Portuguese Government Plans to Restrict Shared Addresses and Extend Naturalization Period
Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, announced on Tuesday that the government intends to adopt stricter measures in immigration policy, including extending the minimum residency period for nationality applications and restricting multiple immigrants from registering at the same address to combat related frauds.
On the same day, the High Commission for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA) released data showing that, as of 2024, the number of immigrants residing in Portugal has exceeded 1.5 million, representing about 15% of the resident population, four times more than in 2017. Leitão Amaro called this 'the largest demographic change in Portuguese democracy.'
He pointed out that there had been a 'loss of control' in immigration, but the current government has already reversed the situation with measures such as the elimination of 'manifestations of interest,' resulting in a 59% reduction in entries in 2024 compared to the previous year.
Despite the significant increase in the number of immigrants, Leitão Amaro emphasized that crime rates have not generally increased. He stated that the government did not follow the 'open-door radicals' or the 'closed-door populists' but implemented a 'firm and humane' policy to transition immigrants from a state of 'disorder' to one of 'humanitarian regulation.'
For future reforms, he suggested extending the residency period required for nationality applications to avoid the current 'global call effect' of five years. Additionally, the government plans to tighten the process of issuing residence certificates by parish councils, including limits on the number of people each witness and property address can guarantee, to curb abuses.
The government will also adjust the entry mechanism for citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries and family reunification policies to adapt to the limited integration capacity and public service resources.
Latest AIMA Report: Number of Immigrants in Portugal May Have Exceeded 1.6 Million, Representing 15% of the Total Population
According to the latest data from the High Commission for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA), as of the second half of 2024, the number of immigrants residing in Portugal reached 1,547,000. Including applicants under the transitional regime, the total foreign population may exceed the 1.6 million mark, representing 15% of the 10.6 million residents.
AIMA pointed out that one of the reasons for the significant increase in the number of immigrants was the surge in applications before the elimination of the 'manifestations of interest' system. This system was terminated on June 3, 2024, with approximately 50,000 legalization applications received before the end. The data show that, after the elimination, the number of new applications decreased by half, from 156,951 in the first half of 2024 to 64,848 in the second half, a 59% drop.
This system, introduced in 2017, allowed the legalization of immigrants who had paid one year of social security contributions. Although it was criticized internally within the Socialist Party for potentially causing a 'call effect' for immigrants, it was seen as a flexible channel at the time.
Actual Number of Immigrants May Be Underestimated
AIMA reported that, in 2023, the number of foreign citizens with valid residence permits was 1.293 million, well above the initial estimate of 1.044 million. At the same time, the institution revised upward the historical data for several years. For example, the number of foreign residents in 2019 was adjusted from 590,348 to 592,096. Especially from 2022, the number of foreign residents reported by AIMA jumped from 782,000 to nearly 1 million.
To date, 446,921 applications have been notified or scheduled, with 261,101 of them scheduled (including 241,183 submitted in person), and 177,026 applications have been canceled.
CPLP Visas Cause Confusion
In the calculations, AIMA included holders of Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) visas among the beneficiaries of the 'manifestations of interest' system—more than 120,000 CPLP visas were converted into residence permits between 2023 and 2024. Although they differ in format and effectiveness (CPLP visas are just A4 papers and do not allow circulation in the Schengen area), AIMA considers that they should be included in the calculations.
Is More Immigration Needed?
Government member António Leitão Amaro stated that Portugal is one of the European countries with the highest proportion of immigrants. According to 2023 data, Portugal ranks 12th in terms of the proportion of immigrants in the EU, and if predictions hold, it could rise to 7th, behind only Ireland.
However, civil society organizations argue that Portugal 'still needs more immigrants.' Timóteo Macedo, a representative of Solidariedade Imigrante, said: 'Portuguese people are also emigrating, and we really need thousands of immigrants to solve population and workforce issues.'
Flora Silva, from the Olho Vivo Association, pointed out that most of the population growth comes from citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries, which also increases the demand for jobs.
Foreign Workforce Becomes a Mainstay
According to data from the Bank of Portugal, in 2014, only 7.9% of companies employed foreign workers, while in 2023, this proportion rose to 22.2%. The contribution of foreigners to the accommodation and food services sector (31.1%), administrative activities (28.1%), and construction (23.2%) is particularly significant.
A recent study by the Faculty of Economics of Porto (FEP) indicated that, to maintain an annual growth rate of more than 3% and join the group of richer countries, Portugal would need to absorb about 138,000 immigrants per year. Óscar Afonso, director of FEP, emphasized that to achieve this goal, Portugal must simplify administrative processes, reduce bureaucracy, and strengthen social integration support to handle the growing number of immigrants.