Thank you. I know what it means, but I hadn’t ever noticed it there before. I’m wondering if it is a new UI feature, or reflects some change in my process, or if I just haven’t been very observant 
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I had the same message popping up on my old SEF, later AIMA, page despite having it submitted at the onset. I would disregard it as AIMA does not seem to have robust database and middle tier to properly save the uploaded data, verify its completeness, and appropriately update the client-tier pages. In light of all the latest developments, this should be the least of your worries.
Received my dependent’s card today. 2021 initial application. 2023 biometrics. Lawsuit filed in 2024 but never heard by the court. Date of issue on card is mid May 2026.
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Congratulations! When had you paid DUC?
I’d also like to know when you paid your DUC please?
How did you receive the card? Did you have to go to AIMA to get it?
Paid the DUC through a reference number provided after an email from AIMA in mid April and now lawyer informs me that AIMA asks for the payment again as they do not see my previous payment in their records. Total mess…
Every stage of this process is highly frustrating and keeps me asking myself why I am still in this ridiculous scam…
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I assume we are part of this 30k, although sometimes the Government forgets about GVs, especially w.r.t. AIMA’s “Mission Structure” 
“The only cases still pending within the Mission Structure are 30,000 awaiting a decision on approval or rejection,” said the Secretary of State’s Assistant to the Presidency and for Immigration. He was accompanying the Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, during the latter’s periodic hearing before the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees at the Assembly of the Republic.
According to Rui Armindo Freitas, these are "somewhat more complex cases that require analysis or for the applicants themselves to be contacted."
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I submitted my application in November 2020, gave biometrics in June 2023, and filed a lawsuit at the end of January 2026.
In June 2026, my lawyer met the ARI director at the Lisbon office. After checking the system, she found that my case had been transferred to the Coimbra office. A week later, my lawyer went back to the Lisbon office to check again and was told that, due to a shortage of staff in Coimbra, the case had been transferred again to Braga.
On July 1, I received the final approval notice. Because of an online payment issue, I paid the fees at the Lisbon office on July 3. I am now waiting for the final card to be issued.
And so, a nearly six-year journey has finally reached a milestone. To everyone still waiting through this long and difficult process: hang in there.
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Application : Dec 2022
Lawsuit : Nov 2024
Biometric : Jun 2025
Approval : Jul 2026
How many days they normally take to print and dispatch the cards?
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Did you pay your fees during biometrics (i.e. were you doing biometrics under the “new process“ where you pay the 10k for your final card there, or did you receive a bill for a DUC payment afterwards?). Oh and where’d you do your biometrics?
On a very similar timeline myself just holding my breath over here, trying to get some sense of what to expect 
Under the new process, I paid the fees along with the biometrics
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Nice, same here, i guess it’s not unusual to wait a year after that then, even with the new, supposedly faster process. We got sent to some small town in the Algarve for biometrics, Portimão, so just hoping they aren’t even slower than everyone else:/ anyway thanks for the info!!
Can you explain what you received that indicates “approval “?
Picked up my residency card yesterday from the lawyer. 
Application: Dec 2021
Biometrics: Oct 2023
Final Approval: March 2026
Paid fee / received DUC: April 2026
Received main applicants card: July 2026
Received wife’s DUC: July 2026.
It’s been a long slog but happy to have it because I’ve been living in Portugal since April 2025. I can now commit more to being here. We just need to get my wife’s card now.
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Hi there, congrats! Quick question: does the dependent get their DUC only after the main applicant gets their card? If so, about how long after you received your card did your wife get receive the DUC notification ?
We got the DUC about 3 days before I got my card.
They told us they couldn’t issue my wife’s DUC until my card had been sent to be printed.
My first residence card that I got last week has my lawyers office address on it. Is this okay or is it best to change it to my address in Portugal? I’ll probably be moving within in year so I’m wondering if it is worth it?