Latest news and stories about legal reforms in immigration in Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
António José Seguro faces a significant political setback after the Constitutional Court challenged multiple norms within the proposed return and asylum legislation, leaving him to decide whether to exercise his veto power.
The case occurred after the SEF refused entry into Portugal to Ihor Homeniuk at the Lisbon airport border.
Psychologist Juliana Ribeiro de Souza Revoredo is researching the emotional and professional impact on Brazilian lawyers following the sudden termination of the reciprocity agreement between the Brazilian and Portuguese Bar Associations in 2023.
Joom CEO Ilya Shirokov warns that proposed changes to Portugal's nationality law create market uncertainty and hinder the recruitment of international talent, noting that the company has already lost potential candidates to Germany.
In a world where business, investment and personal affairs increasingly cross borders, finding the right professional support can mean looking beyond a single area of expertise. For Eduardo Serra Jorge The post More than legal expertise – a broader view for today’s clients appeared first on Portugal Resident.
34-year-old man had already been notified to leave the country and was flagged in the Schengen Information System.
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, ...
The Portuguese team lost 98-90 in Matosinhos. Additionally, the President of the Republic has enacted the so-called return law.
The mayor of Oeiras will be tried for the appointment of officials in an acting capacity. Additionally, the Portuguese national basketball team defeated Spain for the first time.
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.”
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 measure, which is part of a broader reform to speed up administrative and tax justice, still needs to be approved by the Assembly of the Republic.
The measure still needs to be approved by the Legislative Assembly, but it provides for the end of the concentration of cases in Lisbon
Another deadline for the installation of the hearing room at Lisbon Airport has been missed. ANA Aeroportos confirmed a new date to DN, stating that the contract for the permanent facilities has been awarded, with completion expected in the second half of this year. Previous forecasts had suggested completion by the summer of 2026. Temporary facilities have been available since June 1st while work on the permanent ones continues. The delay is attributed to the division of responsibilities between entities and bureaucratic procedures. The room is intended for judicial hearings for immigrants denied entry, aiming to function as an extension of the Lisbon court to process cases before individuals are deported.
A lawyer from Loures allegedly embezzled over one million euros from 33 clients between 2023 and 2026, claiming the money was necessary to process 'golden visa' applications. He is suspected of qualified fraud, breach of trust, and money laundering.
The 26 defendants accused of belonging to a network that used fake addresses in Penha de França, Lisbon, to legalise immigrants were today given suspended sentences for aiding illegal immigration, document forgery, and abuse of power.
The 26 individuals accused of belonging to a network that used false addresses in Penha de França, Lisbon, to legalise immigrants have received suspended sentences for aiding illegal immigration, document forgery, and abuse of power. The verdict was delivered this Wednesday, July 15. The court did not find sufficient evidence for the charge of criminal association, ruling that there was no complex organisation or leadership structure. Consequently, 25 defendants were convicted of aiding illegal immigration and document forgery, while one defendant, a parish council employee, was convicted of abuse of power. All sentences are under five years and were therefore suspended. The scheme, which involved using addresses provided by others in exchange for money to obtain erroneous residency certificates from the Penha de França Parish Council, was reported by the council itself in 2022.
The next session at Casa do Brasil will focus on family reunification. This free initiative allows participants to ask questions about the process, including appointment requests at the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) and changes introduced by the new Foreigners Law. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, June 30th, at 3:00 PM, and will be held exclusively online via Microsoft Teams. Jurist Patrícia Peret will lead the session, explaining the practical implications of the new law and procedures for AIMA. Participation is free but requires prior registration via an online form, with limited spots available.
The new president of the Constitutional Court, João Carlos Loureiro, stated today, in his first speech in this role, that the court “does not forget the rights of foreigners and stateless persons” and is solely committed to the Constitution.
Using an asylum request as a delaying tactic, one of the most dangerous Brazilian criminals detained in Portugal managed to be released by the Lisbon Court of Appeal despite having an ongoing extradition process requested by the Brazilian justice system. However, this would never have happened under the new Return Law.
He was arrested as part of the police operation “Miracle Land”, carried out by the PJ Central Directorate in Oeiras and Odivelas.
Administrative and Tax Courts cite a context of “heavy procedural pressure,” with an exponential growth in filings and priority given to urgent cases such as those against AIMA.
A Brazilian national, known as “Hulk” and identified as a leader of the PCC, will await the final decision on his asylum request in Portugal while at liberty.
Brazilian national Ygor Daniel Zago, known as 'Hulk', a leader of the PCC criminal organisation, has been released from prison in Portugal due to the expiration of his preventive detention period. His lawyer, Marques Lobato, explained that the detention limit was reached while an appeal for international protection—filed to block his extradition to Brazil—remains pending before the Administrative Court. Although released, Zago must surrender his passport, is prohibited from leaving Portugal, and must report daily to the police in Cascais. Zago, who was convicted in Brazil for his role in a transatlantic drug trafficking and money laundering scheme, had been living in a private condominium in Cascais before his arrest.
A court has ruled for the release of an individual associated with a criminal organisation who was being held in custody in Portugal.
According to data from the Administrative and Tax Courts (CSTAF), 496 new administrative actions and precautionary measures to challenge expulsion orders were filed in the Lisbon Administrative Circle Court in April.
António Sérgio Henriques had been convicted of denial of justice and aggravated prevarication; the Lisbon Court of Appeal changed the conviction to abuse of power. The suspended sentence was reduced to one year and ten months.
The number of new cases to challenge voluntary departure requests, expulsion orders, and residence permit denials reached its highest value in April since January 2025.
The Judiciary Police (PJ) arrested two suspects on Tuesday (May 19) for crimes including criminal association, aiding illegal immigration, and document forgery to regularise foreign citizens. The men, aged 42 and 64, allegedly created an organised structure to fraudulently obtain 800 residency certificates by providing false addresses and witnesses to local authorities. They charged between 130 and 200 euros per person, exploiting vulnerable foreign nationals. The investigation, led by the Loures DIAP, involved seven search and seizure warrants in Loures and Odivelas. The suspects will face a judicial interrogation to determine coercive measures. Separately, the Public Prosecutor's Office has charged 15 individuals and six companies with over 2,200 counts of aiding illegal immigration.
