AIMA workers are striking for four days starting tomorrow. If you have an appointment this week, it's not happening. It's Sunday, 31 May. Twenty-five degrees. Here's what you need to know.
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AIMA IS SHUTTING DOWN FOR NINE DAYS. IF YOU HAVE A PENDING CASE, READ THIS.
The Union of Migration Technicians (STM) announced a four-day strike at AIMA on June 1, 2, 3, and 5. June 4 is Corpus Christi, a public holiday. June 3 is also the CGTP general strike. Combined with the two weekends on either side, AIMA staff will effectively be away from their desks for nine consecutive days: tomorrow through Sunday June 8.
Nine days. No processing. No appointments. No regularisation. No renewals.
The STM cited "persistent structural problems that seriously affect workers and the functioning of services." The list reads like a summary of every AIMA story this newsletter has covered since launch: degradation of working conditions, increased pressure without additional staff or resources, outsourcing of complex technical functions that should be handled internally, the inability to respond to regularisation processes in any reasonable timeframe, and broken promises from the government about career structures and pay.
The workers are not wrong. AIMA served 771,000 people in 2025, nearly four times its historical annual capacity. The mission structure has processed 525,000 decisions and distributed 458,000 residence cards. The staff who achieved that are the same staff who are now striking because nobody rewarded, reinforced, or even properly acknowledged the effort.
For anyone with a pending AIMA case, the practical impact is immediate. If you have an appointment scheduled for June 1, 2, 3, or 5, contact AIMA to confirm whether it will be honoured. If you were expecting a decision or a card this week, it will not arrive until June 9 at the earliest. If you are mid-renewal and your permit is expiring, the digital signatures acceptance (announced two weeks ago) means you can submit documents online rather than waiting for an in-person slot.
The timing is notable. The AIMA strike overlaps with the CGTP general strike on June 3, which already has CP train workers and SNPVAC cabin crew confirmed. Wednesday June 3 will be the most disrupted day in Portuguese public services this year: no trains, reduced flights, no AIMA, and limited government services across the board.
Bottom line: AIMA is effectively closed from tomorrow through June 8. If you have anything pending, submit what you can digitally this weekend. If you have an appointment, call to confirm. And if you were hoping for progress on your case this week, it's not coming.
⚡ QUICK HITS
The forest clearing deadline is today. Property owners across Portugal had until May 31 to clear brush and vegetation around buildings for wildfire prevention. Fines range from €150 to €1,500 for individuals, up to €10,000 in specific cases. If you own rural or semi-rural property and haven't cleared, you're out of time. Fire season starts tomorrow.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh arrive tomorrow. The royal visit runs June 1-3, marking the 640th anniversary of the Treaty of Windsor (1386), the oldest active alliance in the world. For British readers, this is the most significant royal engagement with Portugal in years.
The Algarve railway electrification is complete. The trains are still diesel. PS MPs are demanding explanations from the government. The infrastructure is certified and ready. The trains running on it still burn diesel.
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We only partner with businesses we think genuinely help our community. If this is useful to you, or if you know someone who's been meaning to learn Portuguese, every click and every share goes a long way to keeping this newsletter free every morning.
🍽️ SPOT OF THE DAY
Between Alfama and the castle, on the steep cobbled street that most tourists walk up without looking sideways, there is a door that leads into a circus school. Behind that door is one of the best restaurant terraces in Lisbon and a story that has nothing to do with food.
Chapitô was founded by Teresa Ricou as a non-profit performing arts association for underprivileged young people. The building houses a school of circus arts, theatre, and performance. Students train here. Shows happen here. And on the terraces that cascade down the hillside toward the river, a restaurant operates that funds the entire operation.
There are three ways to eat at Chapitô. The outdoor esplanada at the bottom is the most casual: a covered terrace with charcoal grill, cold drinks, and one of the most dramatic views in the city, looking out over the Alfama rooftops, the Tagus, and the 25 de Abril Bridge. The petisqueira in the middle serves tapas and small plates. Chapitô à Mesa, the main restaurant upstairs, has panoramic windows, a proper kitchen, and a menu of Portuguese cooking that punches well above what you'd expect from a circus school canteen.
The beef cheeks are the dish most reviewers come back for. The prawn linguini, the pork belly, and the grilled sea bass all get consistent praise. The codfish croquettes are among the best in the neighbourhood. The wine list is short and Portuguese. The caipirinhas are strong.
On most evenings there is live music: fado, jazz, or something you didn't expect. The ground-floor shop sells handmade crafts and jewellery made by the students. The whole place has a warmth and a weirdness that no amount of interior design could replicate.
Costa do Castelo, between Alfama and the castle.
Insider tip: Enter through the shop on the street and go downstairs. Don't try to access from the stairs below. The esplanada is the place for a Sunday afternoon drink with the view. Chapitô à Mesa is the place for a proper dinner. Both are good. They are different experiences in the same building.
📅 WHAT'S ON
Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh visit Portugal (tomorrow, Mon 1 to Wed 3 Jun) 640th anniversary of the Treaty of Windsor.
AIMA Strike (Mon 1, Tue 2, Wed 3, Thu 5 Jun) Four days. Nine-day effective shutdown.
CGTP General Strike (Wed 3 Jun) CP trains and SNPVAC cabin crew confirmed.
Corpus Christi (Thu 4 Jun) Public holiday.
Voces Caelestes (Fri 5 Jun, àCapela, 9:30pm) Brazilian folk songs and American spirituals under guest conductor Mariana Farah. Tickets via Ticketline.
Festas de Lisboa (throughout June) Santo António Parade (Fri 12 Jun). Peak street parties (Sat 13 Jun).
Rock in Rio Lisboa (Sat 20-Sun 21 and Sat 27-Sun 28 Jun, Parque Tejo)
Lisbon Book Fair (ongoing to Sun 14 Jun, Parque Eduardo VII) Free entry.
Out Jazz (Sundays, May through September, various parks) Free.
Todd Webb in Portugal (ongoing, Gulbenkian, through 27 Jul)
From Plate to Print (ongoing, Museu do Oriente, through 9 Aug)
See you tomorrow morning.