AIMA has tightened rules for residence permit and renewal application processes including for golden visa investors Incomplete applications will not be accepted by the Agency.
From 28 April 2025, residence applications made under the Aliens Act will only be received when they are complete.
According to the official announcement, effective from 28 April 2025 applications made under the Aliens Act will only be received when they are complete ie when they contain all the documents that the law defines and requires as necessary for analysis and decision.
Incomplete Applications will be Rejected
-AIMA
Rejection
Applications for the granting and renewal of residence permits that are not complete with all the elements required under the terms of Law no 232007 of July 4 and regulatory decree 012024 of January 17 will not be accepted. if any documentation is missing, the immigrant will be sent back to the end of the queue causing more delays.
Applicants are therefore asked to pay the “utmost care” to ensure that they have all the legally required documents and present them at the reception and show up for appointments in a timely manner. It should be remembered that a well instructed process at the initial stage is essential for a quick and rapid decision.
Some lawyers have criticized the new rule does not benefit foreigners who dont speak Portuguese language, goes against, AIMA bound to a code to notify interested parties to remedy deficiencies or omissions in the applications submitted within 10 days. Last year a number requests were denied, when AIMA found a series of errors in the documentation submitted.
Students
AIMA is implementing a document regularization plan for university students from third countries in public and private Higher Education Institutions HEIs for the next academic year 20252026 in order to ensure that the relevant residence permit is obtained in a short period of time AIMA has already made 690 appointments and the Agency intends to regularize all pending processes.
The AIMA has made changes to the process that proof of the requirements needed to obtain a Residence Permit AR is now simpler, less bureaucratic and with increased security requirements, reduced waiting times, including for applications submitted by legal professionals.
