AIMA Portugal: Which Documents Don't Need Translation

You’re standing in line at AIMA with a folder full of documents, and someone tells you that half of them didn’t need translation at all. You’ve already paid €200 for tradução certificada. To make sure you don’t end up in that situation, let’s break down exactly which documents AIMA accepts without translation - and which ones you’ll need to pay for.

What AIMA Is and Which Languages It Accepts¶

AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo - Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum) is Portugal’s immigration authority that replaced SEF in 2023. This is where you submit documents for your residence permit, permit renewals, family reunification, and other immigration procedures.

Since January 2025, AIMA officially accepts documents in 4 languages without translation:

For Ukrainians, this means most documents from Ukraine - birth certificates, criminal records, diplomas - need to be translated. But there are exceptions that can save you a decent amount of money.

Documents That DON’T Need Translation¶

Even as a Ukrainian citizen, you can submit several documents to AIMA as-is.

Biometric Passport¶

Your biometric passport doesn’t need translation. AIMA reads the data directly - name, date of birth, nationality. Just submit the original. Don’t waste money translating your passport - it’s one of the most common mistakes people make.

Documents Issued in Portugal¶

Everything you’ve received in Portugal gets submitted as-is:

• NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal - tax identification number) - already in Portuguese
• NISS (Número de Identificação de Segurança Social - social security number) - mandatory for all applicants since April 2025
• Portuguese bank statements
• Rental contract (if signed in Portuguese)
• Health insurance from a Portuguese provider
• Tax clearance certificate from Finanças

These documents are already in the system, already in Portuguese - no translation needed.

Documents in English, French, or Spanish¶

If you have documents in any of these three languages, they don’t need translation either:

• Health insurance from an international provider (if the policy is in English)
• Bank statements in English (from an international bank)
• English-language diplomas or certificates (IELTS, Cambridge, international programs)
• Employment references from international companies in English

Tip: if you can get a document issued in English instead of Ukrainian, it’ll save you translation costs. Some banks issue statements in English on request.

Documents That DO Need Translation¶

Here’s the full checklist of Ukrainian documents that need translation for AIMA:

Pay special attention to the criminal record certificate - only 3 months validity. Given that AIMA queues can stretch to 3-6 months (especially in Lisbon and Porto), it’s very common for this certificate to expire before your appointment. You’ll need to order a new one and pay for translation again.

One expat shared on a forum: “Got my criminal record certificate, paid €40 for translation, got the apostille. Four months later my AIMA appointment came - certificate already expired. Had to redo everything and pay twice.”

How Translation Works in Portugal: Tradução Certificada¶

Portugal doesn’t have “sworn translators” like France or Spain. Instead, it uses a different system - tradução certificada (certified translation).

Here’s how it works:

1. A translator translates your document into Portuguese (or English - AIMA accepts both)
2. A lawyer (advogado) with notarial powers or a notary (notário) certifies the translation with their signature and seal
3. The document becomes legally valid

The lawyer confirms the translation is accurate and complete. Their signature is the guarantee for AIMA. You can find a lawyer through the Ordem dos Advogados (Portuguese Bar Association) or through translation agencies that offer a full package - translation plus certification in one go.

Another option is the Associação Portuguesa de Tradutores (APT), Portugal’s translator association. Through them you can find a translator with experience handling Ukrainian documents.

How Much Does Tradução Certificada Cost¶

Ukrainian-Portuguese is a rare language pair, so there are fewer translators and prices are slightly higher. A workaround: sometimes it’s cheaper to translate through English as an intermediate language (Ukrainian → English → Portuguese), since there are far more English-Portuguese translators available.

For a preliminary translation - to understand what’s in your documents and prepare the right package - you can use ChatsControl. AI translation in minutes helps you figure out the contents, then order the final certified translation from an official translator or lawyer.

Apostille: Getting the Order Right¶

Simple rule: apostille first, then translation. Never the other way around. The translator needs to translate both the document and the apostille stamp - that’s what makes the whole package legally valid.

Ukraine and Portugal are both members of the 1961 Hague Convention, so you don’t need complex consular legalization. An apostille is enough.

Where to get an apostille in Ukraine:

• Birth certificate, marriage certificate - Civil Registry (DRACS) or Ministry of Justice
• Criminal record - Ministry of Internal Affairs
• Diploma / school certificate - Ministry of Education

Cost: free or up to 300 UAH (~€7). Timeline: 1-10 business days depending on the authority.

Some translation agencies in Lisbon offer a full-cycle service: they coordinate the apostille in Ukraine, do the translation, and get it certified. Very handy if you’re already in Portugal and can’t visit Ukrainian offices in person.

Temporary Protection: Simplified Rules for Ukrainians¶

If you came to Portugal under the temporary protection program (proteção temporária), document requirements are simpler.

For temporary protection registration, you need:

• A valid passport or other identity document
• For children - a birth certificate
• For spouses - a document proving the relationship

Here’s the key part: during temporary protection registration, AIMA may accept documents even without translation or apostille. If all you have is your passport - that’s enough to start the process. They don’t take your documents away, just scan them.

But when you transition from temporary protection to a full residence permit (like a D7 visa or work permit), you’ll need the complete package with translations and apostilles.

Temporary protection has been extended until March 2026 per the EU Council decision. As of 2024, over 61,000 Ukrainians registered in Portugal through this program.

Common Mistakes to Avoid¶

1. Don’t translate your passport. AIMA reads it without translation. That’s €40-60 saved right there

2. Watch the criminal record expiry date. 3 months goes fast when AIMA queues are what they are. Order it as late as possible in the process

3. Don’t confuse notarized translation with Tradução Certificada. A notarized translation done in Ukraine isn’t recognized by AIMA. You need a certified translation verified by a Portuguese lawyer

4. NISS is mandatory since April 2025. Without it, your application won’t even be reviewed. Apply for NISS as soon as you arrive

5. Complete package upfront. AIMA no longer accepts incomplete applications. Missing a document at your appointment? They’ll send you back to reschedule

6. Apostille before translation. Always. No exceptions. Otherwise the translation isn’t valid

FAQ¶

Does AIMA accept documents in English without translation?¶

Yes. Since January 2025, AIMA officially accepts documents in Portuguese, English, French, and Spanish without translation. If your document is already in English (an international certificate, bank statement from an English-language bank) - no translation needed.

How much does it cost to translate Ukrainian documents for AIMA?¶

A single document (translation + lawyer certification) costs €40-105 depending on type and length. A standard package of 3-5 documents for a residence permit runs €150-350. Ukrainian-Portuguese is a rare language pair, so prices are slightly above average.

Does Portugal accept notarized translations from Ukraine?¶

No. AIMA requires tradução certificada - a translation certified by a Portuguese lawyer (advogado) or notary (notário). A notarized translation from Ukraine has no legal standing in Portugal.

Do all documents for AIMA need an apostille?¶

Not all of them. An apostille is required for official documents issued outside Portugal: birth certificates, marriage certificates, criminal records, diplomas. It’s not required for passports, bank statements, health insurance policies, or documents issued in Portugal (NIF, NISS).

How long is the wait for an AIMA appointment in 2026?¶

In Lisbon and Porto - 3 to 6 months. In smaller cities (Braga, Aveiro, Faro) - faster, sometimes 2-4 weeks. Since 2025, AIMA requires a complete document package at the time of application, so start gathering documents at least 4-5 months in advance.