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FlashPortugalSeptember 24, 2026

Portugal's AIMA Approved 31% Fewer Family Reunification Permits in 2025; Over 24,000 Applications Pending

PublishedEditorial policy

In 2025, Portugal's AIMA agency approved 17,359 family reunification residency permits, a 31% decrease from the previous year. By the end of 2025, over 24,000 applications remained pending, indicating significant processing delays for those seeking to join family in Portugal.

PortugalAIMAFamily ReunificationResidency PermitsImmigration DelaysПортугалия

Key takeaways

  • AIMA approved 17,359 family reunification permits in 2025, a 31% decrease from 2024, indicating a downward trend in approvals.
  • Over 24,000 family reunification applications were pending at the end of 2025, suggesting significantly longer waiting times for new and existing applicants.
  • While reasons are unconfirmed, the outcome is clear: family reunification in Portugal is becoming a longer and less predictable process.

Portugal's AIMA Reports Significant Drop in Family Reunification Approvals

Portugal's Agency for Integration, Migrations and Asylum (AIMA) approved 17,359 family reunification residency permits in 2025. This figure represents a 31% reduction compared to the number of approvals granted in 2024.

By the end of 2025, more than 24,000 family reunification applications were still awaiting a decision from AIMA, highlighting a substantial backlog in processing.

While the precise reasons for this reduction have not been officially stated, the trend suggests either a tightening of procedures, an overload of AIMA's processing capacity, or a combination of both factors. For individuals planning to bring family members to Portugal, this development indicates that processing times are likely to increase.

Applicants are advised to prepare all necessary documents well in advance and to manage expectations regarding approval timelines. If you have already submitted a family reunification application, it is recommended to regularly check its status directly with AIMA. Those considering applying should be aware of the current backlog and anticipate longer processing periods than in previous years.

Sources

Based on Emigro corridor reporting. Primary links below.

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