Created on 20 April 2016 through a protocol between the municipality and the then High Commission for Migration, the centre supports legalisation and regularisation processes, the Portimão City Council informed in a statement.

"In the first three months of this year alone, 1,014 services were registered, mostly for people between 18 and 39 years old," the city hall specified.

Portuguese-speaking migrants

According to data released by the municipality, 75% of the users served in those services are from Portuguese-speaking countries, especially Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe, Angola, Mozambique, and Brazil. European citizens (20%) and nationals of third countries (5%) follow.

The service, which acts as a mediator between migrants and public bodies, has been crucial in ensuring that foreign workers maintain their professional activity, especially in sectors such as hospitality, restaurants, health and construction.

Foreign population in Portimão

Portimão is currently one of the municipalities in the country with the highest relative weight of foreign population, with an estimated 35% of residents being migrants, in a context where the Faro district is the second in the country, after Lisbon, with the highest concentration of foreign population, according to the Portimão municipality.

Throughout its existence, CLAIM has worked in conjunction with schools, health services, social security, companies, and migrant associations, and has also participated in national and international reception programs and integration initiatives in the tourism sector.

Promoting dignified integration

According to the municipality of Portimão, the work developed by the centre “has been essential to promote dignified, regular and participatory integration”, highlighting the importance of maintaining local responses in a territory marked by strong migratory diversity.

CLAIM operates in the Portimão City Hall building on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 9 am to 1 pm and from 2 pm to 3 pm.