AIMA Appointment in Portugal: How to Book and What to Expect

AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo) took over from SEF in October 2023 and is the Portuguese authority that handles residence permits for foreign nationals. For many people who arrive in Portugal on a long-stay visa, the biometric appointment with AIMA is a key step towards the residence card.

Many applicants find that AIMA scheduling is slow and hard to predict. This page explains how AIMA appointments are scheduled, what to bring and what happens at the biometric appointment. It points to official sources instead of quoting waiting times, because they change and AIMA does not guarantee them.

How to book an AIMA appointment

According to AIMA’s own public guidance, some appointments are scheduled automatically: by the Portuguese foreign ministry when your visa is issued, or by AIMA itself for cases submitted through its official portals. AIMA has also said it does not schedule appointments by phone through its contact centre, and that in-person appointment requests go through the contact form on its website. Check aima.gov.pt for the current procedure, because it has changed before.

• Keep your contact details and your Portuguese address up to date with AIMA, so notices reach you
• Read every notice from AIMA in full, and keep a copy of anything you submit
• If you cannot attend, use the contact channels AIMA lists for your case as soon as you can, and keep proof that you did
• Send your request once through the channel AIMA indicates; repeated requests can slow things down

After you apply: status messages

If your file shows ‘waiting for decision’, that is a status label, not an appointment date or a deadline. Read AIMA ‘waiting for decision’ explained for what the wording means, how to check your case and what to do while you wait.

For the current rules, read aima.gov.pt and AIMA’s official FAQ page. The legal framework for entry, stay and residence is Lei n.º 23/2007 in the Diário da República.

AIMA appointment checklist

Use this as a starting point and compare it with the notice AIMA sent you. AIMA decides what it requires for each case, so its notice always takes priority over any general list.

• Passport (original) with your visa and entry stamp
• The AIMA notice, email or letter that confirms your appointment, printed or saved on your phone
• Photo ID and any previous residence documents you hold
• Proof of your address in Portugal, such as a lease or property deed
• Proof of income or means of support, such as recent bank statements
• Health insurance certificate or proof of access to the Portuguese national health service (SNS)
• Your Portuguese tax number (NIF) and, if AIMA asks for them, tax and social-security compliance certificates
• Copies and originals of the documents you submitted with your application
• Receipts for any AIMA fees you have already paid
• The receipt AIMA issued for your application. AIMA says the process number is on that receipt
• For a renewal: the expired card and the renewal receipt. AIMA said on 17 October 2025 that people who started a renewal should carry both
• Family documents, such as marriage or birth certificates, if your application includes family members
• Any document AIMA lists in your notice that is not on this list

AIMA accepts digitally signed documents when they are legally valid for the procedure, including those signed with Cartão de Cidadão, Chave Móvel Digital or SCAP where applicable (AIMA notice of 11 May 2026). Ask AIMA through the channel in your notice if you are unsure about a document.

We list the documents commonly requested at the biometric appointment again further down this page. For official information, see AIMA’s official FAQ page.

AIMA portal and form messages: what AIMA itself says

AIMA runs several platforms, among them the contact form and the Portal de Renovações. The table lists only the messages that AIMA explains on its own pages. Each row links to the page we used.

Sources checked on 2026-10-16. AIMA changes its pages, so read the source before you act.

We do not list status wording such as ‘em análise’, ‘aguarda decisão’ or ‘deferido’ in this table. We could not find AIMA’s own definition of those messages on an AIMA page, and we leave out anything we cannot verify. For a closer look at one status, read AIMA ‘waiting for decision’ explained. For the notices you receive, see AIMA appointment email not received.

How long do AIMA appointments take?

There is no fixed answer. Waiting times depend on your visa type, the type of application (first permit or renewal), the AIMA office that handles your case and AIMA’s workload at the time. They change often, and AIMA does not promise a date. We do not quote figures here because we cannot tie them to an official source.

For current information, read aima.gov.pt, AIMA’s page on its stores and contact centre and the notice AIMA sent you. Your own notice is the only reliable source for your own appointment.

What to do while you wait for the AIMA appointment

• Keep your visa and entry records. They are part of your file. How long your visa lets you stay, and what applies once it expires, depends on your visa type and the law at the time. Read Lei n.º 23/2007 in the Diário da República and AIMA’s guidance for your case.
• Ask what documents AIMA can issue while your application is pending. Some applicants need proof of a pending application for banks, employers or public services. AIMA’s official FAQ page lists what AIMA issues and how to request it.
• Check the work rules for your visa. Whether you may work while you wait depends on your visa type and its conditions. Check them on aima.gov.pt before you start.
• Family members may have their own applications and their own notices. Keep each person’s documents and notices together.
• Banks, healthcare and utilities each set their own requirements. Ask each provider which documents it accepts while your card is pending.

What you can do when legal deadlines pass

Portuguese law sets time limits for public authorities to decide on applications, and the law gives people ways to challenge a delay, including going to the administrative courts. Which limit applies, whether it has passed and which remedy fits depend on your type of application and your facts. Lei n.º 23/2007 in the Diário da República is the main law on entry, stay and residence of foreign nationals, and the general rules on administrative procedure are in the Portuguese administrative procedure code (CPA).

• Write down the date of your application and keep every receipt and notice from AIMA
• Contact AIMA through its official channels first and keep proof of each contact
• Read the official texts yourself or ask a qualified Portuguese professional about your own case
• Do not rely on a general web page, including this one, to decide whether a legal deadline has passed in your case

We cannot tell you whether a deadline has passed in your case, whether a court action fits, or what it would cost or achieve. This is general information, not legal advice.

Common AIMA scheduling issues

• Notices that do not arrive. Notices can go to an outdated address or email. Keep your details current with AIMA. See what to check when the email never arrives.
• Documents requested at the appointment. AIMA may ask for documents beyond a general list. Your notice and AIMA’s website are the reference.
• Family members scheduled separately. Family members can receive separate notices. Read each notice to see the date, time and place.
• Files started under SEF. Cases opened before October 2023 may have moved to AIMA. If you cannot find your file, ask AIMA through its official channels.
• Rescheduling. Use the channels AIMA indicates and keep proof of your request.
• Lost or stolen residence card. Report it and ask AIMA what it requires for a replacement.

Documents to bring to the AIMA biometric appointment

The checklist above is the quick version. Your AIMA notice decides what you must bring. These are documents applicants are commonly asked for:

• Original passport with visa and entry stamp
• Passport-size photos, if AIMA asks for them
• Originals of the documents you submitted with your application
• Proof of address in Portugal, such as a lease or property deed
• Recent bank statements or other proof of means of support
• Health insurance certificate or proof of access to the SNS
• Tax and social-security compliance certificates, if requested
• Criminal record certificate, if AIMA asks for an updated one
• Family documents (marriage or birth certificates) if your application includes family members
• A power of attorney, if someone represents you

What happens at the biometric appointment

At the biometric appointment AIMA records your fingerprints, photo and signature and reviews your documents. It may ask for further documents or updated certificates. Your notice says where and when to go.

• Bring the originals, not only copies, of the documents the notice names.
• Carry the notice and your passport where you can reach them quickly.
• Keep every paper AIMA hands you, including receipts and notes with a date.
• Ask what AIMA will send you next and by which channel, and write the answer down.

After the biometric appointment

• Card production and delivery: AIMA tells you how and when the card is delivered. Follow the instructions in its notices.
• Card validity: the validity period is set by law and shown on your card. See Lei n.º 23/2007 in the Diário da República.
• SNS registration: once you have your card, ask your local health centre which documents it needs.
• Driver’s licence: exchange rules for non-EU licences have time limits. Check the current rules with the Portuguese road authority (IMT).
• Later steps: permanent residence and citizenship have their own legal requirements. Read the official sources before you plan.

AIMA waiting times and Portuguese citizenship

Your years with an AIMA residence permit are the base for naturalisation later. Under Lei Orgânica n.º 1/2026 (in force 19 May 2026), you need seven years of legal residence if you are an EU or Portuguese-speaking-country national and ten years otherwise, and for applications filed since that date the time spent waiting for AIMA to decide on a permit no longer counts on its own (Diário da República). Keep every AIMA receipt and card. See our citizenship requirements guide and the checks to make if the AIMA email never arrives.