The data was presented by the president of the board of directors of the Agency for Integration, Migrations and Asylum (AIMA): between January and October 22, 2025, 386,463 residence permits were granted, which means an increase of 60% compared to the same period in 2024. In an interview with the Conversa Capital program, on Antena 1 and Jornal de Negócios, published on Saturday, October 25, Pedro Portugal Gaspar, also estimated that the 50% reduction in the number of immigrants entering the country remains.
“On October 22nd we had 386,463 cards [de residência] in fact, new authorizations were issued throughout 2025, already with the final title of the card, because that is the final element. […] In the same period of 2024, we had 236,030, so here we have an increase of 60%, 61%, around that”, he informed.
According to the person responsible, most of these processes still correspond to situations involving people who entered Portugal under the expression of interest mechanism, which allowed foreigners in national territory to request a residence permit, especially if they already had a work contract and Social Security discounts, and which was officially extinguished in June 2024.
Even so, Pedro Portugal Gaspar estimated that, as in 2024, this year the trend of reducing entries will continue, by around 50%, which should continue with the new Foreigners Law.
The new regime, promulgated by the President of the Republic on October 16, provides, among other changes, the limitation of visas for those looking for work to “qualified work”.
Avoiding commenting on specific points of the law, the president of AIMA assured that the institution will adapt to the expected changes, particularly in relation to the type of visas.
Regarding renewals of residence permits, Pedro Portugal Gaspar highlighted the function of the Renewals Portal, whose entry into operation has so far allowed 32 to 33 thousand people to avoid traveling to AIMA stores.
Responding to cases brought before the Administrative and Fiscal Court, due to AIMA’s lack of scheduling, the president recalled that the institution responded positively to all actions and that is why it never suffered a conviction.
Despite the 10% increase seen last year, Pedro Portugal Gaspar defended the need to continue strengthening the institution’s staff, currently made up of more than 770 workers.
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