How can I apply for asylum in Portugal?

You can apply at:

Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA). AIMA is the public entity responsible for migration, issuing passports and identification documents to foreign nationals, deciding on asylum applications and integration of migrants and refugees. The National Center for Asylum and Refugees (CNAR) is the department of AIMA responsible for the registration and analysis of asylum applications.

If you want to file an asylum application in Lisbon, you can do so at the following address:

Rua Álvaro Coutinho, 14, 1150-025 Lisbon

In other locations, outside Lisbon, contact your local Loja AIMA (local branchas). Find a list of Loja AIMA here.

If you cannot reach AIMA,  you can express your willingness to apply for international protection to any other police authority (they are obliged to convey it to AIMA in 48 hours):

• Public Security Police (PSP)
• National Republican Guard (GNR)
• Maritime Police (PM)
• Any other police force

Can I apply for asylum at the border?

You can apply for asylum at a border post, like an airport, or at the EECIT, which is the migration administrative detention centre located at the airport.

Asylum applications made at the border are most often processed under the Border Procedure. During this procedure, applicants are required to remain at the airport or at the EECIT until a decision is made on their application.

How do I apply for asylum at the border or in EECIT?

To apply for asylum, you must inform the police — either orally or in writing — that you wish to seek asylum. It is important to do this at the earliest possible opportunity.

What will happen next?

After you tell the Police that you want to apply for asylum, they will send your request to the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA). AIMA will register your application and begin reviewing it.

AIMA staff will invite you to  an interview and look at any documents you provide. Based on this, AIMA will decide:

• If your application meets the admissibility criteria, and
• If your claim is well-founded.

Positive decision

If your application is not considered unfounded or inadmissible, you will be allowed to enter Portugal within 7 days of registration (see the section “Regular Procedure” for more details).

After that, you will receive a temporary residence permit, valid for 6 months and renewable for the same period.

⚠️ Important: Being admitted to the procedure does not mean your asylum request is approved. AIMA will continue to examine your case until a final decision is made.

Negative decision

• If your application is deemed inadmissible or unfounded by AIMA, your application will not be admitted to further processing. AIMA will notify you of the negative decision within 7 days.
  • You will not be allowed into the Portuguese territory. You will remain at the airport/EECIT.
  • If you do not agree with the decision, you can file an appeal within 4 calendar days.
  • If you do not have sufficient financial resources, you can access free, state-funded legal aid to file an appeal. CPR can support you in accessing the legal aid system and liaising with your legal aid lawyer. Find contacts to CPR and other legal providers here.
  • During the appeal procedure you will remain at EECIT for up to 60 days (counting from the first day of entry to EECIT).
  • If you do not receive the decision on your appeal within 60 days, you will be allowed entry to the national territory.
• If you do not file an appeal, or if you received a final decision from the court regarding your application,  you may be subject to return.
• If AIMA determines that your case should be analysed by another EU country, the 7 days deadline will be suspended and  the timeframe will depend on the re communication of AIMA with the relevant authorities of that country. This process is ruled by the Dublin Regulation. For more information, check the “Dublin Regulation” section.

No decision

• If there is no decision taken within 7 days, you will be admitted automatically. If  this happens, and you have not received any information from AIMA, you can seek legal counselling (visit the section “Do you need legal support” here for information on free legal counselling) or reach out to AIMA directly.

Once you express your intention to apply for international protection to the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) or any other police authority mentioned above, you will be registered by AIMA through a process called identification.

During Identification:

• Fingerprints will be taken (if you are at least 14 years of age);
• A photo of you and each of your family members will be taken;
• You will need to fill out a preliminary form, which includes information on identification, itinerary, grounds of the asylum application, supporting evidence, and witnesses.

Once your application for asylum is registered, AIMA will issue a Declaration proving the submission of your application for asylum, which allows you to remain legally in the country while the process is ongoing. This document also allows you to work.

You will be interviewed by an employee of AIMA, with an interpreter if necessary, on a date and time that will be communicated to you by AIMA. Note that currently, it is possible that the interview will be conducted on the day of registration.

During the interview, AIMA will ask you questions about:

• your identity (name, surname, date and place of birth, nationality),
• personal situation (current domicile, contact details, education, work, religion, previous residences, languages known),
• your family composition,
• personal history,
• your journey to reach Portugal and
• the reasons for fleeing from your country of origin.

ATTENTION!

• If you do not speak Portuguese, you have the right to be assisted by an interpreter.
• Bring to the interview all documents in your possession that could be useful to understand your situation, including birth, identity and marriage certificates, documents confirming the circumstances and facts on which the asylum claim is based, previous residences and asylum applications, itinerary, etc.
• If you have specific needs do not hesitate to speak to the AIMA officer about them.

Specific needs include situations such as: you are under the age of 18, you are pregnant, you are a survivor of violence or torture, or you are affected by serious disease, etc. – See Can I get special assistance if I have a health problem or other specific needs? for more information.

The interview will also include questions that aim to determine whether Portugal is the country responsible for examining your claim or it should be analysed by another EU country (in which case you will be transferred to that country). This process is called the Dublin procedure. Click here to know more about the Dublin procedure and Dublin Regulation.

After the interview, based on your declarations,  a written report is prepared and shared with you by AIMA. By law, you have 3 working days to present any comments and observations regarding this report to AIMA.

Remember that you can use legal support throughout the procedure. Contact CPR’s legal department to obtain legal support free of charge.