Since 11 November, AIMA’s Contact Form can be used to request a family reunification appointment for family members living outside Portugal. Until now, this online route was only available for family members already in the country.
Residence permit holders in Portugal now have a single online channel to request the appointment, wherever their family is. Anyone who has already applied through another route should not apply again.
What Changes
The Contact Form now offers two appointment options, depending on where the family members are:
- Family members outside Portugal: Subject Type “Reagrupamento Familiar” › Subtype “Pedido de Agendamento – Reagrupamento Familiar FORA de Território Nacional”
- Family members in Portugal: Subject Type “Reagrupamento Familiar” › Subtype “Pedido de Agendamento – Reagrupamento Familiar EM Território Nacional”
These two options replace the former Family Reunification Portal for new requests.
The new options are for those who hold a valid residence permit or have a renewal application pending, and who have not yet submitted, through another channel, a family reunification request for the same family members.
How to Submit a Request
The request is submitted by the residence permit holder. AIMA asks applicants to:
- fill in the details of the permit holder and of each family member;
- attach, for each family member, the documents listed in the form;
- submit only one request for the same family members;
- check, before submitting, that the option chosen matches where the family members are.
If You Have Already Applied
If you have already requested reunification for the same family members – through the Portal, the transitional regime form or the courts – do not submit a new request. AIMA warns that duplicate requests compromise the review and delay every case.
The Background
Since Portugal’s Foreigners Act was revised in October 2025, family reunification rules have become stricter. As a rule, the permit holder must have held a valid residence permit for at least two years. The two-year period does not apply to dependent minor or incapacitated children, to a spouse or equivalent partner who is, together with the permit holder, the parent or adoptive parent of a dependent minor or incapacitated child, or to family members of holders of a residence permit for investment (ARI/Golden Visa), for teaching, highly qualified or cultural activity, or of an EU Blue Card. The period is 15 months for a spouse or equivalent partner who lived with the permit holder for at least 18 months immediately before the holder arrived in Portugal. AIMA has nine months to decide, a period that may be extended in more complex cases.
In recent months, AIMA has prioritised requests for family members already in Portugal, particularly families with minors. Up to September, around 26,000 residence permits had been approved through this route. The new option extends the online channel to families still living abroad. It is one of several features AIMA has been adding to its Contact Form: in early November, the form also began accepting appointment requests for permanent residence.
What to Consider
- The appointment is only the first step. The substantive requirements remain: proof of family ties, accommodation and means of subsistence. For family members abroad, once the request is approved, they apply for a residence visa at the consulate and, once in Portugal, for their residence permit.
- Golden Visa families. AIMA’s notice makes no reference to the family reunification procedure for ARI *(Autorização de Residência para Investimento)* holders, which is available on the ARI Portal.
- Timing. The new channel makes access easier, but response times will still depend on AIMA’s appointment capacity.
How VCA can help
This change matters to anyone living in Portugal with a residence permit who wishes to bring their family, including Golden Visa investors and their families. VCA closely follows the development of AIMA’s procedures and is available to assess each case, from choosing the right channel to preparing the documentation.
