Residence permit in Portugal, with AIMA followed closely
You arrived on a visa and now you need the document that lets you live here legally. We organise your AIMA application, follow the process and reply for you when AIMA asks for something.
For people already in Portugal who need to be fully legal
You arrived on a residence visa
You came in on a work, passive income, digital nomad or study visa and now need to turn it into a residence permit.
Your application is stuck
Your application has been filed but isn't moving, or AIMA asked for a document and you're not quite sure what.
You received a notice
A letter from AIMA arrived mentioning a prior hearing or an intention to refuse. Stay calm: there's a deadline to reply, and we prepare the response.
From the first document to the card in your hand
Documents organised and submitted
We review every document, point out what's missing and upload it to the AIMA system the way AIMA asks.
Appointments and fees
We handle the appointment when one is needed and issue the DUC, AIMA's payment slip, so you pay without mistakes.
Following your process
We check the progress, tell you about every development and respond to requests for missing documents.
Defence when needed
If you get a prior hearing notice, a refusal or a delay beyond what's reasonable, our lawyer reviews it and sets out the legal route, including court action when it makes sense.
Three steps. None of them depends on you understanding AIMA.
- 01
Review of your case
We look at your type of residence, what the law requires for it and what you already have.
- 02
Application prepared and submitted
Documents reviewed, form completed, fee paid and application filed. From here, we follow it for you.
- 03
Follow-up until a decision
Every notice goes through us. When your permit is issued, we already guide you on renewal and the next steps.
The expression of interest route has ended. The visa is now the starting point.
For years, many people entered as tourists and applied for residence in Portugal through the expression of interest (manifestação de interesse). That mechanism was abolished in 2024, and the foreigners law that came into force in October 2025 (Law no. 61/2025) confirmed it: today, a residence permit starts from a residence visa obtained before you travel. People who already had a case open under the old regime follow their own rules. If that's your case, we look at your file and confirm what applies to you. Citizens of EU/EEA countries and Switzerland don't need a residence permit: they register with the EU citizen registration certificate instead.
What people ask before they start.
How do I apply for a residence permit in Portugal after arriving on a visa?
Your residence visa gives you a deadline to apply for a residence permit with AIMA after you enter. The application usually involves a form, documents, a fee and the collection of biometric data. We organise everything and confirm your visa's deadline so nothing runs out of time.
How long does AIMA take to answer a residence application?
The law sets deadlines for AIMA to decide, but in practice the time varies a lot with the type of application and the volume of cases. We don't promise a date, because AIMA decides. What we do guarantee is to follow it closely and act when the delay goes beyond what's reasonable.
What should I do if AIMA asks for missing documents?
Reply within the deadline given in the notice, with exactly what was requested. An incomplete reply can delay or harm your case. We read the notice, gather the documents and send them for you.
What's the difference between a visa and a residence permit?
The visa is applied for at the consulate, before you move, and lets you enter Portugal with the aim of living here. The residence permit is applied for afterwards, with AIMA, and is the document that lets you live here legally. One leads to the other, and we take care of the transition.
Can I work while I wait for my residence permit?
It depends on the visa you entered on and the stage of your case. Some visas already allow you to work, others have limits. We confirm what applies to your case before you sign any contract.
Can I travel abroad while my residence application is in progress?
Travelling mid-process can carry risks, especially if your visa expires or there's an appointment scheduled. Before you buy a ticket, talk to us. We check your case's dates and tell you whether it's safe.
Do I have to go to AIMA in person to apply for residence?
Much of the process can be done online, but there's usually at least one in-person step, such as collecting biometrics, your photo and fingerprints. We organise everything beforehand, so you go once and with the right documents.
I'm an EU citizen. Do I need a residence permit?
No. Citizens of EU/EEA countries and Switzerland don't need a visa or a residence permit to live in Portugal. To live here, they register with the Certificado de Registo de Cidadão da UE at the local câmara municipal (town hall). Their non-EU family members follow their own process. We help with both.
We're with you the whole way.
Visas for Portugal
Still at home? We help you choose the right visa for your profile and put together an application without mistakes.
Learn moreResidence renewal
Card about to expire, or already expired? We renew it with AIMA, online or in person, and follow it through.
Learn moreFamily reunification
Bring your spouse and children to live with you in Portugal, with the right AIMA application and the new rules covered.
Learn moreImmigration lawyer
A refusal, a prior hearing notice or an AIMA delay: our in-house lawyer reviews it and shows you the way.
Learn moreThere's always a way.
Living legally in Portugal has a way. We'll walk it with you.
Bring your visa, your case or the letter that arrived from AIMA. We explain what's happening, what to do now and follow it until your permit arrives. No shortcuts, the right way.