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Crisis in Portugal: Government Announces Mandatory Departure of Thousands of Immigrants and Brazilians May Be Affected by the Measure
The Portuguese government has begun a rigorous notification process for around 18,000 immigrants whose residency applications have been denied. Among those affected are Brazilian citizens, although most cases involve nationals from South Asia. The immigration authorities have set a deadline of 20 days for immigrants to voluntarily leave the country. Otherwise, they may be deported compulsorily.
Crackdown on Rejected Applications Following AIMA Review
The measure was confirmed by António Leitão Amaro, Portugal’s Minister of the Presidency, during a public statement on Saturday (3). According to him, the immigrants in question had their regularization processes denied by the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA), an agency created to replace the former Immigration and Borders Service (SEF). The denials, according to the government, were based on legal criteria, including lack of proof of ties to the country, absence of required documents, and, in some cases, criminal records.
“Compliance with the law is an essential principle to ensure order and the proper functioning of the immigration system. Those who do not respond to the notification within the stipulated timeframe may be removed coercively,” the minister stated.
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Brazilians Monitored by Diplomatic Authorities
Although the exact number of affected Brazilians has not yet been officially disclosed, the Brazilian Embassy in Lisbon is in direct contact with Portuguese authorities to monitor the situation. According to the Itamaraty, the expectation is to obtain a more precise survey in the coming days.
According to the Brazilian consul-general in Lisbon, Alessandro Candeas, everything is being done to provide support to compatriots who may be affected. The Brazilian ambassador in Portugal, Raimundo Carreiro, is also monitoring the developments with the Portuguese government.
Despite Brazilians forming the largest foreign community in Portugal — with over 400,000 legal residents, according to the SEF — preliminary data indicate they represent a small portion of the 18,000 cases. Two-thirds of the denied applications would be from citizens coming from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan, according to Minister Amaro.
Political Context and Accusations of Opportunism
The decision comes at a delicate moment for Portuguese politics. The announcement was made right before the official start of the campaign for the early legislative elections, scheduled for May 18. The call for elections followed the downfall of the government led by Luís Montenegro, which lost parliamentary support due to a scandal involving a consultancy owned by his family. The incident raised accusations of conflict of interest and culminated in the dissolution of the Assembly of the Republic by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
In light of this, organizations defending the rights of immigrants have raised suspicions about the timing of the measure. The Casa do Brasil em Lisboa (CBL), one of the oldest entities focused on supporting foreigners in the country, publicly criticized the decision. In a statement signed by its president, Ana Paula Costa, the organization described the government’s action as a potential “smokescreen.”
“It is curious that an announcement of this magnitude occurs exactly when the government is at the center of an ethical crisis and about to face the electorate. It raises the question of whether immigration is being used once again as a scapegoat to divert attention from the real national issues,” says the note published on the organization’s social media.
Overburdened System and Accumulated Delays
The tightening of immigration rules reflects a system in crisis. The AIMA, which replaced the SEF with promises of modernization and simplification, currently faces a backlog of approximately 110,000 pending residency applications. The accumulation has generated criticism from both social organizations and immigration law experts.
Furthermore, the Portuguese government has faced pressure from the European Union to strengthen border control and improve management of migration flows. In 2023, the bloc allocated over €300 million in funds to help member countries strengthen the screening and monitoring of immigrants.
The policy of leniency towards citizens of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), of which Brazil is a part, is also under review. Although Brazilians still have advantages in the legalization process, such as easier access to the CPLP residency visa, these conditions do not eliminate the requirement to meet the basic criteria required by local legislation.
What to Expect in the Coming Months
Experts predict that new notifications will be issued over the coming months as AIMA continues to review the accumulated processes. The Portuguese government promises to expedite the analyses, but it is unclear whether there will be changes in the reception or regularization policies.
In the meantime, the immigrant community in the country — especially Brazilians — is awaiting clarifications and possibly a more concrete position from the Brazilian government regarding potential diplomatic measures or legal assistance.
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