The restructuring of the Foreigners and Borders Service ("SEF") is underway; however, the process is expected to take at least three years.

For the past months several of the transition protocols have been signed with the authorities that will take over from SEF – GNR, PSP, and the Portuguese Agency for Migration and Asylum*. However, despite the various protocols announced, there is no official document on how the process will actually unfold, and some of the government ministries are still being asked to comment on the restructuring.

The original plan foresees several changes but, as for the legislation necessary to implement the restructuring, everything is still to be done. Although the curricular training continues with several agents and inspectors who will be transitioning from authority – and others who are being hired for that purpose – there is no official law regarding this transfer of competencies or regarding its future operation.

From IAS side we will keep our clients informed about any update about this matter. In any case, we do not predict that this change or delay would have any major impact in the applications already submitted.

*for further development on the competencies of each authority will have see here: Restructuring of the SEF is on the moving - It will happen until March 2023