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EU Immigration Portal

Which ministry has overall responsibility?

Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI)

MAI is responsible for implementing policies on immigration and asylum. It monitors the entry, stay, departure and removal of non-EU citizens to and from Portugal.

Are there other ministries involved?

Ministry of the Presidency and Administrative Modernization

Coordinates sectoral integration policies

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MNE)

MNE is responsible for foreign and visa policy.

Ministry of Solidarity, Employment and Social Security (MSESS)

The Ministry of Solidarity, Employment and Social Security is in charge of developing policy related to social security, creation of sustainable employment conditions and implementation of vocational training as well social inclusion.

Ministry of Justice (MJ)

MJ is responsible for granting Portuguese nationality.

Ministry of Education and Science

The Ministry issues an opinion prior to granting visas to highly-skilled activities, when there is doubt as to the highly skilled nature of the activities.

Ministry for Economy (ME)

Promotes economic policies in the industrial and service sectors.

What are the implementing agencies?

Immigration and Borders Service (SEF)

SEF operates under the Ministry of Internal Administration and is in charge of controlling borders, stay and activities of non-EU citizens in Portugal, and examining, promoting, coordinating and executing measures and actions related to these activities and to migratory movements.

The SEF grants residence permits to non-EU citizens.

High Commission for Immigration (ACM)

The ACIDI welcomes and integrates immigrants in Portugal. It collaborates in developing, implementing and assessing policies related to integration and immigration. It promotes dialogue between the various cultures, ethnic groups and religions.

National Republican Guard (GNR) and Public Security Police (PSP)

The GNR and the PSP participate in verifying and monitoring immigrants in Portugal, especially in terms of checks within the national territory and as part of joint operations within the framework of police co-operation between Spain and Portugal.

Institute for Employment and Professional Training (IEFP)

IEFP is responsible for ascertaining and establishing the contingent of foreign labour that is necessary to meet the nation's labour requirements.

Authority for Labour Conditions (ACT)

ACT is responsible for providing information on working conditions for non-EU citizens. It also inspects the working conditions of non-EU citizens.

Are there general immigration policy papers?

Annual Report on Immigration and Asylum

Portuguese Annual Policy Report on Immigration and Asylum

Are there impact assessments, studies and reports available?

Coleção Estudos, Observatório das Migrações

Revista Migrações, Observatório das Migrações

Coleção Imigração em Números, Observatório das Migrações

Coleção Teses, Observatório das Migrações

Outras Coleções, Observatório das Migrações

Relatórios OM - Projetos Internacionais, Observatório das Migrações

What is the key legislation?

Regulatory Decree no. 9/2018, of September 11, which regulated Law No. 102/2017 of August 28, the fifth amendment to Law no. 23/2007, of July 4, which approves the legal regime of entry, stay, exit and removal of foreigners from the national territory (Foreigners Law)

Law No. 26/2018 of July 5 proceeds to the sixth amendment to the legal system for entry, stay, departure and removal of foreigners from the national territory, approved by Law no. 23/2007, of 4 of July, for an effective regularization of the legal status of children and young people of foreign nationality hosted in State institutions or equivalent.

Decree No. 9/2018 of September 11th  clarified and established the necessary documentation for the granting of short-stay visas for seasonal work (art. 17-A), and for temporary stay for seasonal work exceeding 90 days (Article 23-A).

Order No. 745/2018, dated January 17, which establishes the list of employment sectors with seasonal activity.

Decree order No. 1334-E/2010, of 31 December, defining the amounts to be charged by the Immigration and Borders Service for administrative procedures.

Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 21/2010 of 26 March that sets the global quota indicative of granting residence visas for entry into national territory of foreign citizens to the exercise of a profession.

Law N° 23/2007 of 4 July 2007 regarding the conditions and procedures on the entry, permanence, exit and removal of foreign citizens from Portuguese territory, as well as the status of long term resident.

Governmental decree No. 84/2007 of 5 November that regulates Law No. 23/2007, of 4 July, amended by the Regulatory Decree n.º 2/2013, 18th March.

Decree Order No. 1563/2007 of 11 December defining the means of subsistence that foreign nationals should possess to be allowed to enter and stay in Portugal. This law is complemented by Decree order No. 760/2009 of 16 July, adopting exceptional measures regarding the means of subsistence.

Law No. 37/2006 of August 9 related to the right of citizens of the European Union and their families to move and reside freely in the national territory.

Access Portuguese law online

What are the national scientific research and statistical offices on immigration?

Statistics National Institute

Immigration Observatory

SOCIUS - Research Centre in Economic and Organisational Sociology of the Lisbon School of Economics and Management (ISEG), within the Technical University of Lisbon

CES - Centre for Social Studies, Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra

CEG - MIGRARE - Migration, Spaces and Societies Research Unit in the Centre of Geographical Studies (CEG), Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning, University of Lisbon.

SEFSTAT The immigration statistical website on foreign population in Portugal

PORDATA Wide statistical database on the Portuguese society