Portuguese Immigration Service AIMA Overwhelmed: What Expats Need to Know

Portugal's immigration authority AIMA is drowning in thousands of cases—and if you're planning a move, this directly affects you.

As of May 2026, the agency has accumulated so many pending decisions that residence permit processing times have stretched considerably. The core issue: documents you prepared for the consulate three months ago may now be out of date. Moved to a new address? Changed jobs? AIMA will flag it and request additional documentation—adding weeks to your wait.

What to do? Attend your appointment with current paperwork: fresh proof of address, bank statements from the past month (not six months old), and valid insurance. Your passport must be in order, with NIF and NISS properly organised. Many expats are unaware that you can have a Portuguese lawyer review your documents in advance—at a cost of €199—which can save weeks of back-and-forth with the authorities.

The lesson is clear: in an overburdened system, there is no room for carelessness. Those who arrive prepared move through quickly. Those who don't face lengthy queues.

Source: Portugal News