regularisation of foreign nationals. The structure will comprise up to 300 personnel exclusively assigned to the administrative processing of cases and assisting applicants.

With the implementation of these new measures and updates in the immigration agency's structure and production process, the Portuguese government aims to address and disclose all pending issues within a year. After that, the goal is to only process current cases.

Navigating the complexities of the immigration process can be daunting and intricate. Engaging with various administrative structures and staying aware of the latest legislative updates necessitates guidance. Should you require assistance with your immigration matters, contact us. Our expertise is at your service to ensure your process is handled with the utmost care and precision.

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Immigration Law Update: Major Changes for CPLP Citizens

21 February 2025

On Friday, 14 February 2025, Law No. 9/2025 came into effect, introducing amendments to Law No. 23/2007 of 4 July, which governs the legal framework for the entry, stay, exit, and removal of foreign nationals from Portugal. For context, Law No. 9/2025 introduced amendments to seven articles, aiming to facilitate and simplify the entry and stay of citizens from the Member States of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) in Portugal. The CPLP (Community of Portuguese Language Countries – Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa) is an international organisation comprising countries where Portuguese is an official language. Its primary objectives are to promote cooperation in political, economic, and cultural areas among its member states while fostering the Portuguese language and cultural exchange. Among the amendments, Article 75, paragraph 2 is particularly noteworthy. It states: When the applicant is covered by the CPLP Agreement and holds a short-stay visa or has legal entry into the national territory, they may apply for a temporary residence permit. In practical terms, this means that citizens who enter Portugal legally can apply for a temporary residence permit without the need for a visa. They simply need to enter the country as tourists, as is the case for citizens of CPLP member states. Tourist stays are limited to a maximum period of 90 days. Citizens from countries that are not members of the CPLP can still apply for a temporary residence permit; however, they must first obtain the appropriate visa . Temporary stay visas are intended for individuals planning to stay in Portugal for more than 90 days but less than one year. Various types of temporary stay visas are available to accommodate different purposes, such as medical treatment, family reunification, employment, study, and seasonal work. These visas are formally classified as E1 Visa, E2 Visa, and so forth. The member states of the CPLP include: The Republic of Angola The Federative Republic of Brazil The Republic of Cape Verde The Republic of Guinea-Bissau The Republic of Equatorial Guinea The Republic of Mozambique The Portuguese Republic The Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste

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AIMA Subpoena Data: Understanding the Real Numbers

4 February 2025

As of 4th February 2025, the total number of pending AIMA subpoenas by the end of January, specifically until the 31st, stood at approximately 50,046 cases. Despite this high number, the subpoenas in January reflected a downward trend, with a daily average of 335 cases. For context, the daily average in November 2024 was 536 cases, while in December 2024, it was 404 cases.