AIMA Appointment

Booking an AIMA appointment is free. If you arrive in Portugal with a residence visa such as a D2, D7 or D8, your residence permit appointment is normally booked by the Portuguese authorities when the visa is issued. If you need help, our Visas.pt team and Portuguese immigration lawyers provide AIMA Appointment + Legal Support for €895 per applicant.

How do I book an AIMA appointment?

If your residence visa already includes an AIMA appointment, you normally use that booking rather than requesting another one. If no appointment was provided, or the appointment details do not work, AIMA accepts requests through its official contact form, its contact centre on +351 217 115 000 and email at geral@aima.gov.pt.

As of 3 October 2026, ordinary residence permits expired or expiring from 1 July 2025 through 31 October 2026 are currently handled through the AIMA Renewals Portal. Ordinary residence permits expired from 22 February 2020 through 30 June 2025 use the separate AIMA Mission Structure route at services.aima.gov.pt. Special categories can have their own renewal procedures.

Are AIMA appointments free?

Yes. AIMA does not charge a booking fee simply to obtain an appointment. Separate government fees apply when AIMA processes or issues a residence permit.

Our €895 fee is for professional assistance, not for buying an appointment. It covers our team's work requesting and managing the appointment, preparing your case, lawyer attendance in person and follow up. This service is also included in our Complete Visa Package PLUS.

What if my visa appointment link does not work?

If the appointment information issued with your residence visa is missing, inaccessible or does not work, we first check the available official AIMA channels and the facts of your case. We can then request assistance from AIMA and manage the follow up on your behalf.

We do not promise a particular appointment date because availability and scheduling remain under AIMA's control.

Which AIMA procedures can be completed online?

Many residence permit renewals can be submitted through the AIMA renewals portal. Other appointment or case requests may be made through the AIMA contact form. The correct route depends on the type and status of your residence case.

When should a lawyer consider legal action against AIMA?

Court action is now a last resort, not a standard way to obtain an AIMA appointment. Since October 2025, Article 87-B provides that an intimação for the protection of rights, freedoms and guarantees is admissible only where, in addition to the requirements of Article 109(1) of the CPTA, AIMA's action or omission demonstrably, seriously and directly compromises the timely exercise of personal rights, freedoms and guarantees, and effective protection cannot be secured through the available interim measures. You can read the consolidated Foreigners Law.

Our lawyers review whether the official administrative routes have been used, the length and consequences of the delay, and whether the legal test for court action may be met. Litigation does not guarantee an appointment or a particular outcome.

What does the €895 AIMA service include?

• Review of your AIMA situation and the correct appointment route.
• Appointment requests and communication with AIMA where appropriate.
• Preparation for your residence permit appointment.
• Attendance in person by a Portuguese immigration lawyer.
• Follow up on the case after the appointment where required.

If you need help with an AIMA appointment or delayed residence permit case, contact Visas.pt and we will review the appropriate next step.

Official sources and guides: See the AIMA contact form, the AIMA renewals portal and the consolidated Foreigners Law. For a detailed explanation of appointment routes, delays and legal options, read our AIMA appointments guide.