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“As of 28 April, 2025, requests made under the Foreigners Act will only be received when they are complete, that is, when they contain all the documents that the law defines and requires as necessary for analysis and decision,” says AIMA in a statement reported by ECO.
Therefore, applicants must be in possession of and present all legally required documents. Only in this way can AIMA promise a “quick” and “swift” decision.
Applications for granting and renewing residence permits that are not complete with all the elements required under the Foreigners Law and Regulatory Decree No. 1/2024, of 17 January, will not be accepted for service.
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What does this bureaucratic jargon mean? It makes no sense. Anyone who gets a residencia interview will of course take all necessary documents. And once an interview us allocated AIMA should clearly state what these are. The problem is booking an interview. How does this pronouncement make any difference to the situation?
By MR ANTHONY H TABOR from UK on 28 Apr 2025, 21:30
This organisation is not fit for service, I applied over a year ago to renew my residency as I had changed my address, no response!
By Greg from Other on 29 Apr 2025, 05:40
If only the required list of documents didn't change at any given moment
By Paulo from Algarve on 29 Apr 2025, 05:54
Can you please inform readers of what documents are required?
By Kiki Kalfjall from Lisbon on 29 Apr 2025, 07:25
Funny funny and funny...when I first applied I was sent away because my daughters birth certificates were nit officially stamped...a 20 euro each fee...so how is it possible to start anything without bring complete? How is this a new law? Just trying to show...hey look....we are making progress in the new thing called AIMA......send some useful information and not something that was already in place. How about a help section with people working in it that you can pay and get assistance on things people have no idea what to do????
By Mitchell from Algarve on 29 Apr 2025, 09:58
Is TPN post relevant ?
How do you think it should be? Without rules ? Forget it ! And the actual rules should be more restrictive.
For instance, to limit the permanence to a period of 5 years, 10 at most; and them all go back to their origin, the imigrante and its family (born or not in Portugal), without the prejudice of re-starting new process of imigration - since having a clear criminal sheet.
By Luís from Porto on 29 Apr 2025, 10:00
Their own employees don't know the list of documents required. In the açores you can't even speak to AIMA you have to submit through the registos offices
By David from Açores on 29 Apr 2025, 10:36
Perhaps instead of making more pointless public statements, they could actually do things that would help solve the problems, such as implementing a clear, online system for getting appointments and submitting documents in advance of the appointment (thus easily ensuring that someone has all the necessary documents and that the requirements are consistent at each AIMA or IRN office), and thus be screened in advance to minimize wasted time and follow-up. The unusual questions and cases can be identified and the rest can be decided within a predictable timeframe. In short, good management and less bureaucratic nonsense. I don't blame most of the line workers in AIMA, but the management and political leadership are stuck in a time warp and seem to have no idea how or desire to fix the problems.
It would also help if instead of just publishing whatever is in a press release, someone actually followed up with real journalism by asking some of the obvious questions.
By Rob de Santos from Algarve on 29 Apr 2025, 10:49
This sounds like AIMA are simply hiding their ineptitude behind delaying tactics. We have tried, on several occasions and by various recommended means of contact, to arrange nothing more than a change of address. How simple should that be? Not even the courtesy of an acknowledgment! Disgusting service and no sign of improvement, so goodness knows what we we will face when our current Residence Permits expire. AIMA - it’s not rocket science, just get your house in order.
By Chris Bird from Algarve on 29 Apr 2025, 12:13
Waiting for renewal for a year. AIMA is out of order.
By Bertil from Beiras on 29 Apr 2025, 12:32
It would be wonderful to have the opportunity to be refused or accepted.
I have emailed 4 times in the last year to get an appointment to change my Residencia due to a new address and incorrect information on the original card. But I have not had a single reply.
It is a disgusting and very unprofessional way for a government department to behave.
By Trevor Roberts from Algarve on 29 Apr 2025, 13:59
I applied as a spouse 4 years ago and am still waiting for the interview or whatever is next. I can't move there and pay taxes easily unless they sort things out
By David from UK on 29 Apr 2025, 18:55
Finally I have an appointment in August. Nothing in the appointment advice said exactly what I should take with me. I am only changing my address. Assume I should take house sale doc and new house purchase doc as well as letter from Junta showing my new address. It would be SO helpful for AIMA to state what docs they require.
Also, I do not understand why I need to go to a meeting to simply change my address. All this could be done online.
By L from Lisbon on 30 Apr 2025, 08:20
Been waiting over 2 years for an appointment, we waited 4 years at our last house and by the time the card came we'd moved house why can't you just change address online it makes no sense
By Paul king from Other on 30 Apr 2025, 08:36
Please make the article useful by listing the documents needed according to that law. As a resident of two years, trying mightily to learn Portuguese, but still not fluent, I wouldn't know where to look for that law, or be sure I was reading it correctly if I found it. Without the list of documents, the article isn't helpful and just adds to our anxiety.
By Dee from Lisbon on 30 Apr 2025, 09:06
I submitted all the required document and proof of urgency about my wife father death. Then also, they didn't send me the renewed residency card, though I already paid for renew my residency card.
By Sandy from Lisbon on 30 Apr 2025, 10:18
For this to happen they should all accept same documents. Right now it depends on case inspectors too. Fpr example A proof of address can be Tax Domicile, house contract or bills or Junta from Parish. If I submit 10 application chances are 6 will accept me and 4 will reject me for not having what they want. The dates are another issues. There should be dates available and up to your preferences to have these documents. AIMA provides you date within a week for biometrics and expects everything in order. If a candidates can organize appointments after they have documents the whole issues would be half.
By Kiran Sedai from Lisbon on 30 Apr 2025, 12:13
Im waiting to renew my residence for last 7 months ,I have sent lot of emails to multiple IRN service and AIMA still no proper response from them,I don't know how to renew and also don't know what documents are needed but only rules are changing, they don't speak the time we spent in this country and the taxes we paid for this country all these years really frustrating
By Yuvaraj from Lisbon on 30 Apr 2025, 12:24
I'm interested kindly send me complete details
By Maria Jamil from Other on 30 Apr 2025, 12:50
Please make the article more useful by listing the documents required under the applicable law. Without a clear list of required documents, the article isn’t very helpful—especially because different AIMA offices have different rules. Some accept older birth certificates, while others require a newly issued one. There should be a consistent standard for all AIMA offices when it comes to which documents are required.
By Ammara from Lisbon on 30 Apr 2025, 23:50
Waiting for a renewal appointment in person as the online renewal states this is an in person renewal only. Its been since September no information June 30th fast approaching . Will there be an additional extension ? How can a country operate do inefficiently? Doesn't the EU have any power to clean up this mess?
By Anne from Lisbon on 06 May 2025, 09:03
What are the documents needed to renew a Brexit biometric residence card? or where can I find them
By Charlie King from Algarve on 15 May 2025, 13:16