AIMA Now Requires Immigrants to Declare Their Residence “Under Oath of Honor” in Portugal

AIMA now mandates immigrants in Portugal to declare their residence “under oath of honor.” Tenants and property owners must provide notarized signatures, complicating subletting arrangements and residence permit applications.

AIMA Tightens Residency Proof Requirements for Immigrants in Portugal

The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) has unexpectedly introduced stricter rules for immigrants seeking residence permits in Portugal. Effective Tuesday, August 12, tenants and property owners must now submit a declaration “under oath of honor” with notarized or lawyer-validated signatures to prove legal residence.

Contacted by PÚBLICO Brasil, AIMA did not respond to requests for comment, though this space remains open for official statements.

Real-Life Impact on Immigrants

An immigrant from an African country, who requested anonymity, described his experience at an AIMA office in Vila Real on Wednesday, August 13. Despite presenting documentation from the Tax Authority and Parish Council proving his residency, AIMA demanded additional notarized proof from his rental property, including signatures from both him and the property owner.

At most, the agent indicated that a liability waiver signed by his EU-citizen spouse could be accepted.

Informal Rentals Pose Challenges

Immigration lawyer Luciano Cleistenes warns that these new rules will particularly affect tenants in sublet or informal rental arrangements.

"Many rooms are rented without the owner's knowledge. In these cases, owners won’t sign declarations," he explains.

Cleistenes also notes that notarized documents create additional financial burdens for immigrants, and anticipates that property owners might begin charging fees for signing these declarations.

"We are facing yet another restrictive measure on immigration, and it’s incomprehensible that AIMA discredits documents issued by other public administration authorities," he adds.

Legal Uncertainty Within AIMA Offices

According to immigration lawyer Bruno Gutman, interpretations of the new requirements vary across AIMA offices.

"Each AIMA service location has its own interpretation. Sometimes even employees within the same office have different views, which is detrimental to both immigrants and legal professionals."

This lack of standardization is not unique to AIMA but reflects a broader challenge across Portugal’s public services.

Connection to Tax Authority Enforcement

Fábio Knauer, CEO of Aliança Global Group, highlights that AIMA’s new measures align with the Portuguese Tax Authority’s push to formalize rental contracts.

"Many property owners avoid registering rents to escape taxes. AIMA now requires proper documentation to verify legal rentals, complementing the tax authorities’ collection efforts."

Knauer also notes that AIMA recently flagged over a thousand immigrants registered at the same property, a potential sign of fraud identified through cross-referencing historical applications for legal residence.

Growing Restrictions on Immigration

While the move aims to prevent fraud, Knauer warns that restrictions on foreigners in Portugal may increase.

"Following the Constitutional Court’s overturning of the anti-immigration package, the government may tighten regulations administratively, without needing parliamentary approval," he explains.

For immigrants, these changes mean stricter documentation, higher costs, and potential difficulties in subletting arrangements, an evolving landscape for those seeking legal residence in Portugal.