Who took over from SEF in Portugal?
Under Decreto-Lei n.º 41/2023, in force since 29 October 2023, AIMA and IRN took over the administrative functions of SEF, AIMA's part being migration and asylum. Police functions passed to GNR, PSP and PJ (DL 41/2023, art. 7; Lei 73/2021, art. 2 as amended by Lei 53/2023).
Official source
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Decreto-Lei n.º 41/2023,
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A AIMA, I. P., e o IRN, I. P., nas atribuições de natureza administrativa do SEF
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Lei n.º 73/2021,
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As atribuições de natureza policial do Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF) são transferidas para os seguintes órgãos de polícia criminal
The legal deadline for a residence permit decision
An application for a residence permit is to be decided within 90 days, which can be extended by 30 days in exceptional cases. Other deadlines in Lei n.º 23/2007 remain in place, and the general deadline says nothing about how long cases take.
Permits granted
2025: 2,685 investment residence permits, per AIMA's annual report. The report adds to these 3,967 family-reunification permits under Lei n.º 23/2007, art. 98.º.
How it changed
On 29 October 2023, Decreto-Lei n.º 41/2023 took effect.
On 11 September 2026, Lei n.º 62/2026 took effect with the current wording of that deadline.