Portugal: AIMA replaces SEF as migration authority

Who it affects

All third-country nationals with residence cases; Portuguese residents renewing permits.

Sources

Primary: AIMA — Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo ↗

Corroborating: Diário da República Eletrónico ↗ · Ministério da Administração Interna ↗

Verified 2026-04-21 · methodology · report a correction

Related changes in Portugal

More recent updates

Announced 11 Apr 2025

Announced Citizenship

Proposed citizenship residence-requirement increase

The Portuguese government announced in April 2025 a proposal to raise the residence requirement for naturalisation from five years to seven (and to ten for nationals of non-Portuguese-speaking countries), alongside stricter language and civic-knowledge assessment. The proposal is in parliamentary process; existing applications continue under the five-year rule.

Who it affects: Prospective naturalisation applicants arriving after adoption, if enacted.

Governo de Portugal ↗ · Ministério da Administração Interna ↗ · AIMA — Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo ↗ · verified 2026-04-21

In force 1 Jan 2025

In force Labour

National minimum wage raised to €870 per month

The national minimum wage (Retribuição Mínima Mensal Garantida) rose from €820 to €870 per month (14 payments per year) on 1 January 2025, in line with the tripartite agreement on income and competitiveness. The minimum wage anchors the D8 digital-nomad visa income threshold (4× minimum) at approximately €3,480/month.

Who it affects: Low-wage employees, self-employed workers, and D8 / other salary-threshold visa applicants.

Portuguese Government Portal ↗ · Diário da República ↗ · verified 2026-04-18

In force 1 Jan 2025

In force Taxation

IRS Jovem youth tax exemption expanded

The State Budget for 2025 materially expanded IRS Jovem — Portugal's youth income-tax exemption. It now applies to taxpayers up to age 35 (raised from 30 and narrower prior thresholds), for up to 10 years, with 100% exemption in year one stepping down to 25% in years 8-10, subject to an earnings cap.

Who it affects: Residents under 35 earning employment or self-employment income in Portugal.

Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira ↗ · Diário da República Eletrónico ↗ · Governo de Portugal ↗ · verified 2026-04-21

In force 1 Nov 2024

In force Housing

Partial rollback of Mais Habitação under Construir Portugal plan

The Montenegro government's Construir Portugal housing plan partially rolled back several Mais Habitação provisions: the compulsory-leasing mechanism for long-empty properties and certain rental-market interventions were reversed or softened; short-term-let tax treatment adjusted; incentives re-weighted toward construction-side supply measures. Further legislative detail rolled through 2024–2025.

Who it affects: Landlords, investors, and tenants in Portuguese urban markets; further adjustments expected.

Portuguese Government Portal ↗ · Diário da República ↗ · verified 2026-04-18

In force 4 Jun 2024

In force Residency

Lei dos Estrangeiros reform — "expressão de interesse" route ended

Decree-Law 37-A/2024 ended the Article 89(2) "manifestation of interest" (expressão de interesse) route — under which non-EU nationals could enter Portugal on a tourist visa and legalise their status from within the country after starting employment and registering with Segurança Social. New applications must now go through a consular visa in the country of origin. Transitional rules protected applications filed before the reform date; the change materially tightened the immigration route most heavily used by Brazilian and Asian workers.

Who it affects: Non-EU nationals planning irregular-to-regular transition from within Portugal, particularly from Brazil, Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.

AIMA — Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo ↗ · Portuguese Government Portal ↗ · Diário da República ↗ · verified 2026-04-18

In force 3 Jun 2024

In force Residency

AIMA backlog resolution plan announced (400,000+ pending files)

The Montenegro government announced a structured plan to clear the backlog of roughly 400,000 pending residence-permit cases inherited from the SEF-to-AIMA transition. The plan included dedicated processing task-forces ("Grupo de Missão") and later automated-decision procedures for specified application categories. Processing times for residence-permit renewals remained well above AIMA's target throughout 2024 and into 2025.

Who it affects: Non-EU residents awaiting residence-permit issue or renewal; an important context for arrival planning.

AIMA — Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo ↗ · Portuguese Government Portal ↗ · verified 2026-04-18