Until now, this process has been mostly used in court cases. Now, thousands of immigrants in vocational training can apply for residency permits directly through the agency’s contact form.

Even though the system is still being set up, many people are already using this new option. It meets a major need for those who want to legally settle in Portugal without first obtaining a visa.

This new way to obtain residency lets applicants handle the process themselves and uses digital checks. They need to send copies of their passports, proof of enrollment, and tuition payment receipts. The goal is to reduce pressure on the courts and make the process clearer for students.

Courses must be certified by the DGERT (Directorate-General for Employment and Labour Relations). AIMA says it will ignore requests for courses that are not officially recognised. This way, only students in approved programs can benefit.

This change comes at a time of high demand, especially from Brazilian citizens. They can come to Portugal on a tourist visa and then switch to student status through this program.

This is not a change in the law, but opening up these appointments is still important. People choosing technical courses as a way into the job market should be aware of what to expect.

The success of this initiative now depends on how well AIMA manages the new influx of applications. It is important that the digital system does not create new delays in a process that already has many backlogs.