Latest news and stories about asylum in legal in Portugal for expats and residents.
An analytical look at the legal conflict between EU member states concerning the protection of individuals from persecution based on personal characteristics.
The Portuguese Council of Ministers has approved amendments to immigration and asylum laws regarding returns, balancing EU compliance requirements with concerns over detention periods and judicial oversight. While the proposal introduces positive alternatives to detention, critics highlight risks regarding the extension of detention limits and the potential impact on families.
The Constitutional Court has given the green light to the law on return and asylum. The PSD believes the President will enact the legislation, while the PS guarantees it will respect the judges' decision. LIVRE and the PCP believe there is room for a veto.
The Secretary-General of the PS, José Luís Carneiro, said today that the party respects the decision of the Constitutional Court (TC), which deemed the norms of the decree amending the granting of asylum and the return of foreigners to be constitutional.
The Constitutional Court decided there is no unconstitutionality in the Return Law. The President of the Republic, António José Seguro, had requested an assessment of the decree in July due to doubts regarding its incompatibility with the Constitution.
The government wanted to increase maximum detention times, streamline the expulsion of irregular migrants, and eliminate abusive appeals. The President sent it to the Constitutional Court, which now has 25 days to decide.
The Immigrant Solidarity Association states that the decree was an “authentic civilizational setback” and that what the President of the Republic did “safeguarded the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic.”
The role of monitoring fundamental rights in screening centres has been assigned to the Ombudsman. This is stated in the legislative text, but it still needs to be approved and implemented. The centres are expected to be ready.
Brazilian national Ygor Daniel Zago, known as Hulk, who was arrested by the Judicial Police in November, filed a request for international protection with the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum.
'Hulk' was arrested on 13 November 2025 by the PJ, under an international arrest warrant issued by Brazil for crimes of criminal association, corruption, and money laundering.
The court admits that a legal loophole led to the expiry of the pre-trial detention period, while the Portuguese justice system awaits the decision on the appeal against the asylum refusal filed by Ygor Zago.
Portuguese authorities have halted the extradition process for a lawyer who was convicted of murder in Brazil, pending an asylum request.
€8 million spent to avoid accommodating 420 asylum applicants.
By using asylum to block extradition, Budapest is testing whether EU law can still be enforced between member states.
A critique of nativist forces mounting a last stand against the right to seek asylum.
Home News AIMA Mission Structure was an “Exemplary Operation” AIMA Mission Structure was an “Exemplary Operation” The Secretary of State for Immigration has stated that the Mission Structure of the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum ( AIMA) constituted one of the “most exemplary operati
The Secretary of State for Immigration said on Wednesday that the Mission Structure of the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), which closes today, was one of the 'most exemplary operations of the public administration'. Created in mid‑last year to respond to pending requests in public services of around half ...
