Portugal’s Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) is changing the procedure to schedule the service needed to obtain a residence permit, to speed up service scheduling and enact the new rules that were introduced in early 2024.
What to Expect
- All foreign citizens who have submitted an expression of intention in the old SAPA Portal prior to April 30, 2023, will receive an e-mail from AIMA asking them to change their password in a new service platform. This is necessary because many users may no longer have the password used to create an account in the dedicated web portal.
- Next, they will be asked to generate a Single Billing Document (DUC), in order to pay the fees, which will have to occur within the following 10 days. Having paid the fees, they will receive a scheduling proposal within the next 20 business days, indicating day, time and place.
- After scheduling, and before the scheduled date, they user will receive a link by email that will allow them to resubmit all the updated information and documentation, in order to speed up the process and simplify service.
This procedure implements the new rules that came into force in early 2024, where it is stipulated, among other things, that the payment of the fees shall occur upon submitting the request, and not after a final decision is granted. This is applied to both new and pending requests.
With the new procedure, the applicant will receive a scheduling proposal after paying the fee. The fees are the same as those charged previously by SEF, with the annual update due to inflation.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to monitor developments and share updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions.