Eligibility Quiz
Are you currently in Portugal or at a Portuguese border point?
Application Process
Applying for international protection in Portugal is a two-phase process managed by the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA). You must start this process as soon as possible after arriving in the country.
Phase 1: Expression of Intention and Admissibility
In this stage, the authorities determine if Portugal is the correct country to handle your claim.
- Submit your Request: You must express your intention to seek asylum. You can do this at any AIMA office, specifically at a Centro Nacional de Apoio à Integração de Migrantes (National Center for Support to Migrants - CNAIM). If you are at the border, you can apply with the border authorities. If you are already inland, you can also notify the PSP (Police) or GNR (Security Force), who will refer your case to AIMA.
- Registration: AIMA must register your application within 3 working days. You will be photographed and fingerprinted.
- Receive your Provisional Document: Once registered, you will receive a Declaração Provisória (Provisional Declaration). This document proves you are legally in Portugal while your case is pending. It is usually valid for 30 to 90 days and must be renewed before it expires.
- Admissibility Decision: AIMA has 30 days to decide if your claim is "admissible." If you traveled through another "safe" EU country first, they may try to transfer your case to that country under the Dublin Regulation. If you are from a country on the EU Safe Country of Origin list (such as India, Morocco, or Tunisia), your case will face an accelerated review with a higher burden of proof.
Phase 2: The Merits Phase
If your case is admitted, the authorities will look at the specific reasons why you cannot return home.
- The Interview: You will be called for a detailed interview with an AIMA official. You have the right to an interpreter. You must present all your evidence here, including identity documents and any proof of the danger you face (letters, reports, or news articles).
- Proposal of Decision: After the interview, AIMA will issue a "proposal." You have exactly 10 working days to submit written comments or corrections to this proposal.
- Final Decision: The Ministry will make the final choice to grant either Refugee Status (5-year residency) or Subsidiary Protection (3-year residency).
Fees
The entire application process for international protection in Portugal is free of charge.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Application Filing | €0.00 |
| Interview and Processing | €0.00 |
| Provisional Declaration | €0.00 |
| Total Estimate | €0.00 |
Does not include: Costs for certified translations of personal documents, professional legal fees (if you hire a private lawyer instead of using free legal aid), or travel costs to AIMA appointments.
Processing Time
While legal deadlines exist, actual wait times are currently longer due to high application volumes.
- Registration: Within 3 working days of your first request.
- Admissibility Decision: Officially 30 days, but currently takes 2 to 4 months.
- Final Decision (Merits): Legally required within 6 months, but current backlogs mean the total process often takes 18 to 24 months.
- Document Validity: Your Declaração Provisória (Provisional Declaration) is typically valid for 30 to 90 days and must be renewed repeatedly until a final decision is reached.
- Strict Deadlines: If you are filing a "subsequent application" (a second claim after a first was rejected), you must submit all new evidence within 5 working days. Failure to meet this deadline results in immediate rejection.