The government said the deadline was extended to “ensure sufficient stabilisation time” so that AIMA services can respond more effectively to citizens.
The validity of documents and visas for foreign citizens in the country was extended for a period of one year in relation to their validity, due to delays in regularizing the situation of thousands of people.
The decree-law was published on Friday and also assigns new powers to the Integration, Migration and Asylum Agency (AIMA), in terms of functions “in the field of attracting and retaining qualified human capital”, and includes the reformulation of the framework of the Migration Observatory.
In the document, the Government refers to “delays observed in the Public Administration in the processing of the procedures for the renewal and extension of documents related to the stay of foreign citizens in national territory” to justify the extension of the deadlines established in 2020.
AIMA estimates that there are 410,000 pending immigration cases in Portugal
“They justify extending, for a period of one year, the period established in Decree-Law No. 10-A/2020, of March 13, in its current wording, with regard to the validity of documents and visas, for the purpose of. ensure sufficient time to stabilize the operation of services public issues on immigration matters, which guarantees a timely response to the requests made,” the document mentions.
According to the decree-law published on Friday, documents and visas corresponding to stay in national territory are accepted, the validity of which expires from the date of entry into force of this change, this Saturday, or in the 15 days immediately preceding, under the same terms, until June 30, 2025.
This documentation will continue to be accepted under the same terms after June 30, 2025, “provided that the holder proves that he or she has already scheduled the respective renewal.”
As for the Migration Observatory, “its status as an information body on public policies is restored, providing it with the necessary capacity to fully guarantee the annual commitments to monitor and report on migration and asylum trends and granting it a certain autonomy, as an integral part of this public institute.” [AIMA]to fulfill its mission in a context of increasing migratory pressure.”
Source: Observadora
