Renewing your residence card in Portugal, without missing the deadline
Your card expires and life can't stop. We check which AIMA channel fits your case, review the documents and file the renewal for you.
For people who need to keep their document up to date
Card close to expiring
Your card expires in the coming months and you want to renew calmly, without a last-minute rush.
Card already expired
The deadline has passed. It can still be sorted, but the route changes depending on how long ago the card expired.
Your situation has changed
You changed jobs, opened a company, became unemployed or have minor children with their own card. All of this matters for the renewal.
You're thinking about long-term residence
You've lived in Portugal for a few years and want to know whether it's time to apply for a longer-term residence status instead of another standard renewal.
Everything the renewal needs, checked before it's sent
Choosing the right channel
Online portal or in-person appointment. We check which one applies to your card and its expiry date.
Documents reviewed
Employment contract or self-employed activity, Segurança Social (social security), IRS (Portuguese income tax) and proof of address. All checked before submission.
Application and payment
We fill in the form, attach the documents the way AIMA asks and issue the DUC so you pay within the deadline.
Follow-up and a plan B
If AIMA asks for anything else, we reply. If the renewal stalls, our lawyer assesses a defence or the appropriate court action.
Three steps. We keep track of the deadline.
- 01
You send us your card and your situation
With the expiry date and what's changed in your life, we tell you which channel to use and what you'll need.
- 02
We prepare and submit the application
Documents checked, form completed and fee paid. You keep the proof of application.
- 03
Follow-up until the new card
We follow the process, update you on every development and note the date of your next renewal.
The automatic extension has ended. Renewals now follow a calendar.
For a while, expired cards remained valid by an extraordinary government decision. That extension ended on 15 April 2026. If you have a renewal in progress, you prove your legal status with the proof of your renewal application. Today, AIMA uses the Portal de Renovações and opens applications by the month your card expires. As a rule, if your card is valid or expired less than six months ago, you can renew online. Past that limit, you usually need another route, in person. It's no reason to panic: it's a reason to check your card's date today. We confirm which rule applies to you.
What people ask before they start.
How far in advance should I renew my residence card?
Ideally, start a few months before it expires, as soon as AIMA opens applications for your card's month. Leaving it to the last week increases the risk that a document won't be ready in time. We watch for the opening and let you know.
My residence card has expired. Can I still renew it?
In most cases, yes. If it expired recently, you can usually still use the online portal. If it expired longer ago, the route is usually in person and may require more documents. We look at your date and tell you exactly what to do.
How do I renew my residence permit on the AIMA portal?
You log in to the Portal de Renovações with your card details and your NIF (Portuguese tax number), fill in the application, attach the documents and pay the fee with the DUC. Payment has a short deadline once the slip is issued. If you prefer, we do it all for you.
What documents do I need to renew my residence in Portugal?
In general: passport, current card, proof of address, proof of means of support, such as a contract or self-employed activity, and a clean record with Finanças and Social Security. The list changes depending on the type of residence. We put yours together.
I lost my job. Can I still renew my residence?
Being unemployed doesn't automatically prevent renewal, but you need to show you can support yourself. Every case has a way out. We look at your situation and show you yours.
How do I renew my children's residence cards?
Minor children have their own card and their own renewal, usually linked to their parents' card. It's worth renewing everyone together so no one is left behind. We organise the whole family in one follow-up.
I have a CPLP residence permit. Is the renewal different?
The CPLP permit, for citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries, has its own rules and the law has changed in recent years. How you renew and the type of card you receive can differ from a standard residence permit. We confirm what applies to your card.
Can I apply for permanent residence instead of renewing again?
After some years of legal residence, you may be able to apply for permanent residence or long-term resident status, which give more stability. Each has its own requirements. We count your time and tell you whether it's time.
We're with you the whole way.
Residence permit
Your AIMA application, documents, appointments and follow-up until your residence card arrives.
Learn morePortuguese citizenship
Through residence, marriage, children or grandparents: we check your right under the new law and file your application.
Learn moreIRS tax return
File your IRS, the Portuguese income tax return, and register or close self-employed activity with clear guidance.
Learn moreNISS and Social Security
Get your NISS, the Portuguese social security number, and set up Segurança Social Direta without the headache.
Learn moreThere's always a way.
Card about to expire? There's a way, and it starts today.
Send us your card's expiry date and tell us what's changed in your life. We tell you which channel to use, what to prepare and take care of the renewal with you. And we keep the next step in sight: citizenship.