Portugal’s Immigration Agency Accelerates Case Backlog as New Government Tightens Controls

Flavia L. Lamattina

Portugal’s immigration system is undergoing one of its most significant transformations in years as the country’s new conservative government moves forward with stricter immigration controls, while the Agency for Migration and Asylum (AIMA) races to resolve a massive backlog of pending cases.

As of June 11, 2025, AIMA has processed approximately 440,000 pending applications, a backlog that had accumulated over several years due to rising immigration levels, administrative delays, and the restructuring of Portugal’s immigration services. Out of these, around 123,000 applications were approved, while approximately 170,000 cases were archived due to applicants failing to respond or submit required documentation.

Roughly 40,000 to 50,000 cases remain under review, which AIMA aims to resolve by the end of 2025. To accelerate processing, the agency has expanded its workforce and improved its digital systems, allowing certain applicants — including Golden Visa candidates — to update documentation online.

As part of the transitional measures adopted during the backlog crisis, the Portuguese government had previously issued multiple extensions to the validity of expired residence permits. These extensions were granted to ensure that immigrants would not lose access to essential services, employment, and travel while waiting for their applications to be processed.

Currently, all expired residence permits are automatically considered valid until June 30, 2025. After that date, AIMA expects that most of the outstanding cases will have been reviewed or scheduled for resolution. Authorities have not yet announced whether additional extensions will be granted for cases still pending beyond that date.

In order to focus on older, unresolved cases, AIMA has begun rescheduling appointments, causing delays for newer applicants. The agency has shifted resources to prioritize long-pending files, many of which date back to the transition from the now-defunct Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF). Adding to the procedural overhaul, AIMA instituted a new zero-tolerance policy in February 2025 requiring all applications to be fully complete upon submission. Incomplete applications are automatically rejected; a change aimed at reducing processing times and administrative burden.

The government’s tougher stance is also reflected in the sharp increase in rejections. As of early June, approximately 33,000 applications for regularization have been denied, with applicants receiving voluntary departure orders. Reports indicate that around 2,000 such notifications are being issued daily, signaling a more aggressive enforcement of immigration rules.

Earlier this year, 18,000 individuals whose applications had been definitively denied were given 20 days to leave the country. Critics argue that these measures were politically motivated, particularly as they were announced in the lead-up to the May 2025 national elections.

One of the most politically sensitive issues currently under discussion is family reunification. The right-wing Chega party has called for a temporary suspension of family reunification programs until the existing backlog is fully addressed, citing concerns over a potential surge in immigration numbers. The government has yet to make a final decision, though officials have acknowledged the delicate balance between humanitarian obligations and the new administration’s stricter immigration priorities. Under the new conservative leadership, Portugal is moving away from its previous “Expression of Interest” system, which allowed many immigrants to initiate residency procedures while already living in the country. Going forward, the government plans to implement tighter pre-screening of applicants through Portuguese consulates abroad, aligning procedures more closely with Schengen Area standards. Observers say these changes reflect a broader shift toward stricter immigration policies across Europe, as several EU countries tighten border controls and asylum procedures in response to growing political pressures.

As Portugal’s immigration framework undergoes rapid change, AIMA’s ability to clear the remaining backlog will be closely watched. The agency’s success — or failure — in doing so could have significant implications for thousands of immigrants, as well as for Portugal’s international reputation as a destination for foreign workers, investors, and families seeking new opportunities.

While older applicants may see their long-pending cases finally resolved by year-end, new applicants now face longer waits, stricter documentation requirements, and increased uncertainty in the months ahead.

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