AIMA clears 525,000 immigration cases as Portugal tackles residency backlog

Portugal’s immigration authorities have processed more than 525,000 pending immigration cases and carried out 763,000 appointments as part of an extraordinary regularisation operation launched by the government, according to figures presented by the Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro.

The development marks a major milestone in Portugal’s efforts to modernise its immigration system and respond to growing demand from foreign nationals seeking to live, work, and study in the country.

Speaking before a joint session of parliamentary committees on Constitutional Affairs and State Reform in May, the minister outlined the progress made by the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) in clearing a backlog of cases inherited following the closure of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) and the end of the Mission Structure for the Recovery of Pending Cases at the end of 2025.

According to the government, more than 473,000 immigration applications have received a favourable decision since the operation began in 2024.

The operation forms part of Portugal’s wider effort to modernise its immigration system following the closure of SEF and the creation of AIMA.

More than 225,000 residence cards issued

A large share of the cases relates to so-called “expressions of interest”, a mechanism that previously allowed foreign nationals to apply for residence permits after entering Portugal. The scheme was abolished in 2024 as part of the government’s immigration reforms.

According to figures presented by Leitão Amaro, AIMA notified around 445,000 people under this procedure. Of the 256,000 applications already assessed, 229,000 were approved and 26,000 rejected.

The government says more than 225,000 residence cards have already been issued through this process.

Under the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) mobility framework, authorities notified approximately 215,000 people and carried out 207,000 appointments involving 161,000 immigrants.

AIMA has so far decided 153,000 CPLP-related applications, approving around 140,000. More than 136,000 residence cards have already been issued.

Renewals of expired residence permits

The government also provided an update on the renewal of expired residence permits.

According to the minister, around 360,000 cases were identified as requiring renewal. Authorities subsequently notified 193,000 individuals confirmed to still be living in Portugal.

Of those, more than 104,000 attended appointments and 82,000 have already received renewed residence cards.

Foreign residents exceed 1.5 million

Government figures show that in 2024 Portugal had 1,543,697 foreign citizens holding valid residence permits or undergoing regularisation procedures.

More than 1.03 million foreign nationals were registered contributors to Portugal’s Social Security system.

Leitão Amaro rejected suggestions that immigration places disproportionate pressure on the welfare system.

“There is a lower percentage of immigrants receiving Social Integration Income than there is among Portuguese citizens,” the minister told MPs.

Why official population figures may differ

The minister also said forthcoming population statistics from the National Statistics Institute (INE) may differ from AIMA’s immigration figures because the two organisations use different methodologies.

While AIMA counts valid residence permits and ongoing regularisation procedures, INE only includes people considered habitual residents who have lived in Portugal for at least 12 months.

According to the government, delays in publishing updated population data are linked to a complex reconciliation process following the abolition of SEF and the creation of AIMA.

Leitão Amaro said the Mission Structure identified around 440,000 residents who were previously absent from official statistics.

The process involves cross-checking information from AIMA, Social Security, the National Health Service, schools and the Tax Authority.

What it means for foreign residents in Portugal

The government argues that clearing the immigration backlog will improve the efficiency of Portugal’s immigration system and reduce waiting times for residence permits and renewals.

For many foreign residents, faster processing may mean quicker access to residence documentation, family reunification procedures and other immigration services handled by AIMA.

The figures represent one of the largest immigration regularisation exercises ever undertaken in Portugal and provide the clearest indication yet of the scale of the country’s efforts to resolve long-standing delays in the processing of immigration applications.