AIMA Documents and Visas Valid and Accepted Until June 30, 2025

In a world that is increasingly global, human mobility has become an intrinsic and inevitable feature of contemporary societies. These movements involve internal or international travels that present challenges and opportunities for social, economic, and cultural development in countries of origin, transit, and destination. Portugal, a country with a long tradition of migration, recognizes the contributions of these communities to strengthening the social and economic fabric. They also contribute to building more cohesive and inclusive societies. In this context, the Government has approved measures aimed at addressing existing challenges. Additionally, they are restructuring institutions involved in migration and asylum matters, which depend on legislative initiatives.

Introduction of New Measures

Considering the Government’s program and the measures proposed for the area of migrations, this decree-law adds to the competencies of the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA, I.P.) responsibilities related to the attraction and retention of qualified human capital. This new dimension of AIMA, I.P. is essential for the successful implementation of migration policy, particularly in promoting migration flows that are vital for Portugal’s social, demographic, and economic development.

Reformulation of the Migration Observatory

Regarding the structure of AIMA, I.P., the framework of the Migration Observatory is also reformulated. Given that this observatory plays a fundamental role in the strategic and scientific monitoring of migration phenomena, it is restored to its status as an advisory body for public policy. It provides the necessary capacity to fully guarantee the annual commitments of monitoring and reporting on migration and asylum trends. This confers a crucial autonomy as part of the public institute, essential for fulfilling its mission in a context of increasing migratory pressure in Europe and Portugal.

Extension of Document Validity

Lastly, delays in Public Administration in processing procedures for renewing and extending documents related to the stay of foreign citizens in national territory have negatively impacted the professional and family life of their holders as well as their access to public services. The lengthy and disorganized process of abolishing the Immigration and Borders Service, further aggravated by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and the incapacity of AIMA, I.P. services to respond, justify extending by one year the deadline established in Decree-Law No. 10-A/2020, of March 13, in its current wording. This ensures sufficient time to stabilize the functioning of public services in migration matters, ensuring a timely response to requests directed to them.

Legislation Details

Therefore, under the terms of subparagraph a) of paragraph 1 of article 198 of the Constitution, the Government decrees the following:

Article 1: Object

This decree-law proceeds to:

• The forty-seventh amendment to Decree-Law No. 10-A/2020, of March 13, which establishes exceptional and temporary measures relating to the epidemiological situation of the new Coronavirus – COVID-19;
• The fourth amendment to Law No. 73/2021, of November 12, amended by Laws No. 53/2008, of August 29, 53/2007, of August 31, 63/2007, of November 6, and 49/2008, of August 27, which approves the restructuring of the Portuguese border control system;
• The first amendment to Decree-Law No. 41/2023, of June 2, which creates the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum, I.P.

Article 2: Amendment to Decree-Law No. 10-A/2020, of March 13

Article 16 of Decree-Law No. 10-A/2020, of March 13, in its current wording, is amended to read as follows:

“Article 16:

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8. Documents and visas related to staying in national territory, whose validity expires from the date of entry into force of this decree-law or in the 15 days immediately prior, are accepted, under the same terms, until June 30, 2025.
9. Documents referred to in the previous paragraph continue to be accepted, under the same terms, after June 30, 2025, provided that the holder proves that they have already scheduled the respective renewal.
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Article 3: Amendment to Law No. 73/2021, of November 12

Article 3 of Law No. 73/2021, of November 12, in its current wording, is amended to read as follows:

“Article 3:

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5. An observatory operates within AIMA, I.P., with the mission of producing, collecting, processing, and disseminating information and knowledge regarding the phenomenon of migrations.”

Article 4: Amendment to the Annex to Decree-Law No. 41/2023, of June 2

Articles 3 and 4 of the annex to Decree-Law No. 41/2023, of June 2, are amended to read as follows:

“Article 3:

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3. Promoting the attraction and retention of immigrants, attracting migration flows of qualified human capital, in collaboration with employers and their representatives, as well as with state entities responsible for employment and vocational training.
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5. Promoting Portugal as a destination, in accordance with the defined migration policy, playing a proactive role in attracting talent and qualified human capital, particularly in collaboration and cooperation with consular authorities.
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Article 5: Addition to the Annex to Decree-Law No. 41/2023, of June 2

Article 7-A is added to the annex to Decree-Law No. 41/2023, of June 2, with the following wording:

“Article 7-A:

1. The Migration Observatory is the body responsible for producing, collecting, processing, and disseminating information and knowledge regarding the phenomenon of migrations.
2. The Migration Observatory is tasked with:
   1. Collecting, systematizing, and analyzing statistical and administrative information from national and international sources regarding the phenomenon of immigration, including indicators of immigrant and refugee integration;
   2. Promoting the study, research, and observation of migratory phenomena, in close collaboration with university research centers and international organizations;
   3. Establishing protocols with universities and research centers to foster migration research;
   4. Monitoring and evaluating policies and programs for migrants and making recommendations for the definition of public policies and legislative initiatives in the areas of AIMA, I.P.’s activities, in collaboration with the Council for Migration and Asylum;
   5. Promoting thematic working groups to support the reflection on the definition, deepening, or revision of migration and migrant integration policies;
   6. Promoting academic debate and reflection on migration policies and migrant integration, particularly through the organization of conferences, annual seminars, and workshops;
   7. Promoting a constructive and productive dialogue between policymakers and academia on migration issues;
   8. Disseminating scientific production results on migrations;
   9. Informing and sensitizing public opinion, particularly by combating myths and stereotypes about migrations, promoting content, training actions, and other awareness initiatives;
   10. Participating in national and international conferences, contributing to the dissemination of its work, particularly on migration phenomena and the results of migration and migrant integration policies in Portugal;
   11. Cooperating with the Council for Migration and Asylum and other public and private, national and international entities;
   12. Participating in international comparative research projects in the areas of AIMA, I.P.’s activities;
   13. Promoting publications, in physical and digital formats, of its studies and other scientific production activities;
   14. Developing quantitative and qualitative performance indicators that, among other aspects, measure AIMA, I.P.’s performance levels.
3. The Migration Observatory consists of a scientific director and a multidisciplinary project team, directly reporting to them.
4. The scientific director is appointed by the government member responsible for the area of migrations, upon proposal by the board of AIMA, I.P., and must have a recognized academic and experience profile in the field of migrations.
5. The scientific director is assigned a remuneration status equivalent to a first-degree intermediate management position.
6. The multidisciplinary project team of the Migration Observatory, not integrated into any department, is created by resolution of the board.
7. Without prejudice to the scientific director’s own competencies, the coordinator of the multidisciplinary project team of the Migration Observatory is responsible for managing the respective team and the resources assigned to them.
8. The coordinator of the multidisciplinary project team of the Migration Observatory is assigned a remuneration status equivalent to a second-degree intermediate management position.
9. The scientific director, assisted by the coordinator of the multidisciplinary project team, establishes the annual objectives to be pursued by the Migration Observatory, in an activity plan to be submitted for approval by the government member responsible for the area of migrations.”

Article 6: Entry into Force

This decree-law enters into force on the day following its publication.

Seen and approved in the Council of Ministers on June 25, 2024. – Luís Montenegro – António Egrejas Leitão Amaro. Promulgated on June 28, 2024. Published. The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. Countersigned on June 28, 2024. The Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro.