Proof of Accommodation in Portugal for AIMA: Complete Guide 2026

🏠 Proof of Accommodation • ZR Lawyers

Documents required by AIMA, declaration template and practical guidance for 2026, based on official guidance and the March 2026 FAQ

What should I present as proof of accommodation at my AIMA appointment? This is a question we answer on a regular basis. Proof of accommodation is one of the requirements that has generated the most divergence, both among immigrants and between different AIMA offices, in relation to immigration procedures in Portugal, particularly in residence permit applications and renewals before AIMA.

Through this guide, we explain in practical and up-to-date terms — based on our more than six years of experience in immigration law and regular accompaniment of clients at AIMA — which documents may be presented, what has changed with AIMA's most recent guidelines, and how to prepare documentation in the safest possible way.

This guide was prepared by lawyers who regularly accompany residence permit applications, renewals and AIMA appointments, based on applicable legislation, the official guidelines published by the Agency, and the administrative practice observed at different AIMA service counters.

Quick answer: what documents should I bring to prove accommodation at AIMA?

As a general rule, proof of accommodation before AIMA must include a sworn declaration (declaração de compromisso de honra) of the residential address, accompanied by documents proving the legal status of the use of the property.

Depending on the case, the applicant must present a permanent property certificate (certidão predial permanente), a lease agreement with the previous month's rent receipt, a loan-for-use agreement (contrato de comodato) with a permanent property certificate, a tax domicile certificate (certidão de domicílio fiscal) issued less than 30 days ago, or documentation issued by the educational institution, in the case of students.

When the applicant is not named in the lease or loan-for-use agreement, AIMA requires a personal declaration under sworn oath and criminal liability for false statements, in addition to the tax domicile certificate.

Summary of documents accepted by AIMA

Applicant's situation	Main documents
Property owner or usufructuary	Sworn declaration and permanent property certificate
Tenant	Sworn declaration, lease agreement in the applicant's name, and previous month's rent receipt
Loan-for-use (comodato) occupant	Sworn declaration, loan-for-use agreement, and permanent property certificate
Applicant not identified in the agreement	Sworn declaration with criminal liability, tax domicile certificate issued less than 30 days ago, and property owner's details
Student	Documentation issued by educational institution, school agreement with private entity, or university residence certificate, as applicable

What are AIMA's recent guidelines on proof of accommodation?

AIMA published guidance on proof of accommodation on 29 November 2025 and again systematised these requirements in its responses to frequently asked questions, published in March 2026.

These guidelines aim to clarify the documents required for situations of property ownership, usufruct, tenancy, loan-for-use, student accommodation, and cases where the applicant does not appear directly in the agreement.

According to the AIMA FAQ published in March 2026, proof of accommodation must be accompanied by a sworn declaration of the residential address, mentioning the legal situation underlying the right to use the property, together with the documents corresponding to each situation.

Variation between AIMA offices

Despite the existence of these guidelines, the practical application of the requirements may vary depending on the AIMA office responsible for the appointment, the type of procedure, and the applicant's specific situation. For this reason, particular care is recommended when there is a discrepancy between the tax address, the actual residence, and the documents relating to the property.

What are the current rules on proof of accommodation?

Despite the most recent guidelines, there is considerable uncertainty about who must sign the accommodation declaration and, in many cases, a declaration from the landlord or property owner with notarised signature is required.

However, currently, in accordance with the official guidelines, proof of accommodation must be accompanied by a sworn declaration of the residential address, mentioning the legal situation underlying the right to use the property — that is, whether the applicant is a property owner, usufructuary, tenant, or loan-for-use occupant.

Main positive change

The most recent guidance has ceased to require, as a general rule, a declaration from the landlord or property owner with a notarised signature. However, it now requires a more detailed declaration from the applicant, including information about the address, the legal basis for residing in the property, and, in certain situations, criminal liability for false statements.

Warning: divergence between AIMA offices

As noted, each AIMA office has been applying the requirements in a divergent manner. Therefore, if attending alone, you may be required to present additional documentation beyond what is set out in the official guidelines, or alternatively, present the guidelines themselves and insist on the acceptance of the documents. If accompanied by a lawyer, consult your lawyer in advance about the practice of that specific AIMA office, in order to reduce the risk of additional requirements at the appointment.

What documents should I present as proof of accommodation?

The documents required depend on the applicant's specific situation. AIMA distinguishes, in particular, between situations of property ownership or usufruct, tenancy, loan-for-use, student accommodation, and cases where the applicant does not appear directly in the agreement.

I am a property owner or usufructuary. What document should I present?

When the applicant is the owner or usufructuary of the property where they reside, they must present the access code to the permanent property certificate or a valid physical certificate.

AIMA's objective appears to be not only to confirm ownership or the right to use the property, but also to allow analysis of the accommodation conditions, including the number of declared residents per dwelling.

Although AIMA expressly mentions the permanent property certificate, the property register certificate (caderneta predial) may eventually be submitted as a substitute document. However, for safety, if not accompanied by your lawyer, present the permanent property certificate, as it may be expressly required.

To request a permanent property certificate: conservatoria.justica.gov.pt

I have a lease agreement. What document should I present?

When the applicant resides in a rented property, they must present the lease agreement in their name, accompanied by the rent receipt for the previous month.

Although the AIMA FAQ expressly refers to the lease agreement in the applicant's name and the previous month's rent receipt, we always recommend also bringing the proof of contract registration with the Tax Authority (Autoridade Tributária).

In practice, the rent receipt registered with the Tax Authority will only exist when the contract has been duly communicated to the Tax Authority (Finanças). Therefore, presenting proof of registration can help avoid doubts during the assessment of the application.

Corporate landlords

If the landlord is a company, there may be no electronic rent receipt on the Tax Authority Portal in the same terms applicable to individual landlords, and an invoice may instead be issued through the e-Fatura system.

I have a loan-for-use agreement (comodato). What document should I present?

In cases where the applicant resides in the property under a loan-for-use agreement (contrato de comodato) — that is, a free-of-charge permission to use the property — they must present the loan-for-use agreement and a valid permanent property certificate. We recommend that the property owner's signature be notarially recognised.

The property register certificate (caderneta predial) may also be submitted as a complementary document, but, for safety, the permanent property certificate should be preferred wherever possible.

What if my name is not on the lease or loan-for-use agreement?

This is one of the most important aspects of AIMA's recent guidelines, and one of the situations that has generated the most practical uncertainty.

For example, this situation may arise when the applicant is a child, spouse, or family member of the property owner and lives with them, or when the applicant is a child, spouse, or family member of the tenant and resides in the same accommodation.

In such cases, when the applicant is not identified in the lease agreement or loan-for-use agreement, they must submit a personal declaration under sworn oath and criminal liability for false statements, as the simple template available on AIMA's website does not include all elements required for these specific situations.

This declaration must state that the applicant actually resides at the address, the land registry description number of the property, the legal basis under which they reside there (namely, tenancy or loan-for-use), and the full name and NIF or NIPC of the property owner who granted the property for accommodation.

Tax domicile certificate must be recent

In addition, if the applicant is a tax resident in Portugal, a tax domicile certificate (certidão de domicílio fiscal) issued by the Tax Authority less than 30 days ago must be presented, clearly identifying the applicant's tax domicile. This requirement makes it particularly important that the tax address is up to date and coincides with the actual residence declared before AIMA.

How can I obtain the tax domicile certificate?

The tax domicile certificate (certidão de domicílio fiscal) can be obtained through the Tax Authority Portal (Portal das Finanças).

The indicated path is:

Access the Tax Authority Portal

Navigate to Obter Certidões

Select: Os Seus Serviços / Obter Certidões / Efetuar Pedido

Save the document

Once issued, the certificate must be saved as a PDF. In some cases, when saving the document, it may be necessary to manually change the file extension from .action to .pdf.

Validity deadline

The certificate must have been issued less than 30 days before the date of submission or presentation of the application to AIMA.

Accommodation declaration template

AIMA provides a simple accommodation declaration template. However, for certain situations — particularly where the applicant is not named in the lease or loan-for-use agreement — that template does not include all required elements, namely the express reference to criminal liability for false statements. The applicant must therefore adapt the declaration to their specific situation, including the required elements: identification of the declarant, residential address, legal status underlying the use of the property, supporting document, confirmation of actual residence, and declaration under sworn oath with reference to liability for false statements.

We provide a practical accommodation declaration template for presentation to AIMA, which we use with our clients.

ACCOMMODATION DECLARATION

I, [FULL NAME], of [NATIONALITY] nationality, born on [DATE OF BIRTH], in [PLACE OF BIRTH], holder of passport no. [NUMBER], issued by [ISSUING COUNTRY] on [DATE OF ISSUE] and valid until [DATE OF EXPIRY], [holder of residence permit no. [NUMBER], issued by SEF/AIMA on [DATE] and valid until [DATE]], holder of NIF [NIF], declare, under sworn oath, that I reside as [OWNER / USUFRUCTUARY / TENANT / LOAN-FOR-USE OCCUPANT] in the property located at:

[ADDRESS], parish of [PARISH], municipality of [MUNICIPALITY], district of [DISTRICT], registered at the Property Registry Conservatory under no. [LAND REGISTRY DESCRIPTION NUMBER], [identification of supporting document — e.g.: permanent property certificate, lease agreement, rent receipt, loan-for-use agreement], owned by [NAME OF PROPERTY OWNER, IF THE APPLICANT IS NOT THE OWNER OR USUFRUCTUARY], holder of NIF/NIPC [NIF/NIPC OF THE OWNER, IF APPLICABLE].

I further declare that the aforementioned property is intended for my own permanent residence, and that this is the location where I actually reside in Portuguese territory.

I declare, under sworn oath and in full awareness that I may incur criminal liability for false statements, that the content of this declaration is true and that it is prepared for presentation to AIMA — Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo, for the purpose of proving my residential address.

[LOCATION], [DATE IN FULL]

_________________________________
[SIGNATURE AND NAME OF DECLARANT]
[CAPACITY]

Do I need to update my address before renewing my residence permit?

If you have moved and need to update your address before renewing your residence permit, you should also consult the specific AIMA information on change of address.

This update may be relevant before the renewal, particularly when the tax address, the actual residence, and the address associated with the residence permit do not match.

The official AIMA information on this procedure is available on the page on change of address before renewal of residence permit.

I am a student. How can I prove my accommodation?

AIMA's guidelines provide for specific situations for students attending vocational, secondary, or higher education.

If there is a lease agreement concluded between the school and a private entity, a copy of that agreement may be presented, accompanied by a certified statement individually identifying the students who actually reside in the accommodation, if such individual identification does not appear in the agreement itself.

If there is no lease agreement in place, a declaration from the educational establishment may be presented, under sworn oath and duly certified, attesting to the individual residence of the student or students, as well as the legal situation underlying the use of the property.

In this case, a certificate issued by the Tax Authority, dated less than 30 days ago, clearly identifying the student applicant's tax domicile, must also be attached.

If the student resides in a university residence, they may present a certificate from the higher education institution attesting that the student applicant is entitled to accommodation.

AIMA provides an accommodation declaration template on its website: AIMA accommodation declaration template

Wherever possible, it is recommended to adapt the declaration to include all elements required by the most recent guidelines, particularly the reference to criminal liability for false statements where applicable.

Are certificates from the Parish Council (Junta de Freguesia) accepted?

No.

AIMA has expressly indicated that certificates issued by Juntas de Freguesia are not accepted as proof of accommodation.

Therefore, even if the applicant is able to obtain a residence certificate from the Parish Council, that document should not be used as the main proof of accommodation before AIMA.

Does AIMA assess the number of residents at the same address?

Yes.

AIMA's guidelines state that the number of declared residents per accommodation will be assessed.

This means that, in addition to verifying the formal existence of a contract, certificate, or declaration, AIMA may evaluate whether the number of persons associated with the same address is compatible with the conditions of the property.

This assessment may be particularly relevant in shared accommodation, rented rooms, student residences, or situations where several applicants indicate the same address.

Practical recommendations

When in doubt, it is advisable to present more complete documentation.
The applicant should keep copies of all documents submitted to AIMA.
Use recent certificates and confirm that the tax address matches the actual residence.
Before renewing the residence permit, verify whether it is necessary to notify AIMA of a change of address in advance.
Ensure that the sworn declaration contains all required elements.
Verify consistency between the agreement, rent receipts, tax domicile certificate, declarations, and all other documents presented.
When the applicant is not named in the agreement, when the tax address does not coincide with the actual residence, when there is shared accommodation, or when there are doubts about the sufficiency of the documents, we recommend consulting a lawyer.

Frequently asked questions about proof of accommodation at AIMA

What is accepted as proof of accommodation by AIMA?

The proof of accommodation required depends on the applicant's specific situation. In general, a sworn declaration of the residential address must be presented, mentioning the legal situation underlying the right to use the property (owner, usufructuary, tenant, or loan-for-use occupant), accompanied by the appropriate documents. Depending on the case, these documents may include a permanent property certificate, a lease agreement with a rent receipt, a loan-for-use agreement with a permanent property certificate, documentation issued by an educational institution for students, or a tax domicile certificate when the applicant is not named in the agreement.

Does the accommodation declaration need to be signed by the landlord?

Under the most recent guidelines, the rule has shifted to focus on the applicant's own declaration, accompanied by documents relating to the property and the legal status of the right to use the accommodation. However, in specific situations or in the face of different administrative practices, it may continue to be prudent to obtain additional documentation from the landlord or property owner, particularly if the case is not straightforward or if the applicant is not named in the agreement. In such cases, it is advisable for the signature to be notarially recognised.

What if my name is not on the lease or loan-for-use agreement?

If your name is not on the lease or loan-for-use agreement, you must submit a personal declaration, under sworn oath and criminal liability for false statements, stating that you actually reside in the property, the land registry description number, the legal basis under which you reside there, and the property owner's details. You must also present a tax domicile certificate issued by the Tax Authority less than 30 days ago. As a precaution, we recommend presenting a document issued by the property owner or landlord authorising residence in the property, with a notarially recognised signature, as well as proof of ownership.

Is the Parish Council (Junta de Freguesia) certificate accepted?

No. According to AIMA's guidance, certificates issued by Juntas de Freguesia are not accepted as proof of accommodation.

How recently must the tax domicile certificate have been issued?

The tax domicile certificate must have been issued less than 30 days before the date of submission or presentation of the application.

What documents must property owners or usufructuaries present?

Property owners or usufructuaries must present the access code to the permanent property certificate or a valid physical certificate. They may, as an alternative, present the property register certificate (caderneta predial), but its acceptance will depend on the assessment of the competent service, since AIMA's guidance expressly refers to the permanent property certificate.

What documents must tenants present?

Tenants must present the lease agreement in their name and the rent receipt for the previous month. As a precaution, we also recommend presenting proof of registration of the agreement with the Tax Authority, wherever possible.

What documents must loan-for-use (comodato) occupants present?

Loan-for-use occupants must present the loan-for-use agreement and a valid permanent property certificate. We recommend that the loan-for-use agreement include the property owner's notarially recognised signature.

What documents must students present?

Students may present documentation issued by the educational institution, a certified declaration from the school or university, an agreement concluded between the institution and a private entity identifying the students accommodated, or a certificate from the higher education institution in the case of a university residence. Where there is no lease agreement in place, a certificate issued by the Tax Authority, dated less than 30 days ago, clearly identifying the student applicant's tax domicile, must also be attached.

Can AIMA refuse applications with many people at the same address?

AIMA has indicated that it will assess the number of declared residents per accommodation. Therefore, situations with many persons associated with the same address may be subject to additional assessment.

Should I still present proof of contract registration with the Tax Authority?

Yes, wherever possible. Although the AIMA FAQ expressly refers to the lease agreement in the applicant's name and the previous month's rent receipt, proof of registration of the agreement with the Tax Authority continues to be a useful document to demonstrate the regularity of the tenancy.

Should I update my address before renewing my residence permit?

If you have moved, you should verify whether it is necessary to notify AIMA of the change of address before renewing your residence permit. AIMA provides specific information on this procedure: aima.gov.pt — change of address

Official basis for this guide

This guide was prepared based on AIMA's official guidance on proof of accommodation, the accommodation declaration template provided by the Agency, the responses to frequently asked questions published in March 2026, and the official information on change of address before renewal of the residence permit.

Sources and useful links

ZR Lawyers — Immigration and Nationality Law

ZR Lawyers is a law firm with an exclusive focus on immigration and nationality law, based in Lisbon. We support individuals and families in procedures before AIMA, from document preparation to representation at appointments, where applicable.

Schedule a consultation to assess the documents required for your specific case.