António Vitorino, former director-general of the IOM, advocates for more resources dedicated to immigrant integration, the newly created PSP unit responsible for deportations, and the enforcement of labour conditions.
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The government issued 26,000 family reunification permits in the first nine months of 2026, averaging 2,900 per month. Additionally, the government has handled 42,000 in-person appointments and 55,000 scheduled sessions. Under rules effective since October 2025, applicants must hold a valid residence permit for at least two years before requesting family reunification, and the official processing timeframe is now nine months.
The government has appointed César Teixeira as the new president of AIMA, replacing Pedro Portugal Gaspar. The Migration Technicians Union (STM) acknowledged the change but stated it does not resolve ongoing issues such as chaotic processes, lack of planning, and worker exhaustion, reiterating their demands for better working conditions and career structure.
The Minister of the Presidency has called on Parliament to revise the recent law on statelessness, claiming that procedural flaws allow illegal migration networks to manipulate the system. According to the Minister, the current law facilitates residency authorization and financial support for applicants before a thorough assessment of the validity of their claims is completed.