Application stalled at AIMA: what to do when there is no response

The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) now handles residence permit applications in Portugal, and the volume of pending cases leaves many applicants without any response for months. The delay has real consequences: it complicates travel, contract renewals and access to services. Before taking any step, it is important to gather proof of the application, the case number and the record of previous contacts.

The first route is administrative. It involves checking that the file is complete, answering any requests for documents and submitting formal requests to AIMA asking for information on the status of the application and a decision. In some cases, a missing document or an outdated detail is what keeps the case on hold, and correcting it resolves the situation.

When the administrative route is exhausted without a response within the legal deadlines, Portuguese law provides judicial remedies before the administrative courts. These include an action to compel the Administration to issue the due decision and, in urgent situations affecting fundamental rights, an injunction for the protection of rights, freedoms and guarantees. The appropriate remedy depends on the type of application, the time elapsed and each applicant’s personal situation.

Every case has its own particulars, and the judicial route should be weighed against the documents and history of the file. A prior analysis makes it possible to identify the safest path and realistic timeframes for a decision. This article is for information only and does not replace a legal consultation.