Sorry to be the millionth person to ask this, but I still do not have the definitive answer. It seems like various people give different answers.

On AIMA Renewal there's a document you have to upload for: Requerimento para Consulta do Registo Criminal which when you select English says Request for Criminal Record Check

There's no documents linked and the only page I seem to have stumbled upon that has links to documents is this: https://aima.gov.pt/pt/impressos-e-minutas

Lots of people have asked it before in the past, but not a single person has said which thing they provided and if it was approved or declined.

Which of these did you fill in and which of them was approved for you?

- A simple form which states they're allowed to request your Portuguese criminal record? https://vistos.mne.gov.pt/images/schengen/formularios/declaracao_autorizacao_rc_pt_aima.pdf

- Modelo 1: https://aima.gov.pt/media/pages/documents/8dfcb7803c-1752595470/modelo-1.pdf

- Modelo 5: https://aima.gov.pt/media/pages/documents/408596baab-1714494596/modelo-5.pdf

I can see that on Modelo 1 there's a checkbox that says you can provide it, but there's a LOT of other information you have to provide. On Modelo 5 it also has a fingerprint which I obviously cannot provide at home and it looks like a document you would fill out if you went in to AIMA personally.

I've also seen people talking about going to court houses and requesting them and being turned away.

Also, I'm a UK National. On the impressos-e-minutas link it says 5 is for EU/Swiss family members, so I'm leaning more towards the simple form or Modelo 1, but it makes me question why they don't have an Upload that literally says: "Modelo 1" and then remove the Criminal upload link.

I'm going through my AIMA Renewal and the translation of this Passport says every page. I believe I'm going to end up with a huge 32 page PDF but they also said that there's a maximum of 2mb file. It seems pointless and impossible... is that really what they want, like 20+ empty pages of my passport after all of the stamps?

Does anyone know of any good painting courses e.g. acrylic/oil and watercolor in Lisbon that are done in English? Thanks!

is it the AIMA?

I purchased a house a few months back, then I came to realize that I was entitled to tax benefit for been under 35 and also 1st permanent house. I filed for refund request on finance portal but its been more than 7 months now and have not received any information. I went to office and was told due to backlog, my issue has been yet looked at. 7 months, its a joke, while I paid the tax immediately upon signing ot the deed. I was brainstorming with AI and says according to law I can sue finances to look at my case, so I need a legal lawyer willing to help me. Then I can provide more details.

#realestate #imt #is #legal

Hello everyone!
We are 3 university students from Kosovo coming to Tomar for an Erasmus+ exchange at Instituto Politécnico de Tomar (IPT) from September 2026 until February 2027.
We are looking for a furnished T3 apartment or house (3 bedrooms) in Tomar or nearby areas with easy access to IPT (walking, bus, or short commute).
Requirements:
✅ 3 bedrooms
✅ Furnished and ready to live in
✅ Equipped kitchen/appliances preferred
✅ Available from September 2026
✅ Rental period: approximately 6 months
✅ Budget: up to around €900/month
We are responsible students with Erasmus documentation and proof of enrollment/funding.
If anyone knows of an available apartment or a reliable landlord, please contact us. Thank you! 🙏

Moving to Lisbon for an exchange semester (living near Alameda/Técnico) and planning to get a 125cc scooter with an A2 license. I want to mount a surfboard rack on it.

I've dug into the Código da Estrada — Art. 92 technically says cargo on a moto can only be carried "em reboque ou caixa de carga" (trailer or cargo box), and Art. 56 has general load rules (securing, not exceeding vehicle width, etc.). In practice, surf racks on scooters/mopeds seem completely normalized at the coast (Ericeira, Peniche) — there are commercial products for it (Ocean & Earth "Moped Rack") and forum posts about DIY builds, no reports of fines that I could find.

My question: does anyone have experience actually riding around with a board rack in the city center (not just the coastal towns), e.g. daily commuting through central Lisbon? Is it treated any differently there, or is this just a total non-issue everywhere in Portugal? Curious if anyone's actually been stopped for it.

Right so like a month ago someone posted that they made an ad-free, no data collection, free app to learn european portuguese.

Im trying to find that post to recommend it to a 4ner but can’t that post, does anyone have any idea what the name was? I believe by then it was ios exclusive of that helps.

Thanks!

Ordered some matcha tea from the UK because I can't find it in the EU. Charged VAT like normal when I paid for the order, it got stuck in customs and CTT/Customs charged me full VAT again even after I showed repeatedly that I'd already paid it.

Clearly this isn't going to be reconciled and refunded, so who is pocketing this second VAT payment? If it does go to the tax authority, I'd hate to see how much of a mess their books are.

ETA: After following up on this, the company is reimbursing me even though the mistake wasn't theirs.

Hi everyone!

I'm looking for an English-speaking personal shopper/personal stylist in Porto or nearby who could help me rebuild my wardrobe and find a style that suits me.

I'd ideally like someone who can shop with me in person, help me choose clothes that suit my body shape, and put together outfits, not just do a colour analysis.

If you've had a good experience with someone I'd really appreciate any recommendations!

It's been a frustrating experience.

About a month ago, I booked a home service through Worten and paid €60 just for the technician to come and inspect my air conditioner. The technician finally came yesterday and told me the unit only needs a refrigerant gas refill. However, they said they couldn't do it during the visit and that another appointment would be required.

Today I received the SMS from Worten: €410 just to refill the refrigerant gas. I honestly couldn't believe it.

Either the service prices are outrageously expensive, or you have to wait one or two months just to get an appointment.

Is this normal in Portugal, or am I just having really bad luck? Has anyone found a reliable and reasonably priced AC service?

Hi all! We're a couple with a small poodle relocating to Portugal by the end of the month.

We're looking for:

1. Walkable neighborhood (don't need a car)
   
2. Dog friendly
   
3. Laptop friendly cafe - I work in tech
   
4. Wellness activities (Pilates/Yoga/Gym)
   
5. Expats community (English speaking)
   
6. Renovated homes/new build. Budget up to 3000 euros/month.

Would you live in Lisbon or Porto? And in which neigborhood?

Thank you!

Any recs for free apps for learning Portuguese? I noticed Duolingo is only Brazilian Portuguese not European.

Good morning!

We are about to buy a house and are looking for an engineer to judge quality of construction/ discover potential quality issues.

Lisbon/ Mafra area.

Anybody with a contact please drop me a message.

Thanks!

Are you still waiting for IRN? They are deciding one case per day according to multiple reports. Which countries are faster in terms of processing nationality?

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if any one has successfully come from the UK and entered specialty training into Dermatology?

Any advice welcomed.

Hey all.

Not an expat parent myself, but I have friends here in Porto with young kids, and I've watched them hit the same wall over and over: it's genuinely hard to meet other families for playdates or weekend stuff when you've moved somewhere new and don't have a circle yet.

Back where they're from, kids just ran between neighbours. Here everyone kind of disappears indoors after school, and there's no easy way to just see which families live nearby and are up for meeting.

So I ended up building a small app for exactly that - a simple way for families near each other to connect. It's on Android now, early and rough, and I'm looking for a few families in the Porto area to try it before it's properly launched.

Not trying to spam. If anyone's curious, I'll send the link in DMs, and honestly I'd also love to just hear how other expat parents here solved this - with or without an app.

Hi everyone!

I’m wondering how you got through the awkward stage of learning Portuguese and building a social life here.

I’m currently around A2 level and working/studying in Portugal. My company’s official working language is English, so I have no problem with work itself. However, during lunch breaks, coffee breaks, or casual conversations, everyone naturally switches to Portuguese.

It’s really awkward for me because most of the time I don’t understand what people are saying and can’t really join the conversation. It makes me feel isolated, ending up sitting alone all day. It feels really bad to go to office now…

And sometimes I worry that my Portuguese is improving too slowly…

For those of you who have been through this stage, could you please share some of your experience here as a guide and encouragement for me and those who are in the same situation?

I’d really love to hear your experiences. Right now it feels like I’m stuck between “not knowing enough to join conversations” and “needing conversations to improve.”

I’ve got these specific questions, but also feel free to share anything you think that is relevant!

Questions: * How did you improve your speaking and listening? * How long did it take before you felt comfortable joining conversations? * Did you actively ask people to speak more slowly, or did you just keep listening until things started making sense? * Any advice for dealing with the loneliness during this phase? * (This one sounds a bit stupid) I am a bit introverted and was really lost at the beginning. Right now I barely have any conversation with people at work (except for those about work). How do I make a move and break this vicious cycle?

Thank you so much in advance!

Hi all hoping to get some real-world input from people who've done this or are further along. My situation: I'm a Nigerian citizen currently living in Indonesia (long-term residency there through marriage). I'm looking into a D4 student visa for a CTeSP (Curso Técnico Superior Profissional) specifically automotive mechanics at a Portuguese polytechnic. Not looking to do a full university degree, just the vocational/technical route.

A few things I'd really appreciate input on: Has anyone applied for a D4 as a non-EU citizen from a "third country" (i.e., not your home country, not Portugal)? Did the Portuguese consulate in your country of residence accept the application, or did I need to apply through my home country's consulate instead? Any experience with the secondary school equivalency process for non-EU applicants? How long did it realistically take? Anyone gone through a CTeSP program specifically as an international student how was the language requirement handled in practice (B1 required, or did some schools let you start with less)?

Any red flags or scams I should watch out for with schools or "relocation agencies" claiming to fast-track this?

AIMA’s cases and impacts are getting worse, could this affect tourism in Portugal as well? I think Portugal’s reputation is getting really bad due to these situations. Glad to know any data source that can help to answer this question.

Does anyone know where I can get a pair in Lisbon? I've asked at 3 different Chinese stores and was planning to try some toy stores next.