AIMA now requires a notarized signature on the document to assume responsibility for immigrants

From November onwards, AIMA will only accept Terms of Responsibility that are notarised. Measure will guarantee that whoever signs the document will bear costs if immigrants are expelled from the country and Author under Portuguese legislation, in accordance with the Terms and Conditions.

The Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA) announced on Monday, October 28, a change in the Terms of Responsibility, in which legal residents in Portugal take responsibility for immigrants living in the country. As of November 4, these documents will only be accepted if the signature of the person responsible has been certified, which can be done by a notary, lawyer, or solicitor. Many employers use these terms to hire foreign workers.

In its announcement, AIMA states that the citizen who signs the document will be accountable for all actions of the immigrant while they are in Portugal, including covering the cost of repatriation, if necessary. In other words, the responsible person will have to pay for the immigrant's return trip to their country of origin, bear other costs if they cannot obtain a residence permit, and will also be co-responsible if the immigrant breaks the law.

The Term of Responsibility was established by the Foreigners Law (Law 23/2007) and modified in June 2023, stipulating that the document would be drafted in accordance with decisions from AIMA's executive board.

According to lawyer Vanessa Bueno, Terms of Responsibility have traditionally required certified signatures as a guarantee for those involved. In her view, AIMA is now formalizing this requirement, which she considers a natural step.

She highlights that these terms are widely used by citizens of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), who can apply for visas at Portuguese consulates to seek employment in Portugal. In these cases, the Term of Responsibility, which is considered an enforceable title, replaces the requirement for the foreigner to prove they have financial means to stay in the country while seeking employment.

Vanessa also explains that many people are unaware that by signing a Term of Responsibility, the signatory also assumes the costs in the event of the immigrant's death on Portuguese soil, covering burial expenses or transporting the body back to the person's country of origin. "Therefore, it is essential to be aware of the responsibilities undertaken," she warns.

Fonte: www.publico.pt