The Portuguese government has recently approved new regulations to facilitate family reunification requests and improve the efficiency and accessibility of immigration processes in the country. The revamped laws align with the restructuring of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) and aim to adapt to evolving needs and improve security requirements in immigration-related matters.
The Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA) has been at the forefront of implementing these changes. According to AIMA, the institution’s digital services portal will soon be launched, allowing for smoother residence permit applications for family reunification. This digital platform is expected to enhance overall security measures in line with immigration services.
Established on October 29, 2023, AIMA has inherited a substantial workload, with 347,000 cases to date. The agency’s primary objective is to regularise family reunification cases by the end of the year. According to Ana Catarina Mendes, the minister responsible for AIMA, the agency is committed not only to improving its technological service but also to responding more easily to the needs of citizens.
To meet these objectives, AIMA works with municipalities and local immigrant support offices in the first three months of the year. The new changes aim to resolve pending immigration processes in addition to allocating more resources to address existing cases. The mission is to create a better and more responsive immigration system that aligns with contemporary requirements and ensures the prompt reunification of families.
In 2020, Portugal received 80,000 new immigrants on a long-term or permanent basis, with 19% benefitting from free mobility, 40.7% moving for economic reasons, and 35.1% having family reunification purposes. Around 12,000 permits were issued to international students at higher levels of education, and 29,000 intra-EU postings were recorded in 2020, demonstrating Portugal’s appeal as a destination for immigrants.
The new regulations and improvements in the immigration system are anticipated to make the process of family reunification in Portugal more efficient and secure. Travelers to the country will benefit from the country’s commitment to adapting to evolving needs and improving security requirements in immigration-related matters.
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