Portugal: New Immigration Agency to Replace the Immigration and Border Service

The Portuguese government approved the creation of the Agency for Minorities, Migration and Asylum (APMMA) which is expected to replace the Immigration and Border Service (SEF) in the next six months. The APMMA will oversee the admission, reception and integration of immigrants and migration and asylum policies at a European level, while security at land and sea borders will become the responsibility of the Guarda Nacional Republicana and the security at the air borders will be controlled by the Public Security Police. Further, the Judiciary Police will oversee the functions of combatting illegal immigration and human trafficking. Although the restructure is expected to streamline immigration processes, it is expected that there may be some immigration processing and visa appointment delays in the early days of the transition. Additional details on the new agency are expected to be announced in the coming months.