Lawyers say AIMA access is still too limited for complex cases
Portugal’s Bar Association has documented long queues, short appointment windows and inconsistent procedures at AIMA stores. AIMA’s own store directory confirms that lawyer and solicitor arrangements vary by location.
Archived after its publication day. Search retains this original briefing for background and accountability.
Archived 31 August 2026People using a representative should keep a complete case record and agree exactly what can be dealt with in one visit rather than assume the lawyer has a nationwide fast-track channel.
- The Bar Association’s statement records complaints from lawyers; it is not a court finding or a new immigration rule.
- AIMA publishes different lawyer and solicitor hours and limits for individual stores.
- Some locations restrict the number of processes or requests handled in one attendance.
- A client should keep proof of submissions, payments, appointments and unanswered contact attempts.
What the Bar Association found
After a visit to AIMA’s Anjos store, the Ordem dos Advogados listed recurring problems reported by lawyers around the country. These included very long waits, half-hour service windows, limits on the number of files handled and difficulty obtaining a clear, current status for a case.
The statement also described inconsistent procedures between stores and called for a secure platform through which authorised representatives could follow the cases they hold. The organisation says it will continue raising the issues with AIMA in monthly meetings.
What AIMA currently publishes
AIMA’s public store directory lists 35 locations. The lawyer and solicitor arrangements are not uniform: published hours, process limits and certificate-request rules differ from store to store.
That means an arrangement used successfully in one city should not be assumed to apply elsewhere. Check the entry for the exact store and ask the representative what evidence and authority they need before the visit.
Build a file that can survive a delay
Keep the appointment notice, full application copy, payment receipts, postal records, email acknowledgements and screenshots showing the status and date. If an address or contact detail changes, record when and how the update was submitted.
Ask the lawyer what outcome is realistic for the next contact: information, a document submission, a certificate request or a formal procedural step. A clear task list helps prevent a limited service window being spent reconstructing information that could have been organised beforehand.
What you can do now.
- 01
Check the exact AIMA store entry before attending.
- 02
Give your representative one indexed copy of the complete case file.
- 03
Record unanswered contacts and every submission date.
- 04
Ask for the next legal or administrative step in writing.
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