{"id":14846,"date":"2026-11-10T20:30:43","date_gmt":"2026-11-10T20:30:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novomove.com\/aima-article-15-appointment\/"},"modified":"2026-11-10T20:30:43","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T20:30:43","slug":"aima-article-15-appointment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novomove.com\/pt\/aima-article-15-appointment\/","title":{"rendered":"AIMA isn&#8217;t answering your Article 15 request: what to do"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Between 1 and 18 September 2026, Lisbon&#8217;s administrative court received <strong>3,683 new cases about AIMA<\/strong>, Portugal&#8217;s immigration agency. That&#8217;s about <strong>204 a day<\/strong>. On 18 September, <strong>89,000 AIMA cases<\/strong> were waiting in the administrative courts.<sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-1\">[1]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A lot of those cases started the way yours did. They asked AIMA for an appointment, kept checking their inbox, and heard nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re the non-EU partner of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen living in Portugal, this guide covers <strong>how to ask so your request counts<\/strong>, <strong>what to keep as proof<\/strong>, how often to chase, <strong>when a lawyer can take AIMA to court<\/strong>, and what to do about certificates that go out of date while you wait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"nm-sum\">\n<style>\n.nm-sum,.nm-flow,.nm-qs,.nm-dep,.nm-cost,.nm-stg{font-family:inherit;margin:34px 0 38px;}\n.nm-sum{background:#FFFBF0;border:1px solid #F2E6BE;border-left:5px solid #F5C518;border-radius:0 18px 18px 0;padding:24px 28px;}\n.nm-k{font-size:12.5px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.1em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#8a6d00;margin:0 0 14px;}\n.nm-sum ul,.nm-qs ol{margin:0;padding:0;list-style:none;}\n.nm-sum li{position:relative;padding-left:26px;margin:0 0 11px;font-size:16.5px;line-height:1.55;color:#1B2A4A;}\n.nm-sum li:last-child{margin-bottom:0;}\n.nm-sum li:before{content:\"\";position:absolute;left:4px;top:9px;width:8px;height:8px;border-radius:50%;background:#F5C518;}\n.nm-flow{position:relative;padding-left:4px;}\n.nm-fs{display:grid;grid-template-columns:44px 1fr;gap:0 18px;position:relative;padding-bottom:26px;}\n.nm-fs:last-child{padding-bottom:0;}\n.nm-fs:not(:last-child):after{content:\"\";position:absolute;left:21px;top:46px;bottom:4px;width:2px;background:#E3E7EF;}\n.nm-fn{width:44px;height:44px;border-radius:50%;background:#1B2A4A;color:#F5C518;font-weight:700;font-size:18px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;}\n.nm-ft{font-size:17.5px;font-weight:700;color:#1B2A4A;margin:9px 0 5px;line-height:1.35;}\n.nm-fd{font-size:16px;line-height:1.6;color:#3d4c6b;margin:0 0 9px;}\n.nm-chip{display:inline-block;font-size:13.5px;font-weight:600;padding:5px 12px;border-radius:999px;background:#F4F6FA;border:1px solid #E3E7EF;color:#1B2A4A;}\n.nm-chip.g{background:#FFFBF0;border-color:#F2E6BE;color:#8a6d00;}\n.nm-qs{background:#F4F6FA;border:1px solid #E3E7EF;border-radius:18px;padding:24px 28px;}\n.nm-qs .nm-k{color:#5a6b8c;}\n.nm-qs li{display:grid;grid-template-columns:30px 1fr;gap:12px;margin:0 0 14px;font-size:16.5px;line-height:1.5;color:#1B2A4A;font-weight:600;}\n.nm-qs li:last-child{margin-bottom:0;}\n.nm-qs li span{width:30px;height:30px;border-radius:8px;background:#fff;border:1px solid #C9D0DC;color:#00B67A;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;font-weight:700;}\n.nm-dep{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:16px;}\n.nm-dc{border:1px solid #E3E7EF;border-radius:16px;padding:20px 22px;background:#fff;}\n.nm-dc.y{background:#1B2A4A;border-color:#1B2A4A;}\n.nm-dc h4{margin:0 0 4px;font-size:18px;color:#1B2A4A;font-family:inherit;}\n.nm-dc.y h4{color:#fff;}\n.nm-dc .w{font-size:13px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.06em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#5a6b8c;margin:0 0 12px;}\n.nm-dc.y .w{color:#F5C518;}\n.nm-dc p{font-size:15.5px;line-height:1.55;margin:0;color:#3d4c6b;}\n.nm-dc.y p{color:rgba(255,255,255,.85);}\n.nm-cost{border:1px solid #E3E7EF;border-radius:18px;overflow:hidden;}\n.nm-cost .nm-ch{background:#1B2A4A;color:#fff;padding:18px 24px;font-weight:700;font-size:17px;}\n.nm-cost .nm-ch span{color:#F5C518;}\n.nm-cg{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(4,1fr);}\n.nm-ci{padding:20px 22px;border-right:1px solid #E3E7EF;}\n.nm-ci:last-child{border-right:0;}\n.nm-ci .v{font-size:24px;font-weight:700;color:#1B2A4A;line-height:1.2;}\n.nm-ci .l{font-size:14px;line-height:1.45;color:#5a6b8c;margin-top:6px;}\n.nm-flow p,.nm-qs p,.nm-sum p,.nm-dc p,.nm-cost p{margin-top:0!important;}\n.nm-flow .nm-ft{margin:9px 0 4px!important;}\n.nm-flow .nm-fd{margin:0 0 8px!important;}\n.entry-content ul.wp-block-list,.entry-content ol.wp-block-list{margin:6px 0 26px;padding-left:22px;}\n.entry-content ul.wp-block-list li,.entry-content ol.wp-block-list li{font-size:17px;line-height:1.6;margin:0 0 10px;padding-left:4px;}\n.entry-content ul.wp-block-list li::marker{color:#F5C518;}\n@media(max-width:820px){.nm-dep,.nm-cg{grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr!important;}.nm-ci:nth-child(2){border-right:0;}.nm-ci:nth-child(-n+2){border-bottom:1px solid #E3E7EF;}}\n@media(max-width:560px){.nm-dep,.nm-cg{grid-template-columns:1fr!important;}.nm-ci{border-right:0!important;border-bottom:1px solid #E3E7EF;}.nm-ci:last-child{border-bottom:0;}.nm-sum,.nm-qs{padding:20px;}}\n<\/style>\n<p class=\"nm-k\">The short version<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Send your request once your partner&#8217;s CRUE is issued.<\/strong> AIMA&#8217;s contact form won&#8217;t take it without a copy of the CRUE.<\/li>\n<li>If the form won&#8217;t take it, or never confirms it, <strong>email AIMA as well<\/strong>, so you have a dated record of when you asked.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Keep every confirmation<\/strong>, then send one short follow-up email a week. Our partner immigration lawyer suggests weekly.<\/li>\n<li>If the wait drags on, a lawyer can complain to AIMA or ask a court to order AIMA to act. <strong>Court action makes most sense after a long wait<\/strong>, and you decide it with the lawyer.<\/li>\n<li>Your certificates can go out of date while you wait. If AIMA asks for newer ones, <strong>write and ask for more time<\/strong> before the deadline runs out.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the step our <a href=\"\/article-15-portugal\/\">EU Family Setup for Article 15<\/a> prepares you for: your partner&#8217;s CRUE first, then your AIMA file, checked by our partner immigration lawyer before you send it. The practical advice below comes from that work and from recent files we analysed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<style>\n.nm-toc{font-family:inherit;margin:30px 0 8px;border:1px solid #E3E7EF;border-left:4px solid #1B2A4A;border-radius:16px;background:#fff;}\n.nm-toc summary{list-style:none;cursor:pointer;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;gap:12px;padding:16px 22px;font-weight:700;font-size:16.5px;color:#1B2A4A;}\n.nm-toc summary::-webkit-details-marker{display:none;}\n.nm-toc summary small{font-weight:600;font-size:13.5px;color:#5a6b8c;margin:0 auto 0 4px;}\n.nm-toc summary::after{content:\"\";width:9px;height:9px;border-right:2px solid #1B2A4A;border-bottom:2px solid #1B2A4A;transform:rotate(45deg);margin:-4px 4px 0 0;transition:transform .2s;flex:none;}\n.nm-toc[open] summary::after{transform:rotate(-135deg);margin-top:4px;}\n.nm-toc:not([open]) ol{display:none !important;}\n.nm-toc ol{margin:0 !important;padding:16px 22px 8px 44px !important;columns:2;column-gap:36px;border-top:1px solid #E3E7EF;}\n.nm-toc li{break-inside:avoid;margin:0 0 10px !important;font-size:15px;line-height:1.45;color:#5a6b8c;}\n.nm-toc li::marker{color:#C9A10C;font-weight:700;}\n.nm-toc a{color:#1B2A4A;text-decoration:none;}\n.nm-toc a:hover{text-decoration:underline;text-underline-offset:3px;}\n.entry-content h2[id]{scroll-margin-top:110px;}\n@media(max-width:820px){.nm-toc ol{columns:1;}}\n<\/style>\n<details class=\"nm-toc\">\n<summary>In this guide<small>10 sections<\/small><\/summary>\n<ol><li><a href=\"#how-do-you-ask-aima-for-your-article-15-appointment\">How do you ask AIMA for your Article 15 appointment?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#why-does-the-timing-of-your-request-matter\">Why does the timing of your request matter?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#how-long-does-aima-take-to-answer\">How long does AIMA take to answer?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#what-should-you-keep-as-proof-that-you-asked\">What should you keep as proof that you asked?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#how-often-should-you-follow-up-with-aima\">How often should you follow up with AIMA?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#can-you-stay-in-portugal-while-aima-hasn-t-answered\">Can you stay in Portugal while AIMA hasn&#x27;t answered?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#when-can-a-lawyer-take-aima-to-court\">When can a lawyer take AIMA to court?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#what-if-your-certificates-expire-while-you-wait\">What if your certificates expire while you wait?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#what-should-you-avoid-while-you-wait\">What should you avoid while you wait?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#should-you-get-help-with-your-article-15-request\">Should you get help with your Article 15 request?<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"how-do-you-ask-aima-for-your-article-15-appointment\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do you ask AIMA for your Article 15 appointment?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Through AIMA&#8217;s online contact form.<\/strong> AIMA asks family members of EU citizens to request their appointment there.<sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-2\">[2]<\/a><\/sup> Pick the subject for the EU residence card, then the appointment request (<em>Pedido de Agendamento<\/em>) for Article 15. The labels can change, so look for the residence card for EU family members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You attach scanned copies of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Your valid passport.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Proof of your relationship<\/strong>: your marriage certificate, or for unmarried partners, proof of a lasting relationship.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Your partner&#8217;s CRUE.<\/strong> AIMA lists it as compulsory.<sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-2\">[2]<\/a><\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The card you&#8217;re asking for is the <em>cart\u00e3o de resid\u00eancia de familiar de cidad\u00e3o da Uni\u00e3o<\/em>. It comes from Portugal&#8217;s law on the free movement of EU citizens, which follows the EU&#8217;s free movement directive.<sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-3\">[3]<\/a><\/sup><sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-4\">[4]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"nm-mf\" role=\"list\" aria-label=\"How your Article 15 request moves\">\n<style>\n.nm-mf{background:#1B2A4A;border-radius:20px;padding:30px 28px 26px;margin:30px 0 36px;font-family:inherit;display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(5,minmax(0,1fr));gap:14px;position:relative;}\n.nm-mf .nm-mf-k{grid-column:1\/-1;font-size:13px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.1em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#F5C518;margin:0 0 6px!important;}\n.nm-mf .nm-mf-s{background:rgba(255,255,255,.06);border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.14);border-radius:16px;padding:18px 12px 16px;min-width:0;position:relative;}\n.nm-mf .nm-mf-s:not(:nth-last-child(2)):after{content:\"\u2192\";position:absolute;right:-13px;top:50%;transform:translateY(-50%);width:24px;height:24px;border-radius:50%;background:#F5C518;color:#1B2A4A;font-weight:700;font-size:14px;line-height:24px;text-align:center;z-index:2;}\n.nm-mf .nm-mf-n{display:flex;width:36px;height:36px;border-radius:50%;background:#F5C518;color:#1B2A4A;font-weight:700;font-size:17px;align-items:center;justify-content:center;margin-bottom:14px;}\n.nm-mf .nm-mf-t{font-size:15.5px;line-height:1.3;hyphens:none;overflow-wrap:normal;word-break:normal;font-weight:700;color:#fff;margin:0!important;}\n.nm-mf .nm-mf-d{font-size:13.5px;line-height:1.45;color:rgba(255,255,255,.75);margin:6px 0 0!important;}\n.nm-mf .nm-mf-c{grid-column:1\/-1;font-size:14px;color:rgba(255,255,255,.7);margin:8px 0 0!important;}\n@media(max-width:900px){.nm-mf{grid-template-columns:1fr!important;gap:16px;padding:24px 20px;}\n.nm-mf .nm-mf-s{display:flex;align-items:flex-start;gap:14px;padding:16px;}\n.nm-mf .nm-mf-n{margin:0;flex:0 0 36px;}\n.nm-mf .nm-mf-s:not(:nth-last-child(2)):after{content:\"\u2193\";right:auto;left:50%;top:auto;bottom:-20px;transform:translateX(-50%);}}\n<\/style>\n<p class=\"nm-mf-k\">Your route, in order<\/p>\n<div class=\"nm-mf-s\" role=\"listitem\"><span class=\"nm-mf-n\">1<\/span><div><p class=\"nm-mf-t\">Your partner gets the CRUE<\/p><p class=\"nm-mf-d\">At the C\u00e2mara, after three months in Portugal.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"nm-mf-s\" role=\"listitem\"><span class=\"nm-mf-n\">2<\/span><div><p class=\"nm-mf-t\">You send AIMA your request<\/p><p class=\"nm-mf-d\">On AIMA&#8217;s contact form, with a copy of the CRUE. Email as the backup.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"nm-mf-s\" role=\"listitem\"><span class=\"nm-mf-n\">3<\/span><div><p class=\"nm-mf-t\">You keep every receipt<\/p><p class=\"nm-mf-d\">Screenshots, references, sent emails.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"nm-mf-s\" role=\"listitem\"><span class=\"nm-mf-n\">4<\/span><div><p class=\"nm-mf-t\">You follow up every week<\/p><p class=\"nm-mf-d\">One short, polite email. Same text each time.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"nm-mf-s\" role=\"listitem\"><span class=\"nm-mf-n\">5<\/span><div><p class=\"nm-mf-t\">Still waiting after many months?<\/p><p class=\"nm-mf-d\">Ask a lawyer about a complaint or court action.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<p class=\"nm-mf-c\">Most of the waiting happens between steps 2 and 5. A lawyer needs your records from steps 3 and 4 to go to court.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Turning up at an office won&#8217;t get you a date. In our partner immigration lawyer&#8217;s experience, <strong>people who ask in person are sent back online.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You have two ways to send the request:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"nm-dep\">\n<div class=\"nm-dc y\"><p class=\"w\">Try this first<\/p><h4>AIMA&#8217;s online request<\/h4><p>AIMA&#8217;s contact form, under the Article 15 appointment subject. A copy of your partner&#8217;s CRUE is compulsory, so send it once the CRUE is issued.<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"nm-dc\"><p class=\"w\">Use this too<\/p><h4>An email to AIMA<\/h4><p>If the form won&#8217;t take your request, or never confirms it, email AIMA&#8217;s general address too. It gives you a dated record of when you asked.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"the-form-keeps-rejecting-my-request\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">&#8220;The form keeps rejecting my request&#8221;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Usually that means your partner&#8217;s CRUE doesn&#8217;t exist yet.<\/strong> AIMA&#8217;s form makes the CRUE compulsory. In a recent file we analysed, the request couldn&#8217;t go through at all until the EU partner had one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So the order matters:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Your partner registers first.<\/strong> The CRUE comes from the C\u00e2mara Municipal once they&#8217;ve been in Portugal for three months.<sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-3\">[3]<\/a><\/sup> Our <a href=\"\/portugal-crue-support\/\">CRUE support<\/a> covers that part.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Then you send your request straight away<\/strong>, with a copy of the CRUE.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>If the form still won&#8217;t take it<\/strong>, email AIMA&#8217;s general address, <strong>geral@aima.gov.pt<\/strong>, with the same information and documents.<sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-5\">[5]<\/a><\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The email won&#8217;t book you a date by itself. But it gives you <strong>a dated record of the day you asked<\/strong>, and you&#8217;ll need that record later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"why-does-the-timing-of-your-request-matter\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why does the timing of your request matter?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Because the law gives you a deadline too.<\/strong> If you&#8217;re staying in Portugal for more than three months, you must ask AIMA for your card <strong>within 30 days of reaching three months<\/strong> here.<sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-3\">[3]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not applying is a fine of <strong>\u20ac400 to \u20ac1,500<\/strong>, halved if it was a mistake rather than deliberate.<sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-3\">[3]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That&#8217;s one more reason to keep proof. <strong>The fine is for not applying.<\/strong> A dated request, with your weekly follow-ups behind it, shows you did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your partner&#8217;s CRUE takes longer than you hoped, ask for it as early as the C\u00e2mara allows and send your request the day it arrives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"how-long-does-aima-take-to-answer\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How long does AIMA take to answer?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>On paper, AIMA has three months from your application to issue your card.<\/strong><sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-3\">[3]<\/a><\/sup> The EU directive allows up to six, and Portugal chose three.<sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-4\">[4]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In practice, AIMA rarely answers that fast, and it publishes no waiting times for this route. <strong>Getting the appointment is the hard part.<\/strong> Over the summer of 2026, our partner immigration lawyer found Article 15 slots close to impossible to get, and AIMA often didn&#8217;t reply at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She tells clients not to expect an appointment within six months, and has seen waits of <strong>eight months to a year<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So plan around the wait. <strong>Don&#8217;t book a flight home, a job start or a lease end that depends on getting AIMA&#8217;s date.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-should-you-keep-as-proof-that-you-asked\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What should you keep as proof that you asked?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Everything with a date on it.<\/strong> If you end up needing a lawyer, the first thing they&#8217;ll ask for is proof of when you asked AIMA and how often you chased. Our partner immigration lawyer says that record is what a court action is built on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"nm-qs\">\n<p class=\"nm-k\">Keep these in one folder<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span>\u2713<\/span>A screenshot of the form before you press send, and of the confirmation screen after.<\/li>\n<li><span>\u2713<\/span>Any reference number or confirmation email AIMA sends back.<\/li>\n<li><span>\u2713<\/span>Every email you send AIMA, saved as a PDF with the date and the address it went to.<\/li>\n<li><span>\u2713<\/span>Any automatic reply, and any bounce message.<\/li>\n<li><span>\u2713<\/span>Registered-post receipts and proof of delivery for anything you post.<\/li>\n<li><span>\u2713<\/span>Your partner&#8217;s CRUE, with its issue date.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A few habits help:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Save emails as PDFs<\/strong>, with the date, the time and AIMA&#8217;s address visible.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Keep one folder for the whole household<\/strong>, named by date, so a lawyer can read it in order.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Don&#8217;t delete automatic replies.<\/strong> They prove your email arrived.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"how-often-should-you-follow-up-with-aima\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How often should you follow up with AIMA?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Once a week, with a short email.<\/strong> That&#8217;s what our partner immigration lawyer suggests: the same polite text each time, with your original request attached.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sadly, AIMA won&#8217;t move faster because of it. But week by week you build up proof that you kept asking, and <strong>a lawyer needs exactly that proof if you go to court.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"nm-em\">\n<style>\n.nm-em{font-family:inherit;margin:30px 0 36px;border:1px solid #E3E7EF;border-radius:18px;overflow:hidden;background:#fff;}\n.nm-em .nm-em-h{background:#F4F6FA;border-bottom:1px solid #E3E7EF;padding:14px 22px;font-size:13px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.08em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#5a6b8c;margin:0!important;}\n.nm-em .nm-em-r{padding:12px 22px 0;font-size:15px;color:#5a6b8c;margin:0!important;}\n.nm-em .nm-em-r b{color:#1B2A4A;}\n.nm-em .nm-em-b{padding:14px 22px 22px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.6;color:#1B2A4A;}\n.nm-em .nm-em-b p{margin:0 0 10px!important;}\n.nm-em .nm-em-b p:last-child{margin-bottom:0!important;}\n.nm-em .nm-em-f{background:#FFFBF0;border-top:1px solid #F2E6BE;padding:12px 22px;font-size:14.5px;line-height:1.5;color:#8a6d00;margin:0!important;}\n<\/style>\n<p class=\"nm-em-h\">A follow-up email you can adapt<\/p>\n<p class=\"nm-em-r\"><b>Subject:<\/b> Pedido de cart\u00e3o de resid\u00eancia de familiar de cidad\u00e3o da UE: [your name], [passport number]<\/p>\n<div class=\"nm-em-b\">\n<p>Dear Sir or Madam,<\/p>\n<p>On [date] I asked AIMA for an appointment for a residence card as the family member of an EU citizen, [partner&#8217;s name], who holds registration certificate (CRUE) no. [number].<\/p>\n<p>I have had no reply. I attach my original request and its confirmation. Please could you schedule my appointment?<\/p>\n<p>Kind regards,<br>[your name], [passport number], [Portuguese phone number], [NIF]<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"nm-em-f\">Write in Portuguese if you can, or attach a Portuguese version. Same text every week, with the original request attached each time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"should-i-phone-aima-instead\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">&#8220;Should I phone AIMA instead?&#8221;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>You can. The line is +351 217 115 000, weekdays from 8am to 8pm.<\/strong><sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-2\">[2]<\/a><\/sup> But a call leaves no record, so follow it up with an email the same day (&#8220;As discussed by phone today\u2026&#8221;).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"can-you-stay-in-portugal-while-aima-hasn-t-answered\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can you stay in Portugal while AIMA hasn&#8217;t answered?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Waiting for AIMA doesn&#8217;t take your right to live here away.<\/strong> Your right comes from your partner&#8217;s EU right and your relationship. The card is the document that proves it.<sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-3\">[3]<\/a><\/sup><sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-4\">[4]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both Portugal&#8217;s free movement law and the EU directive say so in plain terms:<sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-3\">[3]<\/a><\/sup><sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-4\">[4]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"nm-law\" lang=\"en\">\n<style>\n.nm-law{font-family:inherit;margin:26px 0 30px;padding:20px 24px;background:#F4F6FA;border-left:5px solid #1B2A4A;border-radius:0 16px 16px 0;}\n.nm-law p{margin:0!important;font-size:16px;line-height:1.65;color:#1B2A4A;font-style:italic;}\n.nm-law cite{display:block;margin-top:10px;font-size:13.5px;font-style:normal;color:#5a6b8c;}\n<\/style>\n<p>&#8220;Possession of [&#8230;] a certificate attesting submission of an application for a family member residence card, of a residence card [&#8230;] may under no circumstances be made a precondition for the exercise of a right or the completion of an administrative formality, as entitlement to rights may be attested by any other means of proof.&#8221;<\/p>\n<cite>The EU free movement directive. Portugal&#8217;s free movement law says the same.<\/cite>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There&#8217;s one condition behind all of this. <strong>Your right lasts while your partner meets the EU rules<\/strong>: they work here, are self-employed, study, or have enough money and health cover to live on.<sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-3\">[3]<\/a><\/sup> So keep that side in order too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The same goes for work. <strong>Family members with the right to live here can work or be self-employed.<\/strong><sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-3\">[3]<\/a><\/sup><sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-4\">[4]<\/a><\/sup> Some employers and offices still ask for the card itself, so expect questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"i-ll-be-past-90-days-before-i-can-even-ask-aima-am-i-illegal\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">&#8220;I&#8217;ll be past 90 days before I can even ask AIMA. Am I illegal?&#8221;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Not while your partner meets the EU rules.<\/strong> Your partner can&#8217;t get a CRUE until they&#8217;ve been here three months, so you&#8217;ll always be past the 90-day mark before your request can go in. Your right to stay beyond three months comes from your partner&#8217;s right, not from the request.<sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-3\">[3]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our partner immigration lawyer&#8217;s advice is to <strong>carry the proof with you<\/strong>: your relationship documents, your partner&#8217;s CRUE once it&#8217;s issued, and proof of your request once it&#8217;s sent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Travel is where you need the most care:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Talk to a lawyer before you leave Portugal<\/strong> if you&#8217;re waiting for your first card. Your proof of request isn&#8217;t a travel document.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Re-entry is decided at the border<\/strong>, by the officer in front of you.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The travel section of our <a href=\"\/aima-appointment-checklist\/\">AIMA appointment checklist<\/a> covers what AIMA says its receipts can and can&#8217;t be used for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"when-can-a-lawyer-take-aima-to-court\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">When can a lawyer take AIMA to court?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>When AIMA has gone quiet for a long time, a lawyer can ask an administrative court to make AIMA act.<\/strong> It&#8217;s one option for a long wait, and you decide it with the lawyer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our partner immigration lawyer&#8217;s current view (October 2026) is that it&#8217;s <strong>rarely worth it for a wait of a few months<\/strong>. She considers it once the wait passes <strong>about a year<\/strong>, and starts with a formal written complaint to AIMA&#8217;s president first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are two routes, and your lawyer picks one:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>An urgent action (an <em>intima\u00e7\u00e3o<\/em>).<\/strong> It&#8217;s for when you need a quick decision to protect a fundamental right in time. On paper, a judge looks at it within 48 hours, AIMA has 7 days to reply, and the court decides within 5 days after that.<sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-6\">[6]<\/a><\/sup> Lawyers have used it to make AIMA schedule appointments.<sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-7\">[7]<\/a><\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>An ordinary action to make AIMA decide.<\/strong> It&#8217;s slower, and you have <strong>one year<\/strong> from the day AIMA&#8217;s legal deadline ran out to bring it.<sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-6\">[6]<\/a><\/sup><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since October 2025, Portugal&#8217;s general immigration law has set a stricter test for urgent cases against AIMA, and new cases fell <strong>78%<\/strong> after the change, Di\u00e1rio de Not\u00edcias reported in February 2026.<sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-8\">[8]<\/a><\/sup> Your card comes under the separate free movement law, but expect any court to look hard at urgency. That&#8217;s why the paper trail matters so much: <strong>your lawyer has to show why your case can&#8217;t wait.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What a lawyer needs from you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The date you first asked<\/strong>, with the confirmation or the email.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Your weekly follow-ups<\/strong>, in order.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Your partner&#8217;s CRUE<\/strong> and the documents you sent AIMA.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"nm-flow\" role=\"list\" aria-label=\"Your follow-up plan while AIMA hasn't answered\">\n<div class=\"nm-fs\" role=\"listitem\"><div class=\"nm-fn\">1<\/div><div><p class=\"nm-ft\">Day 1: send the request<\/p><p class=\"nm-fd\">Online first, once the CRUE is issued. Email too if the form won&#8217;t take it.<\/p><span class=\"nm-chip g\">Screenshot the confirmation<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"nm-fs\" role=\"listitem\"><div class=\"nm-fn\">2<\/div><div><p class=\"nm-ft\">Every week: one follow-up email<\/p><p class=\"nm-fd\">Same short text, original request attached. Save each one as a PDF.<\/p><span class=\"nm-chip\">Weekly, as our partner lawyer suggests<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"nm-fs\" role=\"listitem\"><div class=\"nm-fn\">3<\/div><div><p class=\"nm-ft\">If AIMA writes back: answer inside the deadline<\/p><p class=\"nm-fd\">Send what they ask for, or write before the deadline to ask for more time.<\/p><span class=\"nm-chip g\">10 working days by default<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"nm-fs\" role=\"listitem\"><div class=\"nm-fn\">4<\/div><div><p class=\"nm-ft\">A long wait with no answer: talk to a lawyer<\/p><p class=\"nm-fd\">A formal complaint to AIMA comes first. Court action is for long waits. Your folder of dated emails is what the lawyer works from.<\/p><span class=\"nm-chip\">Court action is quoted separately<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three things to know before you start:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The court won&#8217;t give you the card.<\/strong> It can order AIMA to deal with your request, and AIMA still decides.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>It takes time too.<\/strong> On-paper deadlines and real ones differ, and the courts have their own queue.<sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-1\">[1]<\/a><\/sup><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Nobody can promise the outcome.<\/strong> The court decides.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Court action sits outside our packages. <strong>We quote it separately<\/strong>, once a lawyer has looked at your file and your dates. A <a href=\"\/portugal-immigration-consultation\/\">45-minute immigration lawyer call<\/a> is a good way to find out whether you&#8217;re there yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"is-there-anything-short-of-going-to-court\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">&#8220;Is there anything short of going to court?&#8221;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Yes, a complaint to Portugal&#8217;s Ombudsman (the Provedor de Justi\u00e7a).<\/strong> It&#8217;s free and online, and anyone can file one.<sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-9\">[9]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two catches:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>You complain to AIMA first.<\/strong> The Ombudsman expects you to have tried that.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>It won&#8217;t look at anything already in court.<\/strong> So choose one route at a time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-if-your-certificates-expire-while-you-wait\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What if your certificates expire while you wait?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Order new ones before AIMA asks.<\/strong> AIMA can ask for recently issued certificates, and your wait can easily outlast the ones you brought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"573\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/aima-article-15-certificates-waiting-1024x573.jpg\" alt=\"A stack of certificates beside a brown envelope, a pen and a glass of water on a desk by a window\" class=\"wp-image-14844\" srcset=\"https:\/\/novomove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/aima-article-15-certificates-waiting-1024x573.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/novomove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/aima-article-15-certificates-waiting-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/novomove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/aima-article-15-certificates-waiting-768x430.jpg 768w, https:\/\/novomove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/aima-article-15-certificates-waiting-1536x859.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/novomove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/aima-article-15-certificates-waiting-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/novomove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/11\/aima-article-15-certificates-waiting.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Illustrative image.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our partner immigration lawyer plans to these ages, counted from the date each certificate was issued (the apostille date doesn&#8217;t count):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"nm-cost\">\n<div class=\"nm-ch\">Certificates while you wait: <span>the ages our partner lawyer works to<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"nm-cg\">\n<div class=\"nm-ci\"><div class=\"v\">1 year<\/div><div class=\"l\">Birth certificates, counted from the issue date<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"nm-ci\"><div class=\"v\">6 months<\/div><div class=\"l\">Marriage, civil-status and no-marriage certificates<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"nm-ci\"><div class=\"v\">10 days<\/div><div class=\"l\">Working days: the default deadline when AIMA asks you for something and sets no other<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"nm-ci\"><div class=\"v\">In writing<\/div><div class=\"l\">How you ask for more time, before the deadline ends<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"aima-wants-a-new-certificate-in-10-days-it-takes-six-weeks-f\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">&#8220;AIMA wants a new certificate in 10 days. It takes six weeks from home.&#8221;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Write to AIMA before the deadline ends and ask for more time.<\/strong> When AIMA asks you for something and sets no other deadline, the default is <strong>10 working days<\/strong>.<sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-10\">[10]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you can&#8217;t get the new certificate in time:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Write before the deadline ends.<\/strong> Say which document you&#8217;re waiting for, why it takes longer, and how many extra days you need.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Send it by email and by registered post<\/strong>, and keep both receipts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Send the certificate the moment it arrives<\/strong>, again with proof of sending.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don&#8217;t treat silence as a yes. <strong>No rule says an unanswered request for more time is granted<\/strong>, so move as fast as you can and keep the proof.<sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-10\">[10]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-should-you-avoid-while-you-wait\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What should you avoid while you wait?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Three things, mainly.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Paying anyone who promises you an AIMA date.<\/strong> Nobody outside AIMA can book one for you, and AIMA has warned about look-alike sites.<sup class=\"nm-fnref\"><a href=\"#source-11\">[11]<\/a><\/sup> Use only aima.gov.pt addresses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Letting your partner&#8217;s situation change without telling a lawyer.<\/strong> Your right to stay comes from theirs, so a move, a split or a long stay abroad matters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Leaving Portugal<\/strong> before you&#8217;ve checked what it means for your file.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"should-you-get-help-with-your-article-15-request\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Should you get help with your Article 15 request?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>It depends on where you are.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>If you haven&#8217;t sent your request yet:<\/strong> the order and the paperwork are where it usually goes wrong. Our EU Family Setup takes you from your partner&#8217;s CRUE to your AIMA request. You get a checklist for each person, our partner lawyer&#8217;s review of both files, two lawyer calls, and the request letter and declaration drafted for you. <strong>You send the request yourself<\/strong>, with a template for following it up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>If you&#8217;ve sent it and heard nothing:<\/strong> keep your weekly emails going, and book a lawyer call once the wait starts to drag on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>If you already have a date:<\/strong> our <a href=\"\/aima-appointment-support\/\">AIMA appointment support<\/a> gets your file checked before the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One honest limit. <strong>We can&#8217;t make AIMA answer faster<\/strong>, and the wait after you send your request isn&#8217;t part of the package.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"nm-cta\">\n<style>\n.nm-cta{background:#1B2A4A;border-radius:20px;overflow:hidden;color:#fff;box-shadow:0 24px 60px rgba(10,15,30,.18);margin:40px 0;font-family:inherit;}\n.nm-cta img{width:100%;aspect-ratio:16\/9;object-fit:cover;display:block;margin:0;}\n.nm-cta .nm-cta-body{padding:38px;}\n.nm-cta .nm-cta-pill{display:inline-block;background:#F5C518;color:#1B2A4A;border-radius:999px;padding:6px 14px;font-size:13px;font-weight:700;}\n.nm-cta p{font-size:17px;line-height:1.65;color:rgba(255,255,255,.86);margin:18px 0 22px;}\n.nm-cta p a{color:#F5C518;text-decoration:underline;text-underline-offset:3px;}\n.nm-cta .nm-cta-btns{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:12px;}\n.nm-cta .nm-btn-p{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;background:#F5C518;color:#1B2A4A !important;padding:14px 24px;border-radius:12px;font-weight:700;font-size:16px;text-decoration:none;}\n.nm-cta .nm-btn-p:hover{background:#E3B30C;}\n.nm-cta .nm-btn-s{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;color:#fff !important;border:1px solid rgba(255,255,255,.4);padding:14px 24px;border-radius:12px;font-weight:700;font-size:16px;text-decoration:none;}\n.nm-cta .nm-btn-s:hover{background:#fff;color:#1B2A4A !important;}\n@media (max-width:640px){.nm-cta .nm-cta-body{padding:26px 22px;}}\n<\/style>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/cta-miradouro.png\" alt=\"A miradouro view over Lisbon rooftops at golden hour\">\n<div class=\"nm-cta-body\">\n<span class=\"nm-cta-pill\">EU Family Setup<\/span>\n<p><strong>\u20ac1,199 for the two of you.<\/strong> Your partner&#8217;s CRUE file and your AIMA file, both checked by our partner immigration lawyer, two lawyer calls, and the request letter and declaration drafted for you. Not sure where you stand? Book a 45-minute lawyer call first.<\/p>\n<div class=\"nm-cta-btns\">\n<a class=\"nm-btn-p\" href=\"\/article-15-portugal\/\">See EU Family Setup<\/a>\n<a class=\"nm-btn-s\" href=\"\/portugal-immigration-consultation\/\">Book a lawyer call<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"frequently-asked-questions\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"can-i-request-my-article-15-appointment-before-my-partner-ha\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I request my Article 15 appointment before my partner has a CRUE?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>No, in practice.<\/strong> AIMA&#8217;s contact form lists a copy of your partner&#8217;s CRUE as compulsory. Get the CRUE first, then send your request the same day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"where-is-the-aima-form-for-article-15\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where is the AIMA form for Article 15?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>It&#8217;s AIMA&#8217;s online contact form.<\/strong> Choose the residence card for EU family members and then the Article 15 appointment request. If it won&#8217;t take your request, email geral@aima.gov.pt so you have a dated record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"does-emailing-aima-count-as-a-request\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Does emailing AIMA count as a request?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>It gives you a dated record, which matters most.<\/strong> Whether AIMA acts on the email or the form, you can show when you first asked. Keep the sent email as a PDF.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"how-often-should-i-follow-up\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How often should I follow up?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>About once a week.<\/strong> Our partner immigration lawyer suggests one short follow-up email a week, with your original request attached each time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"can-i-go-to-an-aima-office-and-ask-for-a-date\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I go to an AIMA office and ask for a date?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>It&#8217;s unlikely to help.<\/strong> In our partner immigration lawyer&#8217;s experience, people asking in person are sent back to the online form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"how-long-is-aima-allowed-to-take\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How long is AIMA allowed to take?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Three months from your application, under Portuguese law.<\/strong> In practice it often takes much longer, so plan for months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"is-there-a-fine-if-i-apply-late\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is there a fine if I apply late?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Yes, \u20ac400 to \u20ac1,500<\/strong>, halved if it was a mistake. It&#8217;s a fine for not applying within 30 days of reaching three months in Portugal, so keep proof of when you asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"can-i-stay-in-portugal-while-i-wait-for-aima\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I stay in Portugal while I wait for AIMA?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Waiting doesn&#8217;t take your right away<\/strong>, as long as your partner still meets the EU rules (working, self-employed, studying, or enough money and health cover). The law says nobody can make the card a condition for your rights. Talk to a lawyer before you travel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"i-ll-be-past-90-days-before-i-can-even-send-my-request-am-i-\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">I&#8217;ll be past 90 days before I can even send my request. Am I illegal?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Not while your partner meets the EU rules.<\/strong> Your right to stay beyond three months comes from your partner&#8217;s right, and you can&#8217;t file before their CRUE exists. Carry proof of your relationship, your partner&#8217;s CRUE once it&#8217;s issued, and proof of your request once it&#8217;s sent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"can-i-work-while-i-wait\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can I work while I wait?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Yes, the law gives you the right to work<\/strong> if you have the right to live here. Some employers still ask for the card itself, so expect questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"when-can-i-take-aima-to-court\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">When can I take AIMA to court?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Usually only after a long wait.<\/strong> Our partner immigration lawyer&#8217;s current view is to consider it once you&#8217;ve waited about a year, after a formal complaint to AIMA. The court decides, and we quote court action separately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"will-court-action-get-me-the-card\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Will court action get me the card?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>No, not directly.<\/strong> The court can order AIMA to deal with your request. AIMA still decides on your card once it has your file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"what-if-my-marriage-or-birth-certificate-is-too-old-by-the-t\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What if my marriage or birth certificate is too old by the time AIMA calls me?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Order a new one.<\/strong> Our partner immigration lawyer plans to six months for marriage and civil-status certificates and one year for birth certificates, from the issue date. If AIMA gives you a deadline you can&#8217;t meet, write before it ends and ask for more time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"do-i-need-to-write-to-aima-in-portuguese\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do I need to write to AIMA in Portuguese?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>It helps.<\/strong> AIMA works in Portuguese, so a Portuguese version of your email, or both languages, is easier for whoever reads it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:32px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"sources-and-how-we-checked\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sources and how we checked<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The practical advice in this post comes from our partner immigration lawyer and from recent files we analysed, with no names or details that could identify anyone. We checked the law against the official consolidated texts on Di\u00e1rio da Rep\u00fablica and EUR-Lex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li id=\"source-1\"><strong>3,683 new AIMA cases in Lisbon&#8217;s administrative court from 1 to 18 September 2026, and 89,000 pending on 18 September (figures from the courts&#8217; governing council, CSTAF):<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/eco.sapo.pt\/2026\/10\/29\/aima-faz-tres-anos-com-840-trabalhadores-e-89-mil-processos-pendentes-nos-tribunais\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ECO, 29 October 2026<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"source-2\"><strong>How to request the appointment, the compulsory documents, and AIMA&#8217;s phone line and hours:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/aima.gov.pt\/pt\/noticias\/formulario-de-contacto\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AIMA, appointments for family members of EU citizens, 30 September 2025<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/aima.gov.pt\/pt\/nacionais-ue-e-familiares\/familiares-de-nacionais-ue\/cartao-de-residencia-para-familiares-de-nacionais-ue\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AIMA, residence card for family members of EU nationals<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"source-3\"><strong>The right to live and work here, the CRUE, the 30-day deadline, the three months to issue the card, the card as proof of a right, and the fine:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/diariodarepublica.pt\/dr\/legislacao-consolidada\/lei\/2006-128792849\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lei 37\/2006, consolidated text<\/a>, articles 7, 14, 15, 19, 21 and 30.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"source-4\"><strong>Six months under EU law, the right to work, and the card as no precondition:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/eur-lex.europa.eu\/legal-content\/EN\/TXT\/HTML\/?uri=CELEX:32004L0038\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Directive 2004\/38\/EC<\/a>, recital 11 and articles 7, 10, 23 and 25.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"source-5\"><strong>AIMA&#8217;s general email address:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/aima.gov.pt\/pt\/contactos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AIMA, Contactos<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"source-6\"><strong>The urgent action and its deadlines, and the action to make AIMA decide with its one-year limit:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/diariodarepublica.pt\/dr\/legislacao-consolidada\/lei\/2002-34464475\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">C\u00f3digo de Processo nos Tribunais Administrativos, consolidated text<\/a>, articles 66, 67, 69 and 109 to 111.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"source-7\"><strong>Urgent actions to make AIMA schedule appointments:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/eco.sapo.pt\/2025\/10\/11\/mais-de-133-mil-processos-aima-pendentes-no-tribunal-administrativo-de-lisboa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ECO, 11 October 2025<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"source-8\"><strong>New cases down 78% after the October 2025 change:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dn.pt\/sociedade\/processos-contra-a-aima-descem-78-aps-mudana-na-lei-mas-ainda-so-milhares\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Di\u00e1rio de Not\u00edcias, 25 February 2026<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"source-9\"><strong>Complaints to the Ombudsman:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.provedor-jus.pt\/quem-somos\/perguntas-frequentes\/submeter-queixa\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Provedor de Justi\u00e7a, how to complain<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"source-10\"><strong>The 10-working-day default, and tacit approval only where a law provides it:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/diariodarepublica.pt\/dr\/legislacao-consolidada\/decreto-lei\/2015-105602322\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">C\u00f3digo do Procedimento Administrativo, consolidated text<\/a>, articles 86, 87 and 130.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li id=\"source-11\"><strong>AIMA&#8217;s look-alike site warning:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/aima.gov.pt\/pt\/noticias\/alerta-site-nao-oficial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AIMA, 5 March 2026<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<style>\n.entry-content sup.nm-fnref{font-size:.72em;line-height:0;vertical-align:super;margin-left:2px;}\n.entry-content sup.nm-fnref a{color:#1a5fb4;text-decoration:none;font-weight:600;}\n.entry-content sup.nm-fnref a:hover{text-decoration:underline;}\n.entry-content li[id^=\"source-\"]{scroll-margin-top:110px;}\n.entry-content li[id^=\"source-\"]:target{background:#FFFBF0;}\n<\/style>\n\n\n\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n{\"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\", \"@type\": \"FAQPage\", \"mainEntity\": [{\"@type\": \"Question\", \"name\": \"Can I request my Article 15 appointment before my partner has a CRUE?\", \"acceptedAnswer\": {\"@type\": \"Answer\", \"text\": \"No, in practice. 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