According to Rádio Renascença, a group of immigrants intends to sue the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum due to delays in regularization processes.
Hans Melo, one of the initiative's promoters and a member of the Association of Immigrants and Workers by Application (ASITRAP), reveals that the discontent is mainly due to the bureaucracy involved.
Quoted by Rádio Renascença, Hans Melo states that "it's something for over 100,000 people, who are considering taking action, who don't know what to do, who are seeking an association. That's a number we've reached, let's say, of people who are desperate. But, like, a lot of people are behind. A lot of people," he points out. The officer also states that there are thousands of open cases in the courts.
Hans Melo also accuses the Portuguese state of getting bogged down by excessive bureaucracy.
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I am very keen to add my name and support to this initiative. Albeit, I am from a slightly different angle, having paid the golden visa route , only to have zero promises that the Portuguese Gov made kept. I am interested in having others that feel the same join , or if needs be a seperate class action for GV applicants
By Craig Krull from Porto on 21 Jul 2025, 11:16
In any other normal organization , the manager of that circus would be fired. No need to be a doctor to solve that. Fix apointment forms. Provide weekly update about status. Hire meople to answer the phone/ emails .
Everyone can wait even half year but those who waiting need to have a reason to wait.
By Nefi from Lisbon on 21 Jul 2025, 12:02
Yes…. We wait, then wait …. And wait again.
Took over a year to get a renewal residency appointment. Did the biometrics, AIMA took my money quick. Now have been waiting months and no new ID. Simple as putting in the plastic kids. For a “Government” agency, this is completely unacceptable.
By A V from Algarve on 21 Jul 2025, 21:02
The online system run by AIMA is an absolute joke. Switching between Portuguese and English causes errors and there are often "undefined error" messages. All of which shows that they have not bothered to conduct real life testing of the system before it was released publicly. Their application processing is just as bad. Having changed address recently meant having to get a new card issued with the new address. This requires an in-person appointment, even after providing all of the supporting documents. So where is the appointment made, in 3 months time by the way, but further north (Coimbra) than location I moved from. Yes the email advising of the appointment date and location says I can cancel the appointment online, but the location on the system does not exist! This might also explain why up to 20% of appointments are missed!!!!
By Stephen Moloney from Algarve on 22 Jul 2025, 10:07
I am a resident. Orginally through Camara Municipal Evora. After Covid I returned to England for awhile. When I got back 3 years ago I registered with SEF. Easy process and they didn't just give me a card they actually gave me a new 5 years (to my surprise). Unfortunately last year I lost my card. I have been trying to get an appointment with AIMA for 18 months. Nothing more to say!
By Thomas Buckingham from Alentejo on 22 Jul 2025, 10:31
Where do I sign my name to that list?!
By Diann Schindler from Lisbon on 22 Jul 2025, 15:42
I am literally sitting next to the departure gate at Lisboa airport awaiting my flight back to my original country of origin down under. After almost 6 years including Covid, Brexit, European wars it’s AIMA that has forced my decision to give up on portugal. Weather I sell my lovely little farm my campervan my motorcycle, my day to day drive remains to be seen..but like many, a year of fighting to get an appointment to renew my D7 and now over 7months of waiting AT home! for the registered letter to arrive to sign for it….I admit defeat….:( Such a waste..(however I’m sure this years tax demand will be on time!! Although I won’t be there to receive it:(:( Sue away people!!!!!
By Luc from Other on 22 Jul 2025, 18:27
I have to say — they know exactly what they’re doing. These delays are clearly deliberate tactics coming from the top, designed to frustrate people. I’ve never seen a government department so deeply incompetent, and yet the government does nothing about it. It’s hard not to conclude that this is a strategy to wear down applicants.
I don’t need anything from AIMA personally, but as a Portuguese citizen, I feel genuinely ashamed every time I go online and see the flood of complaints. It’s disheartening.
What the government seems to overlook is that five years ago, Portugal’s GDP per capita wasn’t what it is today. Migrants have played — and continue to play — a major role in driving economic activity. But it seems the powers that be lack the humility to acknowledge that truth.
Those running AIMA should be held accountable. People deserve appointments. There should be better systems in place — even outsourcing biometric data collection to post offices, as other countries do. It’s not that complicated — it’s just a matter of will.
By Michael from Lisbon on 24 Jul 2025, 07:42
Could Hans Melo please check first how his home country Brasil treats immigrants? Not to talk about all those US refugees who think Portugal owes them acceptance while their country deports Europeans to third countries.
By Geert from Lisbon on 24 Jul 2025, 13:10