AIMA — the Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo — is Portugal’s main administrative migration and asylum agency. It took over SEF’s administrative migration/asylum functions and functions of the former High Commission for Migration, but it did not simply become “the new SEF”. Police, border-control and some document functions were distributed to other institutions. Knowing that split can save you from contacting the wrong authority.
What is AIMA?
AIMA was created by Decreto-Lei n.º 41/2023. The law states that AIMA succeeds the former Serviço de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras (SEF) in its administrative competences for migration and asylum and succeeds the former Alto Comissariado para as Migrações in the areas transferred to it. AIMA began operating as part of the restructuring that took effect on 29 October 2023.
AIMA is not simply SEF with a new name
The old SEF combined administrative and policing functions. Portugal separated those functions. Under Decreto-Lei n.º 41/2023, administrative responsibilities passed principally to AIMA and the Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado (IRN), while police functions were transferred to the GNR, PSP and Polícia Judiciária. This is why an old article telling you to “go to SEF” may now point to the wrong institution.
| What you need | Likely starting point |
|---|---|
| Residence permits and many migration/residence procedures | AIMA |
| Asylum / international protection administration and migrant integration services | AIMA |
| Visa application before travelling to Portugal | Portuguese consular network / competent visa application channel; check the official visa service for your country |
| EU citizen CRUE for residence beyond three months | Your local Câmara Municipal, not an ordinary AIMA residence-permit application |
| Portuguese nationality/civil registration | IRN / Conservatória, depending on the procedure |
| NIF / tax | Autoridade Tributária / Finanças |
| NISS / Social Security | Segurança Social |
| Police or border-control matter | The competent police/border authority — not automatically AIMA |
What AIMA commonly handles
- Many first residence-authorisation procedures for non-EU nationals.
- Residence renewals where the current procedure assigns them to AIMA.
- Family reunification.
- Residence routes for work, self-employment, study, remote work, highly qualified activity and other categories.
- Residence documentation for qualifying non-EU family members of EU citizens.
- Permanent/long-term residence procedures within its competence.
- International protection/asylum administration.
- Migrant reception and integration functions assigned to the agency.
The exact channel can change. Start from the relevant procedure page on AIMA’s official website rather than assuming every case uses the same appointment or renewal system.
Appointments: check the route before chasing a slot
Do not treat “I need an AIMA appointment” as the first question. First identify the legal procedure. Some residence visas may already be associated with a residence appointment or follow a dedicated channel; some renewals use a specific online process; EU citizens normally obtain the CRUE through the Câmara Municipal; and a visa application abroad belongs to the consular stage. Use the procedure page for your route and keep evidence of bookings, submissions and payment.
Before contacting AIMA
- Identify the exact legal route/article or procedure name.
- Check the live AIMA page for that route.
- Read the document list rather than copying an old SEF checklist.
- Keep passport, visa/residence card and process/application numbers available.
- Keep Portuguese address evidence and supporting contracts/declarations organised.
- Check whether NIF, NISS or health/SNS evidence is required at your particular stage.
- Save PDFs/screenshots/receipts for online submissions and payments.
- If a deadline applies, keep dated evidence that you attempted to comply.
How to contact AIMA
Use AIMA’s current official contact information and the contact or booking channel shown for your procedure. Contact details, service locations and appointment systems can change, so BorderlessAdvice deliberately links to the live AIMA page instead of freezing telephone numbers or office lists into this guide.
Old SEF information: how to read it safely
- If an article says SEF, check its date.
- Use it only to understand historical context unless the current AIMA/IRN/police authority confirms the procedure.
- Do not assume an old SEF form, email address, appointment portal or office remains valid.
- Search the current AIMA site by the legal route or article number; Portuguese immigration procedures often retain legal article references even when the responsible institution or channel changes.
AIMA versus other Portuguese administration
A residence permit does not automatically complete your Portuguese administration. Immigration status, tax registration, Social Security, healthcare and civil registration are different systems. AIMA can be central to your right to reside while Finanças controls your NIF/tax record, Segurança Social your NISS/social-insurance record, the SNS health system your healthcare registration, and IRN civil-registration/nationality matters.
Sources and legal basis
- AIMA: official AIMA website and current contacts.
- Legal basis: Decreto-Lei n.º 41/2023 — Diário da República, which created AIMA and sets out the succession of SEF/ACM functions.
- Consolidated legislation: Diário da República — consolidated Decreto-Lei n.º 41/2023.
- Portuguese migrant services: gov.pt — Migrants in Portugal.
- IRN: Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado.
- Background only: Wikipedia — AIMA. Use for orientation/history only; rely on AIMA and Portuguese legislation for current procedures.
Last verified: 2 October 2026. AIMA’s appointment, renewal and service-delivery channels can change quickly. Follow the live procedure page for your exact residence category before acting.