The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) marked its third anniversary in October with 840 employees and approximately 89,000 outstanding cases in administrative courts.

In October 2023, the agency was established following the abolition of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF), taking over responsibility for immigration administration and integration, while police duties and border control were transferred elsewhere.

As reported by ECO, the latest figures show the gap between progress in clearing older applications and the agency’s ongoing difficulties managing its workload.

Court cases

The Superior Council of Administrative and Tax Courts (CSTAF) revealed that 89,000 cases involving AIMA were still awaiting a decision on 18 September, representing a reduction of 36,000 cases, or 28.8 percent, compared with the 125,000 recorded when a special team of judges began working through the backlog in April.

However, new cases continue to arrive.

Lisbon’s Administrative Court received 3,683 applications involving the agency, or 204 each day, between 1 and 18 September alone.

The CSTAF has consequently extended the special judicial team’s work until 30 January 2027, giving judges additional time to address the outstanding cases.

Administrative backlog

The Government maintains that considerable progress has been made in tackling the applications that accumulated over previous years.

Speaking at a parliamentary hearing on 7 October, Presidency Minister António Leitão Amaro said that 98 percent of the 940,000 notifications covered by the special recovery operation had been resolved.

These figures also cover applications submitted through the former expressions of interest system, which allowed foreign nationals already living in Portugal to apply for residency under certain conditions.

This mechanism was abolished in 2024, with approximately 445,000 cases initially requiring attention. According to the minister, only around 5,000 remained unfinished, most awaiting information from applicants.

The extraordinary operation brought together 1,610 people and significantly increased the agency’s processing capacity. By December 2025, more than 750,000 appointments had taken place, and over 300,000 residence permits had been issued.

António Leitão Amaro also emphasised improvements in the agency’s overall response, saying that AIMA had assisted 185,000 more people this year, handled 500,000 calls through its call centre and reduced the number of new backlogs being generated by 80%.

More employees

AIMA’s workforce has increased since its establishment, rising from 714 employees in 2023 to 840 in September 2026.

Nevertheless, the increase has not kept pace with the growth in Portugal’s foreign resident population.

Figures cited by the Workers’ Union of Migration Technicians (STM) indicate that the number of foreign residents rose from approximately one million to almost 1.6 million over the same period, an increase of around 60%.

The union has repeatedly raised concerns about staff departures, excessive workloads and difficulties maintaining consistent services, calling for a dedicated professional career structure for migration technicians, better training and more stable employment conditions for cultural mediators.

These concerns came into focus on 6 October, when the STM organised a nationwide strike demanding answers from the Government on staffing, working conditions and the future organisation of the agency.

Furthermore, AIMA reported that 11.31% of its employees participated in the stoppage.

A new chapter

The third-year anniversary also coincides with a change at the top of the agency.

On 7 October, Leitão Amaro confirmed that César Teixeira, previously a member of AIMA’s board, would replace Pedro Portugal Gaspar as president.

The minister praised the results achieved under the outgoing leadership, describing the first phase of the Government’s immigration reforms as positive.

However, he argued that a different approach was now needed, with priorities shifting toward a new stage of migration management.

The STM welcomed the appointment but stressed that changing the president would not, on its own, resolve the agency’s underlying difficulties, and it continued to demand improvements in planning, communication with the Government, and working conditions.

Digital services

The next phase is expected to place greater emphasis on improving digital services and communication with foreign residents.

As reported by DN Brasil, the agency is exploring further technological improvements, including developments to its online case-tracking systems.

AIMA has also introduced an artificial intelligence tool to help classify incoming emails, although staff remain responsible for responding to enquiries.

Family reunification applications are currently among the agency’s largest areas of work, with more than 5,000 appointments scheduled last week for cases ready to be processed.

Meanwhile, the proposed State Budget for 2027 provides for an increase in AIMA’s funding to €135 million, up from €97.4 million in 2026.


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