Pre-Court AIMA Legal Intervention
When ordinary follow-ups stop working, we move your AIMA case into a formal legal track before going to court. A Portuguese lawyer reviews the file, identifies the administrative failure and submits the appropriate formal intervention to AIMA.
How our legal service works
Practical legal support in Portugal for international clients.
Portuguese legal expertise
Our Portuguese lawyers provide legal support tailored to each case.
Registered with the Portuguese Bar Association
Our lawyers are fully qualified and registered with the Portuguese Bar Association, operating within the official legal framework.
Structured and controlled process
Each case follows a defined process with clear steps, expectations and ongoing communication.
This is not a status check
If your case is delayed, another email asking "what is the status?" may change nothing.
The purpose of this service is different.
We establish what AIMA is legally or procedurally expected to do, document what has already happened and use the appropriate formal mechanism to require action, correction or a proper response.
The result is a case that has moved from informal chasing to documented legal intervention.
When this service is the right step
Pre-court intervention can be appropriate when:
- your AIMA process has stopped moving;
- the applicable decision period has passed;
- repeated requests receive no meaningful response;
- an administrative error has blocked the file;
- your case appears to have been routed incorrectly;
- AIMA has failed to perform a procedural step required for the case to continue;
- you need a formal response before deciding whether court action is justified;
- you want to create a clear legal record of the authority's inaction.
What we do
Review the complete chronology
We establish what was submitted, when it was submitted, what AIMA has done and what remains outstanding.
Identify the legal and procedural failure
We determine whether the issue is delay, omission, an administrative error, failure to respond, failure to perform a required act or another procedural problem.
Build the evidence record
We organise the submission receipts, appointment records, emails, notifications, screenshots and other evidence needed to show what has happened.
Choose the correct intervention
There is no single letter that fits every AIMA problem. Depending on the case, the appropriate step may involve a formal request, a complaint, an administrative challenge or another available pre-court mechanism.
Submit the intervention
The lawyer prepares and submits the formal communication through the appropriate channel and preserves evidence of submission.
Follow the response
We monitor the result of the intervention and assess any answer received from AIMA.
Define the next step
If the matter is resolved, we confirm what needs to happen next. If it remains blocked, we tell you whether another administrative step or court action should be considered.
Why the legal deadline matters
Portuguese administrative law imposes duties and deadlines on public authorities.
The exact deadline depends on the procedure.
For applications for the grant of a residence permit, the current Foreigners Law provides a 90-day decision period, which may be extended by 30 days in exceptional and duly justified circumstances, including where the case is complex. The applicant must be informed of the extension.
Other AIMA procedures may follow different statutory rules.
We therefore verify the actual procedure before deciding that a delay has become unlawful or choosing the intervention.
Formal intervention before litigation
Going to court is not automatically the first or best step. A well-structured pre-court intervention can:
- put the legal problem clearly on record;
- require the authority to address a specific omission;
- correct an administrative error;
- produce a formal response;
- preserve evidence for a possible later case;
- clarify whether litigation is actually necessary.
It also allows the next decision to be made on evidence rather than frustration.
What is not included
This service does not include:
- court proceedings;
- representation in administrative court;
- a full new immigration application;
- unlimited correspondence with AIMA;
- additional unrelated immigration matters.
If court proceedings become the appropriate next step, we define that separately.
How it works
1. Send us the existing file
We need your application records, AIMA correspondence, proof of submission and a chronology of what has happened.
2. A lawyer reviews the administrative position
We identify the missing act, applicable procedural route and the strongest pre-court intervention.
3. We prepare and submit the formal action
The intervention is drafted in Portuguese and filed through the appropriate official channel.
4. We assess the result
We review the response or continued inaction and tell you the next legal step.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as checking my AIMA status?
No. A status check only asks what is happening. This service is a formal legal intervention designed to require action, correction or a meaningful response.
How long should I wait before taking action?
There is no single waiting period for every AIMA procedure. We first identify the legal procedure and the deadline that applies to it.
Does AIMA have a legal duty to decide applications?
Portuguese administrative law generally requires public authorities to decide matters within their competence. Specific immigration procedures can also have their own statutory decision periods.
Is every delay automatically illegal?
No. The applicable legal deadline, any permitted extension, the state of the file and events attributable to the applicant all matter. We review those points before intervening.
Can you file a formal complaint against AIMA?
Yes, where a complaint is the appropriate legal or administrative mechanism for the problem. In other cases a different formal request or remedy may be stronger.
Does this service guarantee that AIMA will decide my case?
No. What we guarantee is the legal work: proper assessment, a structured formal intervention, evidence of submission and a clear escalation decision if the problem continues.
Is court action included in the price?
No. Court proceedings are a separate service.
What if my case is urgent?
Tell us the exact deadline or consequence when you contact us. Urgency can affect which legal mechanism should be used and how quickly escalation needs to be considered.
Stop chasing the process informally
If your AIMA case is stalled, ignored or procedurally blocked, send us the file.
We will identify the legal problem, choose the correct pre-court intervention and put the case on a formal track.
From €300