Authorities in Portugal have dismantled a criminal network accused of helping thousands of migrants illegally regularise their immigration status through forged documents and fraud.
Police arrested two suspected leaders of the operation during raids carried out near Lisbon earlier this week. Officials said one of the suspects is a foreign national, although authorities have not released the identities of those detained.
According to investigators, the group allegedly facilitated irregular immigration by creating fake employment contracts and fraudulent documents used in immigration applications. The operation also involved accusations of computer fraud and money laundering.
Police said the criminal network illegally regularised the status of around 4,000 migrants over recent years and generated hundreds of thousands of euros in profits from the scheme.
Investigators explained that the suspects reportedly stole online access credentials linked to Portugal’s social security system from dozens of inactive or insolvent companies. These stolen credentials were then used to produce fake employment records and documents needed for residency applications.
Authorities added that the investigation into the network began in September 2023 and has continued for nearly three years as police tracked the organisation’s activities.
Portugal has experienced a sharp increase in immigration in recent years. The country’s migration agency, Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum, also known as AIMA, estimates that more than 1.5 million foreign citizens now legally live in Portugal. That figure is reportedly double the number recorded in 2022.
At the same time, concerns over irregular migration have also grown. Portugal’s internal security report revealed that more than 23,000 undocumented migrants received notices to voluntarily leave the country in 2025. This marked a dramatic increase compared to just 444 notices issued in 2024.
In response to the rise in migration, the Portuguese government has introduced stricter immigration policies aimed at closing loopholes that previously made it easier for foreigners to enter the labour market.
Proposed legal changes would also tighten asylum rules, including extending the maximum detention period for asylum seekers in temporary centres to up to 18 months while their claims are processed.
Portuguese authorities have also increased efforts to target criminal organisations involved in migrant smuggling and irregular migration activities. The country has strengthened cooperation with Frontex, the European Union’s border agency, to improve border enforcement and immigration control.
Portugal has additionally chosen to opt out of the European Union’s new migrant solidarity mechanism. Instead of accepting around 420 asylum seekers annually under the EU relocation plan, the Portuguese government will reportedly pay compensation of 8.4 million euros to the European Commission.
The developments reflect growing immigration debates across Europe as governments continue balancing border security, labour needs, and humanitarian responsibilities.