Edge International is my lawyer and advised the same thing so we are both paying the fees and both attending at the same time in hopes they will process my spouse at same day/time of my January 23rd appt in Cascais.
Aloha Everyone:
Just finished my biometrics appointment with AIMA this morning (My application date was June 2022) at the Lisbon AIMA location at Av. António Augusto de Aguiar 20.
IMPORTANT:
AIRPORT ENTRY STAMP
When coming through passport control at the Airport a) make sure to get your entry stamp, and b) make sure that DATE of the stamp is clearly visible and that it is the correct date including the year! My stamp was hard to see and it looks like the year was still set to 2025 on the actual stamp. But the AIMA clerk let it pass. Check your stamp at arrival. We saw people go through passport control that didn’t get a stamp. Don’t do that! Don’t forget!
AIRPORT TIMING
As for wait time, we had no wait. We made it through entry passport control with no line. This was on a Saturday at 1:30 PM from a flight from the USA. But, we were the first off the plane, we only had carryon baggage and we walked fast to passport control.
APPOINTMENT SUMMARY:
1. APPOINTMENT: Just finished my biometric interview in Lisbon. Our lawyer basically did everything. My appointment was at 9:00 and we were done by 10:00. This was very fast according to the attorney. We waited for about 30 minutes in the waiting area for our number to be called and then 30 minutes with the clerk. They just verified all information and paperwork, then asked me to do photo and finger prints. If your appointment is later in the day, be prepared for longer wait times - especially after lunch.
2. BACKGROUND CHECK: They did ask for my updated background check (FBI for USA Applicants). NOTE: even though I sent our new FBI check 3 weeks ago to our attorney the office didn’t have it in my files and AIMA didn’t have the new one in the system yet. I brought a copy off all my documents with me just in case and gave our attorney the updated report and we gave this to the AIMA clerk. That said, I’m not sure if I didn’t have an updated and appostilled report if that would have been an issue or not. At a minimum, I would suggest having a new report even if you don’t have time getting it appostilled.
3. PAYMENT: I transferred the payment to our attorney’s account last week and they paid. This was seamless and while we have other credit cards in Europe and USA - we felt this was the safest way to make sure there were no hiccups at payment.
4. RECEIPTS: Make sure to get a copy of the receipt of payment and a copy of receipt the AIMA Request for Portuguese Residence. They will give those to you or the attorney when everything is finished. The lawyer will take them and will scan and email a copy - but I highly suggest that you take a photo of both before the lawyer leaves with them. That way you are 100% sure you have a copy of proof of payment and approval for residency.
5. NOW WHAT: They should send the actual residency card to Lawyers office within 90 days. But based on other reports, it may take unto 6 months.
6. DEPENDENTS: Our attorney says the understanding he has is that dependent applicants will be assigned their appointment dates in the first 6 months of this year for the second six months of the year. So, for example, appointment dates assigned before July, for dates August - December. Apparently there are 30,000 dependents that they need to schedule.
7. WHAT ABOUT THE LAW? Attorney says there still may be a chance that they include a grandfather clause when the law gets resubmitted. Nothing will happen before January 27th. Apparently CHEGA not happy that they Constitutional Court didn’t approve the clause that Citizenship holders that violate the law can lose Citizenship so they may sit out on voting for the law at all. TBD. Attorneys are pushing for grandfather clause to either a) have all grandfathered into the current law, or b) just allow date to start at application submission but with the 10 years.
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Did they ask for original of the updated background check you submitted in 2025 or a fresh background check from the past 90 days?
Thank you for that comprehensive update. My application was also filed in June 2022. I arrived in Lisbon Saturday late afternoon, and my AIMA appointment (principal applicant) is tomorrow, the 13th, at 2:30. I had the same surprising experience with passport control. Thanks to you, I checked my airport entry stamp, and found it to be very faint, although the year, to my eyes, is legible. I have my boarding pass, of course. My attorneys updated my FBI apostille in February, 2025, but I too went ahead and did another, more recently (December). I have the original with me as I don’t know whether my attorneys submitted the newer one or not, or whether an updated one will be required. Best of luck to you moving forward!
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“They did ask for my updated background check (FBI for USA Applicants)”
Per the WhatsApp group messages, multiple folks have stated that they were simply asked to provided the original of the “updated” fbi check resubmitted electronically by your attorney in early 2025. Just to clarify…you were asked for a completely fresh check? If so, do you know why that was required?
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Please check with your attorney. As for me, today… they asked for an updated FBI check - that had been done within the last 90 days before the appointment. They didn’t ask for an original - but I had my original of new check I did in December and had apostilled… so since my attorney failed to pre-upload it to the system, AIMA clerk scanned it right then. (She was very nice FWIW). I like to be fully prepared. I also had a copy of every other GV-related document with me. No chances. So, my advice to friends going through this process is to have a new FBI check done prior to their appointments - even if they don’t have time to get it apostilled.
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Will they meet you in Cascais? Also do you need an updated police clearance certificate?
Primary appointment in Cascais today. Called into office about 40 minutes after the scheduled appointment time. The documents that weren’t uploaded in advance were scanned at the appointment. Finished the appointment in half an hour.
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Appointment Report:
Jan 13, 11:30 appt, AIMA Lisbon.
Original Application Date: Jan 2023
Docs Refreshed: Jan 2025
I showed up early, had a coffee up the street. Much construction going on in front of the office. I saw people showing phones or documents to the security guy out in front. At 11:25 I showed my appt email (fwd from my lawyer) to the security guy, he motioned me inside. Immediately, I felt I was teleported to the waiting room of a DMV office in California or DPS offices in Texas. 100% the same. So if you have been to those places in the USA, set your expectations.
I saw they were calling numbers, B0015 and so on. My lawyer Txt she was coming, but still a few minutes away. I noticed the desk and went up, showed her my appt email as well. She asked for my passport, looked me up and and gave me ticket number D0036 and a form (which my lawyer actually already had filled out).
Lawyer shows up at 11:35, I proudly show my worth thus far, getting in and having a ticket. The waiting room is filled with people speaking english and telling stories. About 45 minutes later, D0036 was called and we went to Desk 8.
I had Apostilled docs from the Jan 2025 doc refresh, (FBI check and copy of SSN card). My FBI check apostille was from Jan 26, 2025. Lawyer took those while in the waiting room, and added to my folder. Last week my lawyer asked for a complete Passport scan, all pages including blanks. Also, I was warned about “proof of entry to Portugal” but I had driven to Portugal from the UK, entering Schengen Zone in France. Lawyer asked for LeShuttle and hotel receipts from my road trip to PT. I expect that was all part of all the other docs my lawyer had in the folder handed to the AIMA clerk. I just supplied the US Passport on request.
A few minutes go by and I get sent to the Biometrics machine. It takes a picture, does finger prints of index fingers and takes a signature. Next is payment, they ask what credit card I have, as some cards don’t work. I paid with a Millennium BCP Debit Card, quick and easy. Then my lawyer says I can back to the waiting room while they scan some stuff.
Maybe 15 more minutes later, lawyer exits, hands my back passport and Apostilled Docs, and receipt. She did not have the other “Proof of Application” doc handy, but assured me a scan will be emailed soon. I have had no lawyer issues, so I feel good there.
All together maybe 90 minutes total. Again, very much like getting a Drivers License in USA.
Lawyer would not comment on when dependents get appointments or when the card will show up. I am sure they have been burned before there.
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Super smooth today in Cascais. 12:30 appointment, fingerprints at 12:41 out the door at 13:00. Main applicant only.
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Good day everyone - thank you to the original author and others updating. Very comprehensive. Mine’s in March so this takes some of the trepidation off.
Had my appointment at Cascais today - main applicant only. Arrived at 9:45, met our attorney at 9:55, who then obtained a ticket from the security guard. We were called back at 10:40. Our attorney stayed in the room where all of the processing occurs while I waited in the small waiting room. My biometrics (picture, index fingerprints, and signature) were complete at 10:49 and we left at 11:06. Received the cofirmation of biometrics and payment receipt. One hour and twenty minutes all-in.
Edit: No updated criminal background report was requested/required during the appointment. I brought the previously apostilled one with me.
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I too had my appointment at AIMA Cascais today January 14. Arrived on time for 11:30 am appointment with the young associate from our law firm, got our ticket, called in at 11:42 am. I sat in the waiting room for a couple of minutes while the associate took my passport with him and went to speak with the processing agent in the cramped room where there are about 6 agents at work. Didn’t have to wait long at all to be called in for biometrics then waited maybe 5 minutes to be called into pay (used a debit card from a Portuguese bank). The agent processing the paperwork was very kind, polite and spoke English. Out the door at 12:04 pm. So under 30 minutes from the time we were called in. We stayed at the Cascais City Beach Hotel around the corner. Nice enough though rooms could never warm up sufficiently. Next up, my dependent later this year. Looking forward to those dependents updates from everyone. 
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Hi - Just curious if your dependent has been given an appointment yet?
No. Our lawyer says perhaps we will hear by June for their appointment in the latter part of the year.
No - our attorney advised it could be anytime or AIMA may wait until issuance of the primary applicant’s card. Nobody has definitive answers at this point unfortunately.
Ok thanks that’s what I was told as well. Have you been told if it’s all dependents in one appt or could they all be random as well? For example, a spouse and two children?
We just had our primary´s appointment on the 13th. Today I checked the portal and it says the status is: ¨Transferido SIISEF¨ (¨Transferred¨ in the English translation page.) Can anyone tell me what that really means in terms of the process?
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Thanks everyone for the detailed reports, much appreciated. I notice most of them have been in Cascais, which is where I’m scheduled too. Good to know it’s going smoothly (other than the first day). Oh, and a small tip: make sure your stamp has dried out before closing your passport.
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