There are reports in the Portuguese media that portal for family reunification will start either today (Jan 25) or tomorrow. Initially, it will only be available to families with children aged 5 to 10 and already living in Portugal without documents with their parents. The parents will also have an appointments. First appointment will begin on February 10th. It is pertinent to note that immigrants with a CPLP title and adults without children are also left out at this stage.
The Agency for Migration and Asylum (AIMA) is epxecting to launche this portogal today or tomorrow so that immigrants can make requests for family reunification. With no wide opening of vacancies for over a year, this is one of the measures most awaited by foreigners. In a news interview, the president of the organization, Luís Goes Pinheiro, explained that priority groups were chosen in this initial phase and that there will no longer be a vacancy system. “The race to the portal of who arrives first is over”, he summarized.
At this stage, which excluded residents with a CPLP title, immigrants with children aged between 5 and 10 will be able to make the request, which will cover the entire family. “For example, if the father has a Residence Permit here, but the son and spouse do not, they both receive the document”, explains Pinheiro. When accessing the portal, next to the AIMA website, the foreigner will have to indicate who the appointment will be for.
You must also submit mandatory documents, such as your passport, birth certificate, marriage or civil union certificate and proof of entry into the national territory. The list of requirements will appear on the portal. After placing the order on the website and paying the fee, an email will be sent within a maximum period of 15 working days. There will be two possibilities for contact: to request more documents that may be missing or to inform the date and place for collecting biometric data in person. The first appointments will be on February 10th. The service will be provided at 10 AIMA branches spread across the country, preferably on Saturdays.
“We will have a rotation, always with 10 counters open on Saturdays, a day when it is easier for the whole family to attend”, he points out. In addition to the documentation process, a team will analyze other issues that require support, such as school attendance or social assistance that may be necessary. “We don’t want it to be just a documentary intervention, but to have another type of attention with families”, he argues.
In the next stage, the procedure will be available to children aged 5 to 15 and, subsequently, from 5 to 18 years old. The president explains that the priority was established by the school period.