Did you ask AIMA for a residence permit through a vocational (professional) course, and has your course already ended while you still wait for your appointment? AIMA told DN Brasil, in answers published on 3 November 2026, that finishing the course before the appointment does not, on its own, mean your request will be refused. Here is what that means and what to prepare.
What happened
In April 2026, AIMA opened appointment requests for residence permits for students of certified vocational courses, through its online contact form, DN Brasil reported. The course had to be run by a training provider certified by DGERT. According to DN Brasil, AIMA started sending appointments in July, covering more than 20,000 cases, and some appointments are set for the second quarter of 2027. Many students will therefore finish their course before they ever meet AIMA.
AIMA told DN Brasil that “where the applicant met the legal requirements, finishing the course later does not, by itself, lead to the request being refused”. All the other requirements must still be met, and each case is analysed individually. This is what AIMA told a newspaper; it is not an official AIMA notice, and we have not found it published on aima.gov.pt.
Who this applies to
AIMA told DN Brasil that this understanding applies only to cases already in progress or requests submitted before 11 September 2026, when Law 62/2026 came into force. It does not cover requests sent on or after that date. 11 September is the day Law 62/2026 (published in the Diário da República on 10 September) came into force. The law rewrote article 92 of the Foreigners Law: residence permits for secondary-school and level-4 (CITE 2011) students are now granted to people who already hold a residence visa issued under article 62. As DN Brasil explains, a vocational course can no longer be used to get residence from inside Portugal without that visa. Status: Law 62/2026 is published and in force since 11 September 2026; AIMA’s position is an administrative understanding, not a new law.
What you need to show
AIMA’s advice is to prove when you started and when you finished the course. You should be able to show that:
- on the relevant date you were enrolled and attending the course; and
- finishing your studies before the appointment or the decision happened for reasons not caused by you (for example, the long wait for an appointment).
What to do now
- Check your own case with AIMA: this general position does not decide your case. Confirm with AIMA how it applies to your request, through its official channels at aima.gov.pt.
- Ask your training provider for documents now: proof of enrolment with the start date, attendance records, and the certificate or declaration showing when the course ended.
- Keep proof of your AIMA request, including the date you sent it and any emails or appointment messages from AIMA.
- Keep your other documents up to date (passport, proof of fee payments, and anything else AIMA lists for your appointment). The course is only one requirement.
- Do not pay anyone who promises a faster appointment or a guaranteed approval. If your case is stuck, our tool AIMA Stuck? Email Them Free helps you write a clear message to AIMA.
- Planning to come for a course now? You need the right visa from your home country first. See our guide to the temporary residence permit requirements and what Law 62/2026 changed.
Key dates
- April 2026: AIMA opens appointment requests for vocational-course residence.
- July 2026: AIMA starts sending appointments (more than 20,000 cases, per DN Brasil).
- 11 September 2026: Law 62/2026 in force; AIMA told DN Brasil that only cases in progress or requests submitted before this date are covered.
- Up to Q2 2027: some appointments already scheduled.
Sources: AIMA statement to DN Brasil (3 November 2026); DN Brasil (9 April 2026); Lei n.º 62/2026, Diário da República, 10 September 2026.
Featured image: Branded graphic: Link in Portugal (original work; no third-party photos)
This article is general information, not legal advice. Rules change often, and AIMA analyses each case individually. For your own case, speak to an immigration lawyer or contact AIMA directly. Link in Portugal is not affiliated with the Government or AIMA. Last updated: 3 November 2026.
