The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) published its annual report for 2025 with the latest developments, trends and figures on asylum and migration.
According to AIMA, the second half of 2024 and the beginning of 2025 was an operationally complex period, with a historical volume of pending cases being resolved, which generated a much higher volume of attendance than in previous years. Despite the challenging scenario, AIMA managed to increase decision-making capacity, reduce backlogs and strengthen the quality of statistical information, thanks to the commitment of their teams, internal reorganisation and continuous investment in administrative modernisation.
Asylum applications: There was a decrease in the number of new applications for international protection in 2025, with 1,765 applications being registered. This represented a 34% decrease compared to the previous year. This included two applications under the relocation programme and 12 subsequent applications, reflecting a significant reduction after the peaks observed in 2023 and 2024.
Amongst the applications lodged, 1,363 were submitted on national territory, 308 at border posts, 92 at temporary detention centres and 2 in prison.
Despite the decrease, AIMA ensured the full processing of cases, the issuance of provisional residence permits and the granting of the respective protection statuses.
A sociodemographic analysis of applicants in Portugal shows that 61% of applications were submitted by males. The 19-39 age group accounted for 60% of total applications. 78% of applicants were under 40, confirming that international protection continues to be sought primarily by young people, often in forced mobility and with complex migration trajectories. Applicants from Africa accounted for 44% of the total, followed by applicants from Latin America (29%), especially from Colombia, Venezuela and Peru.
Unaccompanied minors: There was a significant reduction in the number of unaccompanied minors seeking asylum in 2025, with a 70% decrease compared to the previous year. After registering 204 minors in 2024, the number fell to 62 in 2025, approaching the average figures recorded between 2017-2022. Most of the unaccompanied minors came from The Gambia, Morocco and Guinea-Conakry.
Data collection: In 2025, AIMA continued its work to correct, validate and update statistics which were started in the previous year, ensuring greater precision in the characterisation of the resident foreign population. This effort continues to cover processes that started under the previous structure dedicated to the recovery of backlogs, ensuring accuracy and consistency in the production of official data.
Resettlement: Portugal participated in the EU Resettlement Programme, and in 2025, 258 refugees were resettled, corresponding to the implementation of resettlement commitments previously undertaken by Portugal in the 2023 and 2024 cycles.
Temporary protection: Between 2022-2025, Portugal granted temporary protection to 66,740 displaced Ukrainians. In 2023, 8,825 residencies were issued to displaced Ukrainians, followed by 7,056 in 2024 and 5,802 in 2025, showing a progressive and consistent reduction in the number of new applications for temporary protection.
The full annual report for 2025 is available in Portuguese on AIMA’s website.
- Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum | Agência para a Integração Migrações e Asilo (22 September, 2026), Um retrato das migrações em Portugal: AIMA divulga Relatório de Migrações e Asilo 2025 [A portrait of migration in Portugal: AIMA releases Migration and Asylum Report 2025],