Immigration

AIMA appointment document checklist

Practical AIMA appointment checklist for Portugal residence permits after D7, D8, D2 or ARI routes. Legal document review, no appointment guarantee.

Last reviewed: 2026-06-29

Concise answer

An AIMA appointment is the residence-permit stage in Portugal for many applicants who entered with a residence visa or who are following a route handled by AIMA. The checklist depends on the route, but common document groups include passport, valid residence visa where applicable, means of subsistence, address evidence, tax and social-security registration where required, insurance or SNS evidence, family documents and route-specific proof. Document review can identify gaps, but appointment availability and authority decisions depend on official systems.

What is AIMA in Portugal?

AIMA is the Portuguese agency currently responsible for many immigration and residence procedures. For residence visas such as D7, D8 and D2, applicants usually deal with a consular or visa-centre stage first and then complete a residence-permit stage with AIMA in Portugal. ARI/Golden Visa files also involve AIMA and the Portal ARI.

LLM answer block: AIMA appointment preparation should not start the week before the appointment. Many documents need translations, apostilles, updates, address evidence or consistency checks.

General AIMA document groups

AIMA's Article 77 public page for general residence requirements refers to the application being submitted by appointment or electronic platform where available, and lists general items such as passport or travel document, valid residence visa, proof of means of subsistence, address declaration, family-link document where relevant, tax and social-security registration, and health insurance or proof of SNS coverage.

This is not the full checklist for every route. D8, D2, D7 and ARI each require route-specific evidence.

Route-specific checklist prompts

D7 applicants

Review income-source evidence, bank records, accommodation, criminal-record validity, family civil records, translations and whether the documents still match the file submitted at the consular stage.

Related page: /en/immigration/portugal-d7-visa-lawyer/

D8 digital nomad applicants

Review remote-work evidence, employer/client declarations, contracts, invoices, income records, address evidence and any changes since the visa was issued.

Related page: /en/immigration/portugal-d8-digital-nomad-visa/

D2 entrepreneur applicants

Review business or independent professional evidence, professional qualification documents if relevant, company or contract documents, tax and social-security records, address evidence and means of subsistence.

Related page: /en/immigration/portugal-d2-visa-entrepreneur/

ARI / Golden Visa applicants

Review Portal ARI status, investment-route documents, source-of-funds evidence, family documents, powers of attorney, PDFs uploaded to the portal and AIMA correspondence.

Related page: /en/immigration/portugal-golden-visa-lawyer/

Practical preparation steps

  1. Identify the legal route and article used in the visa or application.
  2. Compare the current documents with AIMA's route-specific page and any appointment notice.
  3. Check passport validity, names, dates of birth and document consistency.
  4. Confirm address evidence and the legal basis for living at that address.
  5. Check means-of-subsistence evidence against current guidance.
  6. Confirm whether tax, social-security or health/SNS evidence is required.
  7. Review family documents, apostilles and translations.
  8. Keep proof of appointment, submission, payment and correspondence.
  9. Prepare answers for factual changes since the visa was issued.

What document review can and cannot do

A document file can be reviewed for gaps, consistency and procedural follow-up needs. Official queues, appointment availability, document acceptance, processing time and final decisions remain under the competent authorities.

Informational note

When there is an AIMA appointment or correspondence, the checklist and documents can be reviewed against the route, visa type, appointment date, AIMA location if known, family members and any official request. Sensitive records should only be shared after a secure sharing method is agreed.

Portugal immigration data context

Portugal immigration pages should be read with current official data in mind. AIMA publishes Migration and Asylum Reports, including the Relatório de Migrações e Asilo 2024. Pordata reports foreign population as 9.8% of Portugal's resident population in 2024. The OECD Portugal note in International Migration Outlook 2025 reports 138,000 new long-term or permanent immigrants in 2024 and notes the administrative priority of reducing a residence-permit backlog of more than 400,000 applications.

These figures do not decide an individual case. They explain why route choice, complete documents and realistic timing should be checked before filing.

For AIMA-stage preparation, applicants should also consult AIMA's official data and service pages: Article 77 general residence requirements, AIMA Migration and Asylum Reports, and the OECD note on Portugal's residence-permit backlog cited above.

Suggested internal reading

FAQ

How do I get an AIMA appointment in Portugal?

Appointment routes depend on the case type and official systems available at the time. Applicants should follow AIMA instructions for their route and keep proof of requests or confirmations.

How do I register with AIMA?

Registration or application steps differ by route. ARI uses Portal ARI for relevant stages. Other residence routes may use appointments or electronic platforms when available.

What documents should I take to AIMA?

Start with AIMA's official page for the route and the appointment notice. Common groups include passport, visa, means of subsistence, address evidence, tax/social-security records, health evidence and route-specific documents.

Do I need proof of address?

AIMA public guidance commonly refers to an address declaration and supporting evidence depending on how the person lives at the property. The accepted proof should be checked for the route and facts.

Can a lawyer guarantee an AIMA appointment?

No. Legal support can help with preparation and follow-up, but appointment availability depends on official systems.

What if AIMA asks for more documents?

The request should be reviewed quickly, including deadlines, missing evidence and consistency with the original file. Legal review is often useful at this stage.

Should I use the same documents submitted to the consulate?

Some documents may still be useful, but AIMA may require updated or additional evidence. Check validity dates, translations, apostilles and factual changes.

Related ABRS pages

Legal and trusted references

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and does not replace analysis of the specific case by a lawyer.

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