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A2 · Elementary

AIMA & Residency Essentials

The formal European Portuguese for your AIMA appointment — document vocabulary, the questions officers ask, and polite formal answers.

📝 Vocabulary

PortugueseEnglishNotes
A AIMAThe immigration agencyAgência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (ex-SEF)
O agendamentoThe (booked) appointment slot
A autorização de residênciaThe residence permit
A moradaThe addressEP word — not 'endereço' in official contexts
O comprovativo de moradaProof of address
O agregado familiarThe household / family unit
O NIFThe tax numberNúmero de Identificação Fiscal
O passaporteThe passport
RenovarTo renew
Os meios de subsistênciaMeans of subsistence (proof of income)

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💡 Grammar Notes

Formal Register: O Senhor / A Senhora

At AIMA, everything happens in the formal register. Officers will say o senhor / a senhora with third-person verbs, and you should answer the same way:

  • "A senhora tem o comprovativo de morada?" (Do you have proof of address?)
  • "Tenho, sim. Aqui está." (I do. Here it is.)

The polite confirmation "Tenho, sim" (echoing the verb + sim) sounds much better than a bare "sim".

The Questions They Ask

Most AIMA conversations are built from a short list:

  • "Qual é a sua morada?" (What is your address?)
  • "Quantas pessoas tem o seu agregado familiar?" (How many people are in your household?)
  • "Tem os documentos todos?" (Do you have all the documents?)

Useful Survival Lines

  • "Pode repetir mais devagar, se faz favor?" (Can you repeat more slowly, please?)
  • "Falta algum documento?" (Is any document missing?)
  • "Quando fica pronta a decisão?" (When will the decision be ready?)

For the full document checklist and what to expect on the day, see our guide to Portuguese for your AIMA appointment.

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