Submitting GV Application via AIMA?

Residencies & citizenships Portugal Golden Visa 🇵🇹
,
1

Hi everyone,

I’ve made it this far in the Portugal Golden Visa process completely solo—no legal representation or immigration consultants involved—and I’m now at the point where I believe I’m ready to submit my application through the AIMA website (formerly SEF).

So far, I’ve:

  • Acquired my NIF
  • Opened a Portuguese bank account (used Bison Bank)
  • Subscribed to a GV-eligible investment fund (found through NomadGate)

But now that I’m on the AIMA portal, I’ll admit that I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed by the interface and I really don’t want to mess up at this stage. I’d be super grateful if anyone could walk me through:

  • How exactly to navigate the AIMA site to submit the GV application
  • What documents I’ll need to upload, and in what format (Are scans of certified documents enough, or do I need to ship hard copies anywhere?)
  • If there are any common pitfalls or mistakes I should avoid

Also, two bonus questions:

  1. If I decide that this part is more headache than I want to deal with, is it possible to have someone else (like a friend, spouse, or even a paid assistant) submit the application on my behalf? Do I need to issue a power of attorney, or is it as simple as giving them my login?
  2. Once the application is submitted, are there any follow-up steps I should be preparing for in advance?

I’ve been digging through older threads, but with AIMA being the new system, I figured it might help to ask fresh. If anyone has submitted their own application recently and is willing to share insights (or even screenshots or a mini walkthrough), I’d owe you big time!

Thanks so much in advance for any tips, and wishing everyone good luck on their own GV journeys!

1 Like
2

Just making sure, you’re aware of the huge backlog and general uncertainties? Likely 3+ years to first visa?

I don’t know enough to help with the other stuff, but figure it’s worth asking

3

yeah. Thankfully I am not in a rush, but thanks for letting me know!

4

Several of us did it in 2021.
SEF is now AIMA, but the information to submit is the same.

It can be done either (1) by asking someone you trust to help (ideally your lawyer as lawyers have special privileges in relation to AIMA), and add your email access as the main applicant while you set up the application (see SEF ARI Portal - Did you register yourself or just let lawyer handle this? ), OR (2) by the applicant setting up the application and adding the lawyers’ contacts (HOWTO: SEF Account setup to allow your lawyer AND you to access the account ).

In both cases, everything is visible to the applicant and lawyer, and the applicant gets an email from SEF for appointments, payments etc.
But joint access can only be set up before the GV application is made.
Make sure that you have the bona fide originals of what you submit online. You will need to provide the originals to AIMA later. Every document that is submitted to AIMA as a period of validity (e.g. 3 months for criminal background, 6 months for marriage certificate). So keep track of periods of validity after you submit as you will need valid certificates at biometrics (whenever that occurs). The initial submission does not require the apostilled police records, but you will need them later.

If you do not speak/write in Portuguese, I advise getting a lawyer. Begin to use the search function as there are several recommendations of lawyers used by others.

5

Not that I’ve found PT lawyers to be amazing, but they are useful. Here’s someone else’s experience from this year… have a read of the whole thread above it too:

6

Not entirely true.
The option where the applicant registers by himself first, then submits the application, and only after adds the lawyer’s email, works fine.
Speaking from my own personal experience.

7

Hmm. I did same as you, and added my lawyer, but before application submission.

That way, as applicant, I had the senha/code given by SEF/AIMA. Otherwise, as you know, the applicant cannot access the website, and is dependent on the lawyer.

But your point that the lawyer can be added later, stands. And is relevant to the OP.

1 Like