The Portuguese government has announced an extension for the validity of documents and visas for immigrants, now valid until June 30, 2025. This move aims to provide relief and stability to the immigrant community amid ongoing administrative delays.

What is the New Mission Structure to Address the Backlog?

In a bid to streamline immigration processes, the government has also established a mission structure dedicated to resolving pending immigration cases. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to improve the efficiency of the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA).

How is AIMA Implementing Proactive Immigration Policies?

AIMA has been assigned a proactive role in attracting immigrants and enhancing the Migration Observatory. This decree-law reflects the government's commitment to improving immigration processes and support systems for foreign nationals.

What is the Mission Structure for Pending Processes?

According to Portugal News, the newly created Mission Structure will operate until June 2, 2025. It will focus on analyzing and resolving pending immigration cases, involving up to 300 dedicated personnel to handle administrative processing and applicant assistance.

How is Portugal Addressing the Immigrant Case Backlog?

The President of AIMA, Luís Goes Pinheiro, highlighted that there are currently 410,000 pending immigrant cases in Portugal. To tackle this, AIMA plans to hire over 100 additional employees, though more resources are needed to fully meet the demand. Pinheiro assured that efforts are underway to clear this backlog by the summer of 2025.

What Progress and Challenges Does AIMA Face?

Pinheiro emphasized AIMA's commitment to resolving pending issues and processing applications within set deadlines. He noted that over half of the pending cases had already been processed and paid by the applicants.

Why Did Portugal See a Record Number of International Residents in 2023?

AIMA revealed that over one million internationals resided in Portugal in 2023, marking the highest number ever recorded. This represents a significant increase of 130% compared to 2022. According to Diario de Noticias, 392,000 additional residence permits were issued last year compared to the previous year.

By extending document validity and enhancing administrative structures, Portugal continues to position itself as a welcoming destination for immigrants, ensuring a more efficient and supportive immigration system.

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Source -> Diario de Noticias, The Portugal News