President Promulgates New Regulation to Streamline Immigration and Facilitate Family Reunification Requests

15 January 2024

At the beginning of this year, the Portuguese President enacted some adjustments to the judicial regime of entry, residence, exit, or deportation of foreign citizens in Portuguese territory. The implementation of this particular measure will play a significant role in facilitating family reunification.


The goal of this change is to improve the efficiency of the family reunion processes. This change is not only intended to improve the current process but also to address all the pending processes that have been delayed for an extended period. The primary objective is to streamline the workflow and enhance the overall experience of the family reunion process, making it more efficient.


An example of an improvement in workflow efficiency can be seen in the changes made to the Portuguese Citizenship Law. One of the changes is that the 5-year period for acquiring Portuguese nationality now begins when the applicant submits their residency application, instead of when the first residency permit is issued as it was prior to these exchanges.


The AIMA agency has announced that they plan to introduce new measures in their digital services, which will soon become available to individuals who wish to apply for family reunification residency. AIMA was established at the end of last year to replace SEF and aims to streamline immigration processes by delegating tasks to other public entities. 


Portugal has been putting in a significant amount of effort to improve the way immigrants are received and treated in the country. The government has been taking various measures to create a more welcoming environment for immigrants, such as implementing policies that promote integration and providing support services to help immigrants settle into Portugal. These efforts reflect the country's commitment to fostering people in the best possible way.


If you need help with this matter or any other related issue, please don't hesitate to ask for our assistance. We will be delighted to assist you.

by Margarida Tempera 9 September 2025
Margarida Tempera | Lawyer
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