AIMA has analyzed some 440,000 pending applications, is still yet to process around 10%, 40,000 to 50,000 applications, these cases likely to be fully resolved by end of 2025 due to slowdown in processing, the minister announced in a latest press conference. Some applicants have been waiting for 3 years. A task force was established in September 2025, to look into resolving 450,000 pending cases of immigrants trying to regularize their immigration situation in Portugal by June 2025.
“We expect that by the end of the year this process will be largely taken care of”
-Minister Antonio Amaro
AIMA has approved 123,000 residence permits so far from pending backlog repositary cases. Some 170,000 applications (40%) were archived for no response from applicants.
Family Members
Approved applicants have the right to bring their family members to Portugal filing family reunification requests. Portugal has already 15% foreigners among in the population, the government is concerned about rise of foreign population by bringing family members.
Chega has proposed a draft law asking the government to suspend family reunification requests for residence permit, until the regularization of half a million applications is resolved.
Proposed Immigration Changes
Portugal government is considering changes to the immigration and investment law to make the country a a global investment destination.
- Increasing number of years of of residence in the country for citizenship
- Strengthening ties to the country for PR and Citizenship.
- Promote integration of migrants by targeting the specificities of each region
- Simplified documentation process reducing bureaucracy
- Prioritize older GV submissions for processing and grant electronically.
- Additional Tax incentives (20% flat tax) for Portugal residents.
- Clearing of all application backlog by end of 2025.
- Regularization of immigration status for all migrants.
- Improve speed and processing of expressions of interest filed online.
- Additional human resources Increasing the staff capacity by 25-30%
- Expedite resolution of cases in courts against AIMA
Golden Visas Wont be Scrapped
The Government has ruled out scrapping golden visa program which has brought 7.5 billion euros since 2012, exceeded all expectations. The demand for golden visas rose 72% for 500,000 applications, despite scrapping the real estate route.
