New office aims to streamline residence permit processes
The municipal council of Lagos has announced the opening of two new service counters dedicated to handling residence permit applications and renewals for migrants.
This initiative is part of a collaboration with the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA) and the Mission Structure for the Recovery of Pending Processes at AIMA (EMAIMA), and aims to simplify the reception and processing of applications.
Says the local council, the opening of the new service counters aligns with a nationwide effort to address the long backlog of residence permits at AIMA, with the ambitious goal of resolving pending cases by May 31, 2025. By improving administrative efficiency, the initiative seeks to increase the quality of public services provided to migrants looking to legalise their residence in Portugal.
Located at the ‘Gabinete do Cidadão e Empresas’ (Citizen and Business Office) at Lagos town hall, the new AIMA service counters will operate Monday through Friday from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm. Staffed by municipal employees trained by EMAIMA, the facility will handle a minimum of 20 applications daily per counter. The responsibilities of these staff members include collecting applicants’ personal data, verifying the authenticity and validity of documents, and forwarding the necessary paperwork to the Mission Structure for further review, the council says.
While in-person services have been decentralised to these local counters, the scheduling of appointments remains under the management of the Mission Structure. EMAIMA also provides the required technical equipment and ongoing support.
The municipal council adds that this new service builds on Lagos’ existing role in assisting migrants, as the municipality already offers support through the Local Migrant Integration Support Center (CLAIM) and oversees registration processes for European Union citizens.
