AIMA: an address is no longer just an address
In residence permit applications and renewals in Portugal, proof of accommodation has become one of the most sensitive points — and often one of the least properly prepared. For a long time, many cases were handled with a very simple logic: there was an address, there was a declaration, perhaps even a parish council certificate, and the matter seemed resolved. Today, that is no longer enough. AIMA now requires the declared address to be supported by clear documentation explaining the legal basis on which the foreign citizen occupies that property. In other words: it is not enough to say “I live here”. It is necessary to show in what legal capacity the applicant lives in that property: as owner, usufructuary, tenant, subtenant, borrower under a loan-for-use agreement, or another legitimate situation. What should be presented? As a general rule, there must always be a sworn statement from the applicant, indicating the address where they live and the legal situation that ju...