Portugal received a record number of unaccompanied migrant children last year, with asylum requests from minors arriving alone rising more than 150% compared to 2023, according to new data from the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA).
In total, 204 children and teenagers entered the country without a parent or guardian in 2024 – the highest figure ever recorded. Most of the children arriving in Portugal are aged between 15 and 17 and come from West Africa, particularly Gambia, followed by Senega, Guinea and Mali, the agency said.
Figures cited by Jornal de Notícias show that as of October 2025, around 60 new cases have been reported this year.
Under Portuguese asylum law, AIMA must report each case to a competent court to ensure appropriate protection and care for the minor. Every child is interviewed and, in cases of uncertainty, may undergo a non-invasive forensic examination to verify their age.
The rise in arrivals has increased pressure on social support institutions, including Aldeias de Crianças SOS (SOS Children’s Villages), which provides shelter and assistance to young migrants. These are minors who come seeking “better living conditions,” the organisation told Jornal de Notícias. “It is often a difficult decision, but one made with the support of their families.”
