The Portuguese government says that 75% of its Migration Action Plan, which consists of 41 measures, has already been implemented. For applicants, this means more staff at AIMA, a greater number of available appointments, and a gradual shift from tackling the accumulated backlog toward a more predictable and stable system.

At the same time, parliament is considering a new package of migration reforms. The aim is to align Portuguese rules with stricter EU requirements and phase out some domestic regularisation mechanisms.

One of the most significant proposed changes concerns vocational education. The possibility of obtaining legal status within Portugal through accredited vocational training courses without first securing a visa may be abolished. Under the proposed rules, applications would once again be processed through Portuguese consulates, requiring applicants to obtain a D4 student visa in their country of citizenship. At the same time, lawmakers are discussing the option of allowing family members to be included in the application from the outset.

Another planned change is the abolition of the so-called “silent approval” mechanism. At present, delays on the part of AIMA can, in certain cases, be used by lawyers to advance an application. Following the reform, a lack of response from the agency would no longer work in the applicant’s favour.

One additional point is worth noting. The publication Lisbon Letter reports on a remaining “window of opportunity” to enrol in vocational training courses and subsequently apply to AIMA from within Portugal. However, according to Xpat.Land, it is already impossible in practice to secure a place on the relevant courses.