The federation has expressed deep concern over the plight of dozens of students who sought refuge in Portugal following the start of the war in Ukraine and now face the threat of expulsion due to decisions made by AIMA.
From an assessment among its members, involving approximately 12,000 students from eight medical schools in the country, it is estimated that at least 45 medical students are at risk of expulsion, alongside other cases in various higher education fields.
ANEM highlights that these students entered and have remained legally in the national territory under the temporary protection regime approved by the Portuguese State in the context of the invasion of Ukraine.
The legislative and administrative changes prompting the expulsion orders occurred later and should not be applied retroactively, it argues.
Coordinating with Medical Student Associations and Groups, ANEM has contacted the Ministry of the Presidency to express concern, request an urgent review of this situation, suspend the expulsion orders, and ensure the protection of the students’ rights.
ANEM’s statement follows the announcement by the Minister of the Presidency earlier this week that AIMA was notifying foreign students who fled the war in Ukraine to verify if they meet the requirements for obtaining residency permits.
“AIMA is checking the situation to see if people are here to study, and if they intend to continue their education, they should be granted student residency permits instead of temporary protection,” said António Leitão Amaro during the parliamentary debate on the proposed State Budget for 2026 (OE2026).
“Of the students enrolled this academic year, 37 were informed that they no longer hold the temporary protection status,” stated a source from the University of Coimbra’s rectory in response to Lusa.
According to the Minister of the Presidency, most of these students are Nigerian.
