Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum continues to address case backlog

In order to be able to respond to a growing backlog of pending requests submitted to the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), the Portuguese government last year created a 'mission structure' of approximately 300 temporary employees tasked with responding to these requests. Now, having handled the approximately 400 000 pending cases, the mission structure has been extended to the end of 2025and its resources will be redirected towards resolving other issues faced by the agency, namely those relating to residence permits held by 220 000 citizens of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP).

Simplified administration measures for migrants

Migrants with legal residence in Portugal now have their own 'digital mobile key' which allows for the processing of several requests at once. This simplification model - laid out in the 2024 national migration plan as one of its 'Simplex' measures - will facilitate access to essential documents for migrants and reduce pressure on Portugal's customer service departments. A virtual assistant, accessible in 12 different languages, has been installed on the gov.ptwebsite to offer support with relevant queries.

For those without a digital mobile key, it is now possible to make a request for the Tax Identification Number (NIF), the Social Security Identification Number (NISS) and the National User Number (NNU) of the National Health Service via a single appointment in ten offices across the country (in Braga, Cascais, Lisbon, Olhão, Lagos, Setúbal, Porto, Loures, Oeiras and Faro).

In a further development in digital support, as of 1 July people with expired visas can now apply for visa renewal onlinevia the AIMA website.

Continued expansion of services for migrants

AIMA opened a new integration service centre in the municipality of Sintra. The new centre has three service points and strengthens the capacity of the agency to support the municipality, which has a large immigrant community. According to Statistics Portugal, in 2023 foreign citizens accounted for 16.0% of the municipality's resident population: substantially higher than the proportion of foreign residents nationwide (9.8%). Within this group in Sintra, the biggest communities are from Brazil (29.9%), Cape Verde (16.5%), Angola (12.9%) and Guinea-Bissau (12.5%)

Continuing Portugal's commitment to decentralising integration, six additional local centres supporting migrant integration (CLAIMs) were opened elsewhere in July - in the municipalities of Carregal do Sal, Arouca, São Pedro do Sul, Tondela, Fundãoand Pinhel. These CLAIMS operate to promote integration in partnership with state entities and civil society organisations.

AIMA also signed an agreement of cooperationon integration services with the Regional Government of Azores. The agreement will come into force on 1 October, with services to be provided by the Integrated Citizen Support Network (RIAC) - a network of public service centers operated by the Regional Government of the Azores - alongside AIMA.

OECD report on labour shortages

A recent OECD report, 'Labour shortages and labour market inequalities', identifies migrant workers as an increasingly important source of labour, especially for advanced countries with ageing populations. In Portugal, it finds, the increasing number of foreign-born individuals active in the labour market has been large enough to fill the gaps left by a shrinking native-born labour force. From 2022 - 2023, for example, a 1% decrease in the number of native-born workers was met by a 3.2% rise in the number of foreign-born workers.

The report shares examples of policies implemented by Portugal to remove barriers preventing the integration of these migrants into the national labour force. These include 1) streamlining and facilitating the recognition of foreign degrees and qualifications and 2) expanding access to continuous general and vocational language training. These policies are found to have been particularly beneficial for health professionals (both doctors and nurses) displaced from Ukraine.

Promoting migration and integration as a solution to an ageing population

The Centre for Planning and Assessment of Public Policies (Planapp) recently published a reportin which it is suggested that Portugal's ageing population could be slowed by encouraging immigration. The report makes specific recommendations relating to migrants, which include promotion of the integration of young migrant families by facilitating their access to education, health and employment opportunities.

On access to education, the report refers readers to a previous publication focused on the inclusion of migrant students in the educational environment. This publication outlines relevant measures across six relevant dimensions of integration: school, students, families, language, learning and assessment, and community. The measures suggested include the creation of school documents in multiple languages, the establishment of migrant service offices in schools, small groups for Portuguese language learning, the organisation of local community visits and the creation of maps identifying useful services (showing the locations of, for example, family health units, supermarkets, public transportation and sport or leisure parks).

Flash report on migrant political participation

The Office of Economic, Business and Public Policy Studies at the University of Porto published a flash reporton the political participation of migrants in Portugal. The report highlights the high 'political potential' of migrant residents compared with those in other EU countries, since many are able to vote soon after arrival in the country.

All foreign residents in Portugal can be eligible for naturalisation - along with voting rights almost equivalent to those of native citizens - after five years of residence. Residents who are already EU citizens can register to vote in both European and municipal elections immediately after arrival, while residents from Brazil and Cape Verde can vote in municipal elections after two years and citizens of ten other countries (those with reciprocity agreements) after three years. A foreign citizen with Portuguese nationality can stand for election as (deputy) Prime Minister or as President of the Parliament.

IOM publishes report on Migration Governance Indicators (MGIs)

IOM published a second 'MGIs profile' for Portugal for 2024, presenting a summary of well-developed areas of migration governance in Portugal as well as areas with potential for further development, as assessed through the MGI process. The MGIs are a standard set of almost 100 indicators developed by IOM to help countries measure the comprehensiveness of their migration governance structures.

Concerning positive developments in migrants' access to rights in Portugal, the reporthighlights the 'National Plan to Combat Racism and Discrimination 2021-2025', approved in 2021, and the nationally-implemented Portuguese Host Language courses which promote migrants' empowerment and social inclusion. It also presents the National Council on Migration and Asylum, created in 2024, and ongoing measures under the 'Strategy for Equality and Non-Discrimination 2018-2030', which explicitly mentions migrant women.