How to Call AIMA in English — Portugal Immigration Line
Numbers checked against official sources: July 2026.
AIMA replaced SEF as Portugal’s immigration and asylum agency. Its phone line is the most contested in the country: everyone is calling about appointments, residence-permit renewals and application status. Expectations matter — here is what the line can actually do.
Quick answer
AIMA contact centre — weekdays 8:00-20:00
English? The contact centre generally handles English — immigration is their daily business. The hard part is getting through at all: call at opening time and expect redials.
Numbers to call
| What for | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AIMA contact centre (information, status questions) | 217 115 000 | Weekdays 8:00-20:00; expect long holds |
| Alternative line | +351 965 903 700 | Same hours |
| Appointments (not by phone!) | contactenos.aima.gov.pt | Official contact form; fallback e-mail [email protected] |
| Current contacts & online services | aima.gov.pt | Official site — numbers and channels change, check before calling |
Before you call: have this ready
- Your passport number and, if you have one, your residence permit or application/process number
- Your NIF
- The exact thing you need: an appointment, a renewal, a status check — the agent will not browse your file for you
- Pen and paper: reference numbers given on this line are your only proof the call happened
What to expect on the call
- Getting through is the bottleneck — lines are busiest mid-morning; opening time and redialling persistently work better.
- Appointments are NOT made by phone: booking goes through the official contact form (contactenos.aima.gov.pt) or automatically inside your case on the official portals. AIMA explicitly warns against paid "intermediaries" who promise phone bookings — those are scams.
- The centre can inform, but it cannot speed up a pending process — asking for status is fine, asking for miracles wastes your slot.
- Write down the agent’s name and any reference number before hanging up.
Frequently asked questions
Does AIMA speak English on the phone?
Generally yes — the contact centre deals with foreigners all day and handles English. The real difficulty is reaching an agent at all; persistence and calling right at opening time help.
What number do I call for AIMA?
The AIMA contact centre is reachable on 217 115 000 on weekdays. Numbers and channels have changed several times since the SEF transition — verify the current number on aima.gov.pt before calling.
Can AIMA’s phone line book me an appointment?
No — AIMA states that appointments are not made by phone through the contact centre. Booking requests go through the official contact form at contactenos.aima.gov.pt (or e-mail [email protected]), and some appointments are assigned automatically inside cases on the official portals. The phone line is still worth calling to confirm the current procedure for your case type — and beware of paid "intermediaries" promising phone bookings; AIMA warns those are scams.
Can someone call AIMA for me?
Yes. CallBehalf phones AIMA on your behalf, survives the hold queue, asks about your appointment or process in Portuguese or English, and reports back with the outcome and a transcript. The first demo call is free.
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CallBehalf is not affiliated with AIMA (immigration). Phone numbers and procedures change - when in doubt, double-check on the official site (aima.gov.pt). Spotted something outdated? Tell us at [email protected].