The Superior Council of Administrative and Tax Courts has announced the launch of an urgent nationwide recruitment process aimed at reinforcing the Lisbon administrative court system, which is currently facing a backlog of more than 124,000 immigration-related cases.
According to the council, the emergency call is being made under special mobility and procedural management rules and will open 50 temporary judicial positions. This measure is described as exceptional and is intended to respond swiftly to the overwhelming number of cases linked to the protection of rights, freedoms, and legal guarantees concerning the entry and residence of foreign nationals in Portugal.
As of January 7, approximately 124,793 cases were awaiting resolution at the Lisbon Administrative Circuit Court. The council classified the situation as critical, noting that it cannot be quickly resolved through legislative or executive action alone.
The appointed judges will serve for an initial three-month period, with the possibility of a single extension for the same duration. Their work will be guided by defined monthly decision targets, transparent selection standards, and performance monitoring systems.
Each participating judge will handle a substantial caseload alongside their regular duties, with minimum ruling objectives established. The plan also includes overtime work by court staff within the administrative and tax court system, as well as occasional support from the Supreme Administrative Court.
This initiative aims to reduce long-standing delays, strengthen the operational capacity of administrative justice, and ensure more timely and effective protection of fundamental rights.
A significant portion of the pending cases stems from prolonged delays and unanswered requests within the immigration system, particularly involving the former “expression of interest” procedure. This mechanism, now discontinued, previously allowed migrants to enter Portugal on tourist visas before beginning the regularization process, contributing heavily to the current backlog.
