The Observatory for Migration is responsible for launching studies and highly relevant conference organization for the understanding of the migratory phenomena in Portugal.

The areas of work of the new observatory include, namely, the deepening of knowledge about the new immigration profiles, such as students, entrepreneurs, retirees and investors, as well as cooperation with other entities, public and private, national and international, including universities, observatories, statistical agencies and research centers.

Following the change of the bodies of the High Commission for Migration, the Observatory is dedicated to the integrated study of the emigration / immigration binomial, particularly as regards the return of Portuguese emigrants to the country and the integration of immigrants in Portugal.

The philosophy of work of the Observatory is a subsidiary regards all institutions and research teams engaged systematically the subject of the study of migration. Accordingly, the Migration Observatory intends to intervene essentially as an activity catalyst and a promoter of networks of academic cooperation, scientific and institutional only where this is beneficial for better public understanding of the issues and themes that are its dominant concern.

Catarina Reis Oliveira, PhD, Director of the Observatory for Migration since 2016, and executive coordinator of the same Observatory since 2005.

Roberto Carneiro, PhD, Coordinator of the Observatory for Immigration (the previous name of the Observatory for Migration), between 2002 and 2014, with RECOGNITION.

Gonçalo Saraiva Matias, PhD, Director of the Observatory for Migration between December 2014 and October 2015.