AIMA appointment in 2026: the checklist, what they check, and what can go wrong

On 29 October 2026 AIMA, Portugal’s immigration agency, turned three. The government marked it with a new president and a claim that 98% of the old backlog it set out to clear is done.^[1][2]

Your visa tells a different story. It lasts four months. In recent files we analysed, the AIMA appointment that turns it into a residence card came seven to nine months after the visa was approved.

So you’ll probably spend months in Portugal on a visa that has run out, with one appointment standing between you and your card. This guide gives you AIMA’s own checklist, what officers actually look at on the day, and what went wrong for people who were sure they were ready.

If you’d rather hand the file to someone, our Apoio na marcação na AIMA gets it reviewed by our partner lawyer before the day. Everything below is what we’ve learnt doing that.

Neste guia14 sections

1. How long is the wait for an AIMA appointment in 2026?
2. Is your visa automatically extended while you wait for AIMA?
3. How does an AIMA appointment get booked?
4. How do you check your AIMA appointment?
5. Where will AIMA send you for your appointment?
6. O que acontece na marcação na AIMA?
7. What documents does AIMA ask for?
8. What does AIMA actually check at the appointment?
9. What does AIMA's list not tell you?
10. Same law, different answers
11. Do you need a lawyer with you at the AIMA appointment?
12. What if AIMA cancels your appointment?
13. What happens after the AIMA appointment?
14. Should you get help with your AIMA appointment?

How long is the wait for an AIMA appointment in 2026?

Plan for seven to nine months from visa approval if your visa was approved from spring 2026 onwards. AIMA publishes no waiting times, so these are dated cases from recent files we analysed.

• Early 2026 approvals waited three to four months. A Canadian couple on a D8, approved in late December 2025, were seen in March and April.
• Spring onwards, the wait roughly doubled. A Turkish couple on a D7, approved in April 2026, are booked for December. An Egyptian couple, approved in late June, are booked for February 2027.
• Some dates are further out still. A D7 applicant living in the US, who requested a date in September 2026, was given May 2027.

Is your visa automatically extended while you wait for AIMA?

Não. You’ll read online that your visa is “automatically extended” once your appointment falls after its expiry date. No law or AIMA notice says that in 2026.

The last blanket extension that covered visas ended on 30 June 2025. The decree that replaced it covers residence permits only.^[4]

Three things follow for you:

• AIMA does offer an extension of stay for residence-visa holders, of up to 90 days. You apply for it, and it costs €79.50 online or €106.10 in person.^[3] Whether you need one depends on your dates, so ask before your visa runs out.
• AIMA’s receipt is no travel document. AIMA says in writing that it can’t be used to travel around the Schengen area.^[5] There is no paper you can show an airline or a border officer that says your file is pending.
• Your two entries are Schengen entries. A trip from Lisbon to Italy and back on a valid visa doesn’t use one. Once your visa has expired, plan to stay in Portugal until your appointment.

“We fly in two days before our visas expire. Is that a problem?”

An Egyptian couple on a D7 asked us this in the autumn. Their airline warned them there “could be problems” boarding so close to expiry, and asked for a letter.

They wanted an official document to show at check-in. None exists. AIMA won’t issue anything for travel, and anything we wrote would carry no legal weight.

Plan your travel around the date your visa expires. The appointment date can move; the expiry date can’t.

How does an AIMA appointment get booked?

In one of three ways, and you need to know which one is yours. Most people find out late.

If nobody has booked or requested it, you ask AIMA yourself through its contact form. Choose “Autorização de Residência com Visto Consular (Não CPLP)” and give your passport number and visa number, with copies of both.^[6] The backup is an email to geral@aima.gov.pt.^[7]

Doing it yourself takes patience:

• The verification code expires within minutes, and the form expects a Portuguese phone number.
• The site goes down. AIMA itself announced planned outages of the form in September and October 2026.
• Use only aima.gov.pt addresses. AIMA warned in March 2026 about a look-alike site.^[8]

Walk-ins don’t work. Officers have turned away people who had an appointment that day.

The new step since September: pay before you get a date

In recent files we analysed, AIMA has started asking for payment before it proposes a date. It emails you to register on its services portal, open your process and pay. Only after the payment clears does a date arrive.

• One D7 applicant requested a date in late September 2026, got the payment email in mid October, and was given a date in May 2027.
• An Egyptian couple paid in early September and had their dates three weeks later.
• The amount was €185.60. That matches AIMA’s own online price for reviewing and granting a first residence permit (€99.80 + €85.80).^[3]

AIMA hasn’t announced this step for visa holders, so it may not reach everyone yet. If a payment email arrives, act on it the same week. Check that it comes from an aima.gov.pt address, and forward it to whoever is helping with your file.

How do you check your AIMA appointment?

Look in four places before you assume you don’t have one.

Two situations confuse people:

• Two different dates in two different cities. One British couple got two appointment emails on the same day, months apart. Keep both until AIMA confirms which one stands, and attend the first.
• A new date while you still hold an old one. In one file, AIMA sent a new date months later without cancelling the earlier one. Attend the earlier date unless AIMA cancels it in writing.

Where will AIMA send you for your appointment?

Anywhere in Portugal there’s a free slot. AIMA’s own pages say you can file at any AIMA office.^[9] Nothing ties your appointment to the district you live in.

In recent files we analysed:

• A couple living in the Algarve were booked into offices in the far north and on the Lisbon coast, three weeks apart.
• A Turkish couple were booked into two different cities on the same day.
• A Golden Visa family of five had only the dependants booked, with the investor left off. All five were later rebooked together.

Whether a couple is seen together is the officer’s call on the day. Read every notice against every name on your file.

O que acontece na marcação na AIMA?

It’s a document check and your biometrics. Nobody tests your Portuguese or asks why you moved. The officer checks your file and decides on the spot whether it’s complete.

• Arrive 20 to 30 minutes early. Some offices give you a ticket at the door.
• Bring originals and copies. AIMA keeps what you hand in, but it wants to see the originals of notarised documents.
• Expect directness. Officers can come across as blunt, which is how Portuguese offices tend to work. Most appointments are straightforward.
• Don’t plan anything tight afterwards. How long it takes varies by office and officer.

What documents does AIMA ask for?

AIMA publishes a short list for each visa. Here are the three most common, translated from AIMA’s own pages.^[9][10][11]

Every route also needs Modelo 1, AIMA’s application form. It includes the box where you authorise AIMA to check your Portuguese criminal record, so you don’t need a new criminal record certificate from home unless AIMA asks you for one.^[12]

AIMA’s list is the minimum. Officers often ask for more, and the next two sections show where.

What does AIMA actually check at the appointment?

Four things get a close look in our files: your Portuguese savings, where you live, your health cover and when you entered Portugal.

“Will they re-check my income?”

It’s the question we hear most, and the answer depends on your visa:

• D7: rarely. Your visa was granted on that income, so AIMA doesn’t usually re-examine where it comes from. Bring recent statements anyway.
• D7 and D8: your Portuguese savings, always. The 2026 minimum is €11,040 for you, plus €5,520 for a second adult and €3,312 for each child.^[13] The figure rises with the minimum wage, which the government plans to raise to €970 in 2027.^[14]
• D8: your remote income, again. Your payslips or invoices and your work documents are genuinely reviewed.

If you used some of your savings after the visa, top them back up before the day.

Proof of entry: what if your passport wasn’t stamped?

E-gates don’t stamp passports, and your first Schengen airport often isn’t in Portugal. AIMA still wants to know when you arrived.

AIMA’s own FAQ is clear about the rule.^[5] If you came into Portugal from another Schengen country, you must declare your entry at the PSP or GNR within three working days. You’re exempt if you checked into a hotel or similar straight after arriving, because the hotel reports your stay.

Missed the three days, or got turned away at the police station? Both happen. There are other ways to show when you arrived, so talk to us well before your appointment.

What does AIMA’s list not tell you?

That some of your documents will have aged by the time your date comes round. Seven to nine months is long enough for several of them to go stale.

Two more traps from recent files:

• You own your home. The list asks for the property registry certificate. Officers can ask for more, and we usually prepare several property documents.
• You’re married or have children. The certificate you used for your visa may be too old for AIMA, which usually wants a marriage certificate from the last six months and children’s birth certificates from the last year.

“Thirteen days to go. Is it too late?”

Usually not. A British family of four on a D7 came to us thirteen days before their appointments, sure they’d left it too late.

It’s rarely too late. But any one of those gaps could have cost the family weeks.

Same law, different answers

AIMA is inconsistent, and so is what you’ll read about it. Here is what you’ll hear online, next to what AIMA’s own pages say.

Your question	What you’ll often read	What AIMA’s pages say
Is my visa extended while I wait?	Yes, automatically	No extension; you can apply for an extension of stay[3]
Do I need a new criminal record?	Yes, under 90 days old	Not on AIMA’s list; Modelo 1 lets AIMA check your Portuguese record[12]
How much health cover do I need?	€30,000	No minimum on AIMA’s pages; the €30,000 is the visa-stage travel insurance rule[9]
D8: do I need savings and insurance?	Not on the list, so no	Not on the D8 page, but Modelo 1 has boxes for both, and officers asked in our files[10]
Will I be sent to an office near me?	AIMA tries to keep you close	You can be seen at any AIMA office[9]
When do I pay?	At the desk, on the day	In recent files we analysed, before AIMA gave a date

Same agency, same law. The answer you get depends on the office, the officer and the day, which is why a file that covers more than the list is safer.

Do you need a lawyer with you at the AIMA appointment?

Não. You don’t need a lawyer or a translator, and you don’t need to speak Portuguese. If you’d like a companion with you, bring one.

What goes wrong at AIMA is the file: a document out of date, an original left at home, a declaration with the wrong detail, no proof of entry. A lawyer at your side can’t fix a wrong document on the spot. A file checked by a lawyer before the day means you don’t bring one.

What if AIMA cancels your appointment?

It happens, so plan for it. In recent files we analysed:

• Capacity. A D8 applicant waited an hour in July 2026 before being told “we are at capacity today”. At least two more people were turned away the same way in June and July, and rebooked one to two months later.
• Strikes. AIMA staff struck on 1, 2, 3 and 5 June and on 6 October 2026.^[15][16]
• The inbox nobody read. An American couple on a D7 arrived to find their appointment had been moved a month. The notice had gone to an email address a previous adviser created and never checked.

“The same office, the same strike, twice”

A British couple on a D8 drove a long way to their office in June: strike. They were rebooked into the same office in October, and it was on strike again.

If AIMA cancels on you, here’s what to do:

1. Ask for a new date through AIMA’s website, giving your original date and time.
2. Watch your inbox, including spam. After the October strike, AIMA said people would get a new date by email with no need to do anything.^[16]
3. Don’t cancel your own appointment to finish your documents. Going with an incomplete file is usually better than losing the date.
4. Own the inbox AIMA writes to. Use an address you check every day, and check it again the week before.

What happens after the AIMA appointment?

Your card is posted to your address, and your two years start when it’s issued.^[9]

• The two-year clock starts on the card. It runs from the date the card is issued, so time spent waiting for the appointment or the card doesn’t shorten it.
• The paper you leave with works inside Portugal. Treat travel abroad before your card arrives as a risk. Our partner lawyer has seen re-entry problems on routes through other EU countries.
• Your NISS may come at the appointment. In July 2026 it was announced that AIMA would assign your Social Security number during the appointment.^[17] We haven’t seen it happen yet, so if your visa needs one, get your NISS online first.
• Your tax address. The card goes to your registered address, so you may want your NIF address updated first. Some tax offices accept it before the appointment and some refuse.

Should you get help with your AIMA appointment?

If your case is simple and your dates are comfortable, you can do this yourself. AIMA’s list is public, and this guide covers most of what we’ve seen go wrong.

“But it’s probably fine.” Most files are mostly fine. The trouble is that a missing paper is usually fixed with another appointment, and the next one can be months away.

Get help if one of these is true:

• Your visa runs out before your appointment, or you need to travel. That’s where one wrong move costs you months.
• You don’t have a date yet, or AIMA’s emails have stopped making sense.
• Your file sits off the list. You own your home, your family is on your file, you’ve moved since the visa, or your passport wasn’t stamped.
• Your appointment is weeks away and you can’t be sure the file is complete.

What our support gets you

• Our partner lawyer reads every document and tells you in writing what’s fine, what to change and what’s missing. They work on AIMA files every week, so they know what officers are asking for now, beyond AIMA’s list.
• One correction round. You fix the file, our partner lawyer checks it again and confirms it’s ready.
• Uma chamada de preparação de 45 minutos before the day, on what happens, what to bring and your last questions.
• Help with AIMA’s request form if you don’t have a date yet, including one submission attempt by our team.

Everything in this guide comes from that work: the pay-first emails, the split cities, the strikes, the cancellation sent to an inbox nobody read. That’s what we check your file against. The family who came to us thirteen days out had four gaps, and all four were closed before the day.

What we can’t do: book or guarantee a date, or attend the appointment with you. Nobody can promise you an AIMA date, so be careful with anyone who does.

Perguntas frequentes

How can I check if I have an AIMA appointment?

Look at your visa first. Some visas carry a link or QR code with the date and office. Then check the consulate’s emails, AIMA emails (including spam) and your AIMA services account. If there’s nothing anywhere, you request one yourself.

My visa expires before my AIMA appointment. Am I illegal?

Nothing extends your visa automatically. AIMA offers an extension of stay of up to 90 days for residence-visa holders, which you apply for. Ask before your visa runs out, because the right step depends on your dates.

Can I travel home while I wait for my AIMA appointment?

Not safely once your visa has expired. AIMA says its receipt is no travel document, and no paper exists to show an airline. While your visa is valid, a trip inside the Schengen area doesn’t use one of your two entries.

I’ve read that people travel on their AIMA receipt with no problems. Is it safe?

Some do, but those stories rarely match your situation. They tend to come from people who have already had their appointment and whose passport lets them into Portugal without a visa. Checks vary by nationality and airport, and AIMA says its receipt is no travel document. If you have to travel before your card arrives, ask us first, and fly direct to Portugal.

I got an email from AIMA asking me to pay. Is it real?

Probably, if it comes from an aima.gov.pt address. In recent files we analysed, AIMA asked for €185.60 before it proposed a date. Pay it the same week, and never pay through a site that isn’t aima.gov.pt.

Can I get an earlier AIMA appointment?

Don’t count on it. Walk-ins don’t work, and we know of no reliable way to move up the queue. Keep your file ready so you can take any date AIMA offers.

Do I need a new criminal record certificate for AIMA?

Usually no. AIMA’s lists don’t include one, and Modelo 1 lets AIMA check your Portuguese record. AIMA will tell you if it needs a new one.

Do I need a NISS for my AIMA appointment?

On a D8, yes, expect to need it. On a D7 it’s usually not needed unless you work, and dependants who don’t work don’t need one. AIMA announced in July 2026 that it would assign NISS numbers at appointments, but we haven’t seen it yet.

Do my English documents need translating for AIMA?

Usually not, in our files. You’ll read that AIMA asks for translations more often than consulates do. If you’re unsure about a document, have it checked before the day.

Will my spouse be seen with me?

Sometimes. It’s the officer’s call on the day, and couples are often booked into different slots, days or cities. Bring copies of the main applicant’s documents to each appointment.

My passport wasn’t stamped. What do I do?

Check whether you declared your entry. If you came in from another Schengen country, AIMA’s rule is a declaration at the PSP or GNR within three working days, unless you stayed in a hotel straight away. If you missed it, talk to us before your appointment.

How early should I arrive at AIMA?

20 to 30 minutes early. Some offices hand out tickets at the door, and you’ll want time to find the right desk.

How long does the residence card take after the appointment?

It’s posted to your address once AIMA approves your file. If something is still pending, such as a document to send later, the card waits for it. Your two years count from the day the card is issued.

Sources and how we checked

The cases are recent files we analysed for this post, with month-level dates only. We’ve left out names, offices and anything more identifying than a nationality and a visa type. Everything else comes from the public record below.

1. AIMA’s third year, the 98% backlog figure (the minister’s, for the special backlog task force’s files) and 89,000 pending court cases: ECO, 29 October 2026.
2. The new president’s appointment by the Council of Ministers: Notícias ao Minuto (Lusa), 29 October 2026; announced on 7 October, DN.
3. Fees, including the online price for reviewing (€99.80) and granting (€85.80) a temporary residence permit, and the extension of stay for residence-visa holders (€106.10 in person, €79.50 online): AIMA, table of fees in force from 1 March 2026, with AIMA’s notice of the update. Extension of stay: Lei 23/2007, article 72(1)(c).
4. The end of the extension for expired visas: Decreto-Lei 85-B/2025, 30 June 2025, article 2, which extends residence permits only.
5. The receipt is no travel document, and the entry declaration within three working days at the PSP or GNR, with the hotel exception: AIMA, FAQ “Assuntos Gerais”, questions 2 and 11. Entry declaration: Lei 23/2007, article 14.
6. How to request an appointment if you hold a residence visa: AIMA, 2 June 2025.
7. AIMA’s email and contact centre: AIMA, Contactos.
8. The look-alike site warning: AIMA, 5 March 2026.
9. The D7 (general route) document list, filing at any AIMA office, health insurance or SNS proof, and two years from the card’s issue: AIMA, residence permit, general requirements (Lei 23/2007, articles 75 and 77).
10. The D8 document list: AIMA, residence permit for remote work with a residence visa (Lei 23/2007, article 88).
11. The D2 document list: AIMA, residence permit for independent professional activity with a residence visa (Lei 23/2007, article 89).
12. Modelo 1 and the criminal record consent box: AIMA, Modelo 1.
13. Means of subsistence and the family percentages: AIMA, means of subsistence (its page still shows the 2025 minimum wage); the 2026 minimum wage of €920: DGERT. Twelve months’ minimum wage: Portaria 1563/2007.
14. The planned €970 minimum wage for 2027: DNoticias (Lusa), 8 October 2026.
15. The June 2026 strike days: ECO, 27 May 2026 e Observador, 1 June 2026.
16. The 6 October 2026 strike and automatic rebooking by email: DNoticias (Lusa), 6 October 2026.
17. NISS numbers assigned at AIMA appointments from late July 2026: The Portugal News, 15 July 2026.