Latest news and stories about aima in immigration in Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
A Brazilian citizen reports enduring four days of unsanitary detention in Portugal while awaiting deportation, highlighting significant concerns regarding the treatment of detainees.
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The University of Lisbon and AIMA have launched a dedicated channel to streamline residency regularisation for international students, aiming to support 30% of the foreign student population in its initial phase.
AIMA has established a dedicated consultation room in Lisbon for lawyers and solicitors to streamline case management, aiming to assist up to 80 professionals daily as part of a new collaborative agreement.
Lisbon is planning to establish a network of dedicated 'AIMA Spaces' to streamline support services and residency processing for the migrant population.
Legal challenges against expulsion orders and residency permit denials in Lisbon reached a record high in April 2025, driven by a surge in rejections following AIMA's file reviews.
AIMA is set to launch a digital form this week to facilitate family reunification for babies born in Portugal, addressing administrative challenges arising from recent changes to the Nationality Law regarding citizenship eligibility.
Brazilian expatriates in Portugal are raising concerns over immigration law changes, rising xenophobia, and administrative backlogs at AIMA ahead of President Lula da Silva's visit, urging diplomatic intervention.
The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) has reopened its online portal for family reunification applications just before the Brazilian President's visit to Portugal.
Cultural mediators from the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) are striking at the Government headquarters in Lisbon to demand permanent employment status and salary equality, protesting the ministry's reliance on precarious labor.
A cooperation agreement between the University of Lisbon's Faculty of Law and the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) is helping Brazilian students secure residency permits, marking a significant start to the academic year. André Brito, president of the Luso-Brazilian Study Centre (NELB), reports a smooth start to the term and highlights the students' expectations for the protocol to become more structured. The agreement, announced in August, aims to prevent administrative delays at the agency from hindering foreign students' academic progress. The NELB continues to represent the interests of Brazilian students, building on recent successes like the reduction of tuition fees for CPLP nationals.
Social media mobilisation for an immigrant protest failed to translate into real-world action, with only five people attending the event in Lisbon's Praça do Comércio. Activists and experts argue that digital metrics, such as likes and comments, do not reflect genuine grassroots commitment or the effort required for effective social movements. The protest, which aimed to demand improvements at the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), saw even its organisers absent, highlighting a disconnect between online activism and physical participation.
Two protests organised by immigrants are confirmed in Portugal. On Saturday, October 3rd, citizens will take to the streets of Porto and Lisbon to demand improvements at the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), citing 'dignity for those who work' among other rights. In the capital, the event will take place at Praça do Comércio at 10:00. In Porto, the gathering will be held at Jardim do Morro. Organiser Amanda Abreu confirmed to DN Brasil that all necessary procedures, including notification of police and municipal authorities, have been completed. The group is also taking a stand against recent legal changes that allow for faster deportations.
Faced with inefficiency and a lack of responses, immigrants are increasingly turning to the Ombudsman to secure their legal rights. According to the latest annual report, these issues accounted for 31% of the 15,342 cases handled by the office. The report highlights significant problems with residency permit procedures, system failures, and a lack of clear communication from AIMA, which have hindered the rights of foreign citizens. Additionally, the report notes issues with the Social Security system regarding the issuance of identification numbers (NISS) for foreign workers.
An analysis of immigration trends and the associated public policy framework within Portugal.
The photograph of Jorge Palma, who passed away on Monday, is featured in the national press this Wednesday. Público highlights that the issuance of new residence permits for families fell by 31% last year, according to the 2025 AIMA report released on Tuesday, which also notes a surge in notifications for the expulsion of foreigners from Portugal, a story featured on the front page of Jornal de Notícias. Público also reports that the intelligence services have secured 7.5 million euros from the RRP to create their own artificial intelligence centre. Correio da Manhã reports on the shortage of teachers in schools, noting that 160,000 students are without a teacher at the start of the school year, with the districts of Lisbon, Setúbal, the Alentejo, and the Algarve being the most affected areas. Expresso writes that Brazil is sending missing evidence to Portugal, meaning the trial of Duarte Lima for homicide 'can finally begin'. Observador highlights that Centeno is criticising the PS, launching a book, and building an alternative profile, while the socialist leadership sees him only as a 'free thinker'. Diário de Notícias notes that the Bank of Portugal and the IMF fear risks from technology and housing. Negócios reports that used homes in Greater Lisbon now cost nearly 400,000 euros, with the national average for used homes at 251,000 euros. Jornal Económico headlines that the risk of a housing bubble is growing in Lisbon. Eco writes that the Government used the spectre of the troika to reject opposition measures to address the rising cost of living, and that the Prime Minister has refused a 're-run' of that tragedy. It also reports that the Azevedo family company is launching a 90 million euro investment in tyre recycling.
The administrative courts' task force will be extended to address the thousands of pending cases against the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA). The measure was approved by the Superior Council of Administrative and Tax Courts (CSTAF) on Tuesday, September 22, and will continue until January 30, 2027. The team, which currently consists of 21 judges, has managed to reduce the backlog by 28.8% since April, resolving 36,000 cases. Despite this progress, the influx of new cases remains high, with the Lisbon Administrative Court receiving over 3,600 new AIMA-related cases in the first 18 days of September 2026 alone.
The so-called 'AIMA cases' will no longer be concentrated in the Lisbon Administrative Circle Court. According to the proposal discussed this Wednesday in Parliament, these legal actions will now be distributed according to the residence or headquarters of the party filing the lawsuit, eliminating the exclusive concentration in Lisbon. According to the Minister of Justice, ...
A woman told CMTV that this is not the first time she has tried to be served at AIMA.
The head of the Portuguese Bar Association visited an AIMA office in Lisbon, witnessing the harsh conditions and lack of respect faced by lawyers and immigrants. The author reflects on the systemic disregard for the law within public administration, the culture of disobedience, and the struggle to defend the rights of thousands of individuals against a failing state apparatus.
The Bar Association (AO) challenged the lack of dedicated channels at the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) and demanded investment in an online platform to overcome the issues regarding immigrant services.
The Bar Association (AO) challenged the lack of dedicated channels at the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) and demanded investment in an online platform to overcome the issues regarding immigrant services.
Portugal’s Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados) has warned that staff shortages, inadequate digital systems and inconsistent procedures at AIMA, the country’s migration agency, are obstructing lawyers and jeopardising immigrants’ right The post Under-resourced AIMA system undermines immigrants’ right to a defence appeared first on Portugal Resident.
According to the Association, “the human resources allocated to assisting lawyers are insufficient, compromising the speed, efficiency, and quality of the service provided.”
The head of the Portuguese Bar Association, João Massano, denounced severe issues at the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) office in Lisbon, including long queues, staff shortages, and poor working conditions for lawyers. Massano highlighted that these systemic failures, which include inaccurate online information and a lack of communication channels, are hindering the legal representation of thousands of citizens and leaving many lives in limbo. The Bar Association is demanding urgent solutions, including a dedicated digital platform for lawyers to access client case files.
The PSP's National Unit for Foreigners and Borders began operations on August 21, 2025, and has faced several constraints at airports, mainly in Lisbon.
A visit by the Portuguese Bar Association to the AIMA service centre in the Anjos neighbourhood of Lisbon exposes the suffering of those who, every day, seek dignified service. Opinion piece by Catarina Zuccaro
With frequent changes to procedures and service channels, the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) requires legal professionals to constantly monitor new rules and tools for handling immigration cases. To assist lawyers, the Bar Association (OA) will host two practical training sessions on September 14 and 15, covering AIMA's digital portals, procedural management, and litigation strategies. The sessions will be led by José Schwalbach and Emellin de Oliveira in a hybrid format at the Bar Association's headquarters in Lisbon.
The Lisbon Administrative Court accepted the motion to compel AIMA to schedule the submission of the residency permit application for the young Brazilian man deported on Wednesday and gave the entity seven days to respond.
The Lisbon Court has accepted the lawsuit ordering AIMA to schedule the submission of the residency application for 19-year-old Kauê Matos, who was deported on Wednesday after a two-year wait.
The young man was detained on Sunday at Lisbon airport while returning to Portugal after a school internship in Ireland; an officer determined his residency permit was invalid, leading to his detention and subsequent deportation.
