Latest news and stories about bureaucracy in Portugal for expats and residents.
A logic that permeates the entire public administration. The question is no longer: “Is it good for society?”. It is instead: “Will it be functional for us?”.
Nearly 32,000 asset-sharing disputes are currently pending in courts and notary offices, with resolution times stretching up to seven years and the total number of affected properties remaining unknown.
The reformist is a Darwinist in the worst sense. They want to change because it is natural: it is part of the process. Except it is not. It is not.
Truly mature societies are those capable of looking at themselves with honesty, and growing from that. Opinion by Fernanda Bessa Pires
The headline suggests that public officials receive preferential treatment or are treated as a privileged class when facing the justice system.
Home News AIMA explains fees increase AIMA explains fees increase In a social media post, AIMA clarifies “that it did not implement any tariff increase. ” By Bruno G.
Following complaints from Brazilians and other immigrants, who have been waiting up to a year to receive their renewed residence permits at home, the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) promises to speed up the service. A source from the agency told DN Brasil that, in recent weeks, around 20,000 documents have been sent to the Mint for issuance.
The digitalisation of customer support is making the system increasingly difficult to use, says Deco, arguing that human interaction should be the foundation rather than a residual option.
The government announced that support for populations affected by the storms would arrive quickly, but the results have not been brilliant. In Belém, have we moved from analogue to digital?
An analysis of the legal framework and consumer rights regarding both physical and digital complaint books as essential tools for customer service.
We continue to wait that, mistake by mistake, the public administration's “citizen service” systems finally end up working.
Home News AIMA will deliver Residence Cards quickly AIMA will deliver Residence Cards quickly AIMA will deliver thousands of residence cards to those who requested them, according to DN Brasil. By Bruno G.
Schools across the country have been waiting for renovation works since 2023, with delays compounded by the slow rollout of investment announced by the current government. As a result, the next school year will begin without the necessary upgrades. School directors and teachers argue that, beyond urgent repairs, facilities must be adapted for climate change. Despite the Ministry of Education announcing an 850 million euro investment for 237 schools classified as 'urgent,' most projects have yet to begin. Issues such as the presence of asbestos, bureaucratic hurdles, and slow public procurement processes continue to hinder progress, leaving students and staff to face another year of inadequate conditions, including extreme temperatures in classrooms.
This article provides guidance for expats in Portugal whose foreign driver's licenses have expired. It emphasizes that an expired license cannot be exchanged for a Portuguese one; renewal must be completed first. If caught driving with an expired license, fines up to €600 apply, and drivers should immediately stop driving and use public transportation. To renew, expats should contact their home country authorities (e.g., DVLA for the UK) and may need to use a proxy address. Alternatively, they can opt for a full driving test, which involves over 32 hours of lessons and costs €600+. The article stresses the importance of starting the exchange process early within the allowed 185-day or 2-year window to avoid legal issues and delays. It highlights that timely action is crucial to prevent disruptions to travel and daily life in Portugal.
A single heir saying “no” is enough to keep a house blocked for years. Now the Government wants to change the rules, but slow justice and backlogged registry offices continue to hold everything up.
The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) has begun accelerating the dispatch of residence permits renewed by the Mission Structure in the second half of 2025. An agency source told DN Brasil that approximately 20,000 documents have been sent to the Mint for issuance in recent weeks. This effort aims to clear the backlog, with at least 50% of all cards already dispatched. AIMA is prioritising this process ahead of April 15, when most renewal receipts expire. Additionally, the agency is addressing rejected applications and managing the collection of returned residence permits, with extended opening hours at the Anjos office to assist immigrants.
Mayors do not deny the delay pointed out by the minister regarding the delivery of support. However, they believe the criticism is unfair and justify it by stating that resources are lacking and no one wants to repeat court cases, as has already happened.
Visa applications sent by mail after next Tuesday by Brazilians intending to enter Portugal will be returned, as applications must now be made in person at a visa centre or diplomatic mission, according to the Diplomatic Portal.
The goal of the measure is to “ensure greater efficiency and proximity to users”.
The mayor of Pombal also pointed out that municipalities currently have an additional workload and naturally there is a process of adaptation.
Statements by Minister Castro Almeida shifting responsibility for delays in house reconstruction to the municipalities cause indignation, but the ANMP, which represents them, is not “offended”.
The Angra do Heroísmo Chamber of Commerce and Industry points out that the “excessive complexity of the electronic process” leads to “frequent errors, rejections, and delays” in the processing of applications.
The article discusses the detrimental impact of bureaucratic delays and obstacles on economic activity, highlighting findings from a recent INE survey. It identifies the judicial system, licensing, and taxation as the primary barriers to business development, exacerbated by ineffective public policies. The author calls for legislative reforms to address these issues, particularly in the judicial and licensing sectors, to facilitate investment and growth in the economy.
