The inclusion of migrants in Portugal has returned to the media and political agenda after the entry into force of the new immigration law and Parliament’s approval of the ban on wearing the burqa in public spaces. These measures, however, come after the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) recently warned that the country needs an action plan to integrate migrants, who continue to face discrimination in housing and other areas. In fact, the European body concluded that “problems in accessing housing are one of the greatest obstacles to the integration of migrants in Portugal.”

Discrimination against people on the basis of race, ethnicity, citizenship, religion or sexual orientation continues to “raise concerns” in various areas and basic human rights such as health, education, employment, and housing, according to the report released in June and now analyzed by idealista/news. Even so, ECRI’s portrait of Portugal points to “progress” in several areas over the past eight years.

“Problems in accessing housing are one of the greatest obstacles to the integration of migrants in Portugal,” concludes the commission created by the Council of Europe and chaired by Bertil Cottier. This situation is partly related to the housing crisis in the country, marked by a lack of supply and rising prices. But not only that.

“There is an alarming incidence of homelessness among migrants, who also face xenophobia in the housing sector.”

The vulnerability of migrants in the housing sector can also be explained by the “delays and inefficiencies” affecting hundreds of thousands of regularization requests submitted to the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA). Without valid residence permits, migrants are exposed “to abuse in various aspects of life, such as employment, housing, and access to justice,” ECRI explains.

The lack of documentation due to AIMA’s failure to respond, combined with the high cost of living and difficulties in meeting expenses, leads many migrants to live on the streets, the independent European body highlights. Another solution these people find is to live in overcrowded housing. “There are reports of migrants living homeless or in overcrowded and undignified housing in Lisbon and Beja, including in makeshift camps,” it adds. In fact, ECRI concludes that “one-fifth of migrants in Portugal live in overcrowded housing, compared with less than one-tenth of Portuguese nationals.”

In this context, ECRI encourages the “authorities to intensify their efforts to deal with pending regularization processes” and to invest in the “effective functioning” of AIMA. Meanwhile, on October 23, 2025, the new immigration law came into force, directly impacting AIMA by aiming to modernize and simplify procedures. However, a period of adjustment now follows, with stricter rules on entry, residence, and family reunification for migrants. The new law also restricted access to qualified work visas and put an end to the so-called “manifestation of interest.”

Who suffers most from housing discrimination in Portugal

Many migrant families “face xenophobia in the housing sector,” denounces the European entity. It highlights a survey revealing that 90% of Brazilian immigrants reported experiencing discrimination when seeking housing, particularly when looking to rent. This is a reality faced by other migrants from Portuguese-speaking countries as well. But it doesn’t stop there.

The European report notes that “the Roma, the vast majority of whom are Portuguese citizens, continue to be one of the most marginalized groups in the country,” especially in employment and access to decent housing. In recent years, “no significant progress has been achieved to improve the housing conditions of the Roma,” ECRI also points out.

The findings from its 2024 visit to Portugal suggest that “Roma communities continue to struggle with territorial segregation, discrimination in the rental market, inadequate and overcrowded social housing, and living in shantytowns under undignified conditions without access to basic services,” as stated in the document.

The LGBTI community also continues to be marginalized in the country, including in the housing sector. “Despite substantial progress in recent years and a general legal framework protecting LGBTI equality, LGBTI people in Portugal continue to face discrimination,” with specific needs identified in areas such as health, education, employment, housing, and social protection.

In this context, this official European body “encourages Portuguese authorities to continue monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the action plan on LGBTI equality, and to carry out activities aimed at closing the gaps between legislation and practice, in consultation with LGBTI communities and relevant civil society organizations.”

What Portugal can do to improve housing access for migrants

In Portugal, there are general programs aimed at addressing the situation of people living in inadequate housing. However, according to ECRI, there is a lack of detailed data disaggregated by gender, citizenship, or ethnicity regarding the beneficiaries of these programs. At least until the end of 2024, “the authorities had neither taken nor planned specific measures to address the serious problems faced by migrants in the housing sector,” it notes.

For this reason, the European entity leaves a set of recommendations to the Portuguese authorities. First and foremost, “they should adopt a national program of actions for the integration and inclusion of migrants, involving the new CICDR [Commission for Equality and Against Racial Discrimination], and relevant civil society organizations in its development, implementation, and evaluation.”

In addition, ECRI calls on the Portuguese government and other competent bodies to “develop national housing policies that respond to the specific challenges and needs of migrants,” such as:

  • improving the availability and accessibility of complaint and redress mechanisms for migrants who are victims of discrimination in the housing sector;

  • working with the private housing sector to prevent xenophobic incidents and practices;

  • addressing migrants’ needs through investment in and allocation of public and affordable housing;

  • ensuring decent emergency housing for migrants living in poverty.

“ECRI recommends, as a matter of priority, that authorities take swift and decisive measures to ensure dignified and safe housing conditions for Roma people living in camps without minimum standards, including shantytowns, while seeking long-term housing solutions in close consultation with the affected Roma communities,” the report reads.

These are the messages that the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance leaves for Portugal regarding housing. But it also outlines a set of guidelines to ensure that human rights are upheld in all areas. For example, it advocates strengthening anti-bullying, anti-discrimination, and anti-racism measures in schools, as well as greater integration of migrants. It also calls for increased support for law enforcement agencies to deal with hate crimes.