Getting your AIMA residence permit in Portugal after your D visa (2026)
Facts last verified on against 6 sources (6 official). By the Relocate+ team.
Short answer
A Portuguese residence visa (such as the D7 or D8) is valid for four months and two entries. Inside that window you apply in person at AIMA, Portugal's migration agency, for your residence permit. The first temporary permit lasts two years and is renewable for successive three-year periods.[6][1][2]
Normally your visa sticker includes your AIMA appointment details. If it doesn't, you book after arriving through AIMA's contact form (contactenos.aima.gov.pt) under "Residence Permit with Consular Visa (Non-CPLP)", with your passport and visa numbers and copies of both.[5][3]
Key facts at a glance
How the appointment works
Appointment printed on your visa
Best for: Most people: the consulate schedules your AIMA appointment when it issues the visa.
Requirement: Your visa sticker normally carries the appointment details link. Attend on that date with all your documents and the signed application form.[5][1]
Booking through AIMA's contact form
Best for: People whose visa was issued without an AIMA appointment.
Requirement: After arriving, go to contactenos.aima.gov.pt, choose Subject "Residence Permit" and Subtype "Residence Permit with Consular Visa (Non-CPLP)", give your passport and visa numbers, attach copies of both and use your own email address.[5][3]
- Highly qualified professionals choose "Residence Permit with Consular Visa (Highly Skilled)" instead.
Step-by-step timeline
- 1
When your visa is issued
Check your visa sticker for the appointment
The appointment details are normally printed on the sticker. If there were no AIMA slots, the visa is issued without them and you book after arriving.[5]
- 2
Within the 4-month visa
Enter Portugal and book if you need to
The visa allows two entries over four months. Without an appointment, request one through contactenos.aima.gov.pt straight away, with your passport and visa numbers and copies.[6][5][3]
- 3
Before the appointment
Prepare proof of where you live
You'll sign a declaration of your address and how you live there. Owners bring the land registry certificate (or its access code); tenants bring a declaration from the landlord or host.[1][2]
- 4
Before the appointment
Gather your documents
Passport, valid residence visa, proof of means of subsistence, health insurance or proof of National Health Service cover, and tax and social security registration if they apply. D8 holders also bring the foreign employer's or client's sworn declaration.[1][2]
- 5
At the appointment
Apply in person at AIMA
Hand in the signed application form (Model 1) with your documents at any AIMA store, or have your legal representative sign and submit it.[1]
- 6
Before it expires
Renew every three years
The first temporary permit is valid for two years from issue; each renewal is for three more years.[1][2]
Document checklist
- Valid passport[1][2]
- Valid residence visa[1][2]
- Signed application form (Model 1)[1][2]
- Proof of means of subsistence[1]
- Signed declaration of your address, plus land registry certificate (owners) or landlord's declaration (tenants)[1][2]
- Health insurance, or proof you're covered by the National Health Service[1]
- Proof of tax and social security registration, if applicable[1]
- D8 only: sworn declaration from your foreign employer or client[2]
- Proof of family relationship, if family members apply[1]
AIMA fees
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Grant or renewal of a temporary residence permit (art. 75(1))€85.80 through a digital channel. | €114.30[4] |
| Reception and analysis, for permits such as the D8 remote-work permit€99.80 through a digital channel. | €133.00[4] |
Amounts from AIMA's official fee table (Portaria 307/2023). Which lines apply depends on your permit type, so check the table for your case.
Moving with family
Where a family relationship is part of the application, bring documents that prove it.[1]
Common mistakes to avoid
- Letting the four-month visa run out. The permit application has to happen while the visa is valid.[6]
- Using a relative's or agent's email on the contact form. AIMA communicates by email and asks for your own address.[5]
- Arriving without proof of your address. AIMA wants a signed declaration plus the landlord's declaration or land registry certificate.[1]
- Forgetting renewals. The first permit lasts only two years.[1]
Frequently asked questions
How long is a Portuguese residence visa valid?
Four months, with two entries. You apply for your residence permit with AIMA within that period.[6]
My visa has no AIMA appointment. What do I do?
After arriving, use AIMA's contact form at contactenos.aima.gov.pt: choose "Residence Permit" and then "Residence Permit with Consular Visa (Non-CPLP)", enter your passport and visa numbers and attach copies of both.[5][3]
How long is the AIMA residence permit valid?
The first temporary residence permit is valid for two years from the date it's issued, and it can be renewed for successive three-year periods.[1][2]
How much does the AIMA residence permit cost?
AIMA's fee table lists €114.30 to grant or renew a temporary permit, plus a €133.00 reception and analysis fee for many permit types such as the D8. Applications through a digital channel are 25% cheaper.[4]
Sources
Every fact on this page links to one of these. Official = government, consulate or official gazette.
- [1] Autorização de Residência (Regime e Requisitos Gerais) – Art.º 77.º, n.º 1 — AIMA (Portuguese migration agency)Official · checked 31 October 2026
- [2] Residence permit for remote work (digital nomads) – Art. 88.º, n.º 1 — AIMA (Portuguese migration agency)Official · checked 31 October 2026
- [3] Agendamento Online para Autorização de Residência com Visto Consular — AIMA (Portuguese migration agency)Official · checked 31 October 2026
- [4] Tabela de taxas e demais encargos (Portaria n.º 307/2023) — AIMA (Portuguese migration agency)Official · checked 31 October 2026
- [5] Residence visa issued without appointment at AIMA (3 Dec 2025) — Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Portugal), Visa portalOfficial · checked 31 October 2026
- [6] Type of visa – national visas — Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Portugal), Visa portalOfficial · checked 31 October 2026
Immigration rules change often. Always confirm requirements with the consulate or authority that handles your application before you book or pay for anything. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.