Residency status news in Portugal

Around 23,000 immigrants notified to leave the country in 2025

There are "more inspections" and they are "more assertive": GNR captain explains the "increase" in arrests of foreign citizens

The GNR arrested 459 foreigners between October 2023 and August of this year. During that period, more than 103,000 people were inspected and about 1,000 notifications for voluntary departure from national territory were issued. Captain Joana Machado, from the GNR's Communication and Public Relations Division, helps us decode these figures.

Head of the PSP's foreign and borders unit rejects immigrant manhunt

UNEF states that a group of people who were notified to leave Portugal for being in an irregular situation continue to reside in the country.

7am. INE and AIMA are in conflict over the number of stateless persons

AIMA only has 17 citizens registered with the administrative classification of stateless. Furthermore, US envoys are travelling to Moscow and Kyiv today to seek to reactivate talks between the two countries.

PSP detected 1,117 cases of irregular immigrants among 52,000 inspected

Inspections resulted in 831 notifications for voluntary departure from the national territory and 285 arrests for irregular stay.

He came to Portugal with his parents at 17. He ended up deported to Brazil (but his family remains here)

The defence claims that the delay by AIMA ultimately prevented the young man from regularising his status in Portugal

GNR has detained over 240 foreigners in an illegal situation in Portugal since October 2023

In total, more than 6,500 administrative offences have been issued by the GNR in nearly three years

More than 240 foreigners detained by the GNR for illegal stay in nearly three years

In the same period, 540 people were notified to leave the country voluntarily.

Young man without a permit to be in Portugal detained in downtown Coimbra

A young individual lacking legal residency documentation was arrested in the Baixa district of Coimbra.

Diário As Beiras13 Jun

More than a thousand illegal immigrants left the country in 2025

PSP data indicate that the majority of citizens who left the territory voluntarily are of Brazilian nationality.

Leiria PSP inspects 49 foreign citizens in April and arrests seven for illegal stay in the country

These PSP operations represent the new powers regarding air border control and the monitoring of foreign citizens' residency status within national territory.

Foreigner born in Portugal and undocumented can only avoid expulsion if they have lived in the country for 5 years

Government legislative proposal aims to accelerate procedures for the removal of foreigners in an irregular situation.

Government approves law to "accelerate removal" of illegal foreigners from the country

Minister of the Presidency calls for “consequences” for “those who prefer illegality”

Government approves law to "accelerate removal" of illegal foreigners from the country

António Leitão Amaro considered the law establishing the new return regime for foreign citizens in an illegal situation to be “very necessary.”

PJ arrests man in Cascais wanted in Brazil for fraud

The suspect entered the country about three years ago, currently has his residency status regularised, and was working for a company in Cascais.

Ask the Lawyer: I came as a student, I didn't finish my course and I'm working — what should I do?

A reader seeks legal advice after arriving as a student but not completing their studies and now working in the country; they ask what options or steps they should take.