Portugal’s PSP reports a 2025 surge in voluntary migrant returns, with 758 irregular migrants choosing to return home, marking a 283% jump from 2024’s 198 voluntary returns.

The program centers on humane, assisted exits rather than forced removals, and PSP has expanded counseling training and support from Return specialists, including collaboration with Frontex.

With intensified counseling and specialist aid, more than 700 people returned home in 2025 under the joint effort of Portuguese authorities and European partners.

Data show that Brazilians accounted for more than half of expulsions in 2024 and 2025.

In the last quarter of 2025, about 80 readmission cases were processed by European authorities; PSP, aided by AIMA, declined 34% of these readmission requests under bilateral agreements.

Since SEF’s dissolution, border duties shifted to PSP, and in August of the prior year UNEF expanded to include withdrawal, readmission, and voluntary return operations for irregular migrants.

UNEF now manages border control, airport security, and withdrawal/readmission/return processes, while also running temporary accommodation centers for foreigners in major cities.

UNEF’s expanded mandate covers withdrawal, readmission, and voluntary return functions previously handled by AIMA.

In 2025 the PSP processed 276 migrant removal cases, up 58% from 2024, including 161 judicial expulsions, 69 coercive removals, 21 border escorts, and 21 inadmissible cases.

The 2025 forced removal figures reflect growth across expulsions, coercive removals, border controls, and inadmissible cases, totaling 276 processes.

Separately, PSP recorded 276 withdrawal processes in 2025, a substantial increase year over year, spanning expulsions, coercive withdrawals, border procedures, and inadmissible cases.

Experts attribute the rise in numbers to enhanced return counseling, expanded specialist support, and active cooperation with Frontex as part of the rollout.