The Portuguese Industrial Association (AIP) is monitoring around one hundred work visa issuance processes under the Cooperation Protocol for Regulated Labour Migration, known as the 'green lane', it announced on Wednesday, the 6th. Recognised by the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) as a suitable entity to support companies in recruiting immigrant labour, the AIP ensures the preparation and monitoring of visa applications for foreigners wishing to work in Portugal. This mechanism allows for the reduction of visa issuance to a maximum of 20 days after consular service and guarantees priority scheduling at Portuguese consulates abroad. The initiative is part of the Government's Migration Action Plan and is intended to meet the needs of the national labour market within the new legal requirements for granting work visas. The agreement also allows for the submission of applications for groups of workers through a single procedure. According to the AIP, interest from companies 'has been significant, reflecting the persistent recruitment difficulties in various sectors of the Portuguese economy'. Government reverses migration logic: more visas at consulates, fewer applications within the territory.
AIP monitors a hundred work visa applications under the 'green lane' scheme
Context & Explainers
Temporary residence is a limited residence permit that allows non‑EU nationals to live in Portugal for a set period (commonly one year, renewable) for study, work or other reasons. The Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (AIMA) launching an online form means eligible students who also work can apply or regularise their status more easily through AIMA’s process rather than only via consular services.
The AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo—Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum) is Portugal's immigration authority responsible for managing residence permits, visa processing, asylum, and immigrant integration.
History: AIMA replaced the dissolved SEF (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras) on October 29, 2023, following a 2021 Assembly decision. SEF's dissolution was motivated by reform needs, administrative inefficiencies, and a 2020 scandal involving a Ukrainian national's death in custody. SEF's responsibilities were redistributed: security functions to PSP/GNR/PJ, and administrative immigration matters to AIMA and IRN.
Expat Interface: Expats contact AIMA for residence permit applications and renewals (D7 passive income, D8 digital nomad, Golden Visa), family reunification, asylum requests, and visa extensions. AIMA operates 34 service counters nationwide, requires complete document submission (mandatory since April 2025), and processes cases that typically take 6-18 months. The agency inherited 300,000+ pending cases from SEF, with government funding allocated to clear backlogs.
Pedro Gaspar is the president of the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo or AIMA). His office is responsible for migration and asylum policies, so changes or statements from him affect migrants, asylum seekers and those using integration services in Portugal.
