Uglobal Immigration Magazine Top 25 issue 7.1 | Page 9

UGLOBAL . COM 9

“ In Portugal , as in other European countries , immigration has gained increasing relevance in recent years , with notable political impact .

WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2025
In general , 2025 may be a year of significant pressure in Portugal ’ s immigration sector . Due to its characteristics , Portugal remains one of the safest countries in the world , with a lower cost of living compared to other European Union countries . This makes it an attractive option for those fleeing wars , especially the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas .
Additionally , political instability , such as the recent election of Donald Trump in the United States , may lead to an outflow of foreign nationals seeking a new country to live in .
Finally , significant legal changes in European countries regarding their immigration programs , such as the announced end of the Golden Visa program in Spain , expected to take place in early 2025 , may lead many previously undecided individuals to choose Portugal as the country to obtain a Golden Visa , as it continues to be regarded as the best residence-by-investment program in the world .
Specifically in Portugal , the following developments may occur in the coming year :
AIMA Backlog
• After failing to meet its goal of resolving all the backlogged cases left by SEF by the end of 2024 , AIMA will focus on addressing this issue by the end of 2025 . It will be difficult , as the number of foreigners in Portugal continues to rise , and this trend is expected to continue in the coming year . Meanwhile , AIMA employees spent much of 2024 on strike overtime , and this strike is likely to extend into 2025 . The opening of new specialized service centers in several cities across Portugal , along with the recruitment of around 300 new professionals by June 2025 , may significantly reduce the backlog . This , combined with the end of the expression of interest process , which will reduce the influx of applications AIMA must process , should help .
Creation of an Immigration and Asylum Court
• The government has created a specialized court for immigration and asylum matters , which is expected to streamline immigration and asylum processes and provide faster decisions . Due to increased cases and inefficiencies within AIMA itself , litigation against AIMA is expected to grow during 2025 . There will likely be a need for