Portugal's Asylum Backlog Doubles to Nearly 9,000 Cases as AIMA Transition Stalls Processing

Portugal's asylum system is groaning under mounting pressure, with pending applications nearly doubling to approximately 8,800 cases—a backlog officials attribute to the chaotic two-year transition from the dissolved border service SEF to the new Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), which has struggled to absorb case files, staff, and institutional knowledge.

The backlog represents a sharp reversal for a country that historically processed asylum claims quickly by European standards. Portugal received relatively modest flows compared to frontline states like Greece or Italy, allowing faster adjudication. But that advantage has evaporated as AIMA wrestles with legacy systems, understaffing, and surging demand tied to global displacement and Portugal's rising profile as a migration destination.

From SEF to AIMA: A Troubled Handover

The government abolished SEF (Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras) in late 2023 following a string of scandals, including the 2020 death of Ukrainian citizen Ihor Homeniuk in SEF detention at Lisbon airport. Lawmakers voted to split SEF's functions across multiple agencies: border control went to the Polícia de Segurança Pública (PSP) and Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR), while migration management and asylum were assigned to the newly created AIMA.

The transition, intended to separate policing from integration services, has instead created administrative limbo. AIMA inherited tens of thousands of open residence and asylum files but faced delays in accessing SEF's legacy IT systems, physical archives, and personnel. Former SEF staff were reassigned piecemeal, and many case files languished in legal and bureaucratic grey zones.

"The system didn't just slow down—it partially stopped," one Lisbon-based immigration lawyer told Público, speaking on condition of anonymity. "We have clients whose asylum interviews were scheduled under SEF, then postponed indefinitely when AIMA took over. No one can tell them when they'll get a decision."

The Numbers

Data compiled by AIMA and reported in Portuguese media this week show:

• Pending cases: Approximately 8,800 asylum applications awaiting first-instance decisions as of March 2026, up from roughly 4,400 in early 2024
• Rejections: Portugal refused more than 1,000 asylum claims in 2025, a higher absolute number than in prior years, though rejection rates remain below the EU average
• Processing times: Average time from application to decision has stretched beyond 12 months for many applicants, compared to 6–9 months under SEF before 2023

Asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Syria, and several African nations make up the bulk of applicants, mirroring broader European patterns. But Portugal also sees claims from Brazilians, Venezuelans, and other nationals fleeing political instability or violence in Latin America—a demographic profile shaped by linguistic and cultural ties.

Why the Backlog Matters

Delayed asylum processing has cascading effects:

Legal limbo: Applicants typically receive temporary documentation allowing them to stay and work while awaiting decisions, but uncertainty about final status complicates housing rental, bank account access, and long-term planning. Landlords often refuse tenants without permanent residence permits.

Integration strain: Prolonged waits hinder language learning, skills training, and labour market entry. Asylum seekers risk becoming stuck in low-wage informal work, undercutting Portugal's stated goal of integrating newcomers into the formal economy.

Humanitarian risk: Some applicants, frustrated by delays, attempt onward migration to other EU states or fall into exploitative employment arrangements. NGOs report rising vulnerability among asylum seekers in Lisbon and Porto waiting years for decisions.

Political pressure: Right-wing parties, particularly Chega, have weaponised migration delays to argue the system is "out of control." André Ventura repeatedly frames AIMA's struggles as evidence Portugal cannot manage migration flows, a narrative that gained traction in the February presidential election despite Socialist António José Seguro's landslide victory.

AIMA's Defence

AIMA officials acknowledge the backlog but insist the agency is making progress. In a statement to SIC Notícias, an AIMA spokesperson said the organisation has hired additional case officers, streamlined interview scheduling, and begun digitising legacy paper files inherited from SEF.

"We are dealing with a system that was broken before we took it over," the spokesperson said. "The pendency increase reflects historical failures, not current performance. We are committed to reducing wait times throughout 2026."

The agency announced in early March it will launch a unified online portal for asylum and residence applications later this year, funded by a €208,000 contract, in an effort to centralise case management and improve transparency.

European Context

Portugal's asylum challenges are modest compared to countries bearing the brunt of irregular arrivals. Greece processes over 50,000 applications annually; Italy and Spain handle even larger volumes. But Portugal's backlog is growing faster than many peers, driven not by surging arrivals but by administrative dysfunction.

EU asylum rules require member states to process claims within six months under normal circumstances, with a possible six-month extension. Portugal is routinely breaching these timelines, though it is far from alone—Germany, Belgium, and France also face chronic delays.

What Expats Should Know

The asylum backlog is separate from residence permit processing for non-asylum migrants (work visas, family reunification, golden visas, etc.), but AIMA's resource constraints affect all application types. Expats navigating AIMA appointments or renewals should expect longer waits and limited customer service capacity.

If you're sponsoring a family member or hiring foreign workers, build extra time into planning. AIMA's struggles are unlikely to resolve quickly.

For asylum seekers themselves, the message is sobering: Portugal remains a welcoming destination in principle, but the bureaucratic machinery is badly strained. Legal aid organisations like the Portuguese Refugee Council (CPR) and Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) provide crucial support navigating the system—resources worth tapping early in the process.

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