In the “Migration and Asylum Report 2025”, AIMA says that the slight increase, compared to previous years, reflects the “stabilisation of new entries into national territory and the consolidation of a foreign community structurally integrated into the economic and social life of the country”.

“During 2025, AIMA issued more than 500,000 residence permits – with a focus on grants, with 337,880 permits issued, and renewals, with 189,331 permits,” and throughout the year, the agency “continued the work of correction, validation, and statistical updating initiated in the previous year, ensuring greater accuracy in characterising the resident foreign population,” says AIMA’s annual report.

“As in previous years, the issuance date may not coincide with the citizen’s entry date into the country, given the complexity and volume of processes under analysis,” AIMA explains, and also highlighted the “unprecedented service and administrative decision-making operation in the Portuguese public administration.”

“In total, 671,273 appointments were registered, and 605,890 services were provided,” says the report.