I wonder at the time of applying for citizenship, one must be in possession of valid residency or no, despite that waiting time can be counted as residency. I lean towards the answer yes. Some even claim that before reaching the stage 5 (7 stages in total), a valid residency is required.
BTW, has anyone heard that at the moment, all citizenship proceedings based on article 6.1 (5-year residency) is suspended awaiting the new Minister of Justice’s approval ? This is almost an official announcement rather than a speculation.
My card is going to expire in early Q3. Under my research, it is OK to renew card within 6 months before the date of expiry. I’ve contacted my lawyer asking about the possibility to file lawsuits now against AIMA for not letting me renew it. The response of the lawyer is that by law one must renew within 30 days before the date of expiry. For now, we only write formal email to AIMA. If they do not reply anything 30 days after the expiry, we will be able to file a lawsuit. So, I am 200% eager to file the case. Just cannot wait for it 
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My card expired on May 7, and my lawyer told me there are no available online appointments. Am I in trouble?
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My card expired in March and still no renewals
Decisions on all processes except direct descendants of portugues citizens are suspended at the moment because the new government has not signed required authorizations to IRN. However, the processes are not stopped. They are just not granting decisions if the process reached stage 6. Authorizations will likely be signed in 1-2 months period for sure.
Well, untill recently 40-60 thousands of people with sproced naturalization have been waiting until new automated system which creates records in registry starts working. Some of them from June 23. Nobody cared.
This suspension is critical only for those who is already at stage 6.
It is also well known yhat IRNs do not update statuses/(bolinhas) and also move everything to new system.
It says that this page is under maintenance…
Did you successfully proceed for your renewal?
I heard from someone that now the system has gone back to the SEF portal (not AIMA portal). Is that right?
Therefore, I clicked “Renovação automática” at the SEF portal and typed my Número do Título de Residência for AUTENTICAÇÃO.
Then, I get the message, O título de residência que possui não permite a utilização da funcionalidade “renovação automática”.
The expiry of my card is August. Is it too early OR should I keep calling the indicated phone numbers?
I suggest to remain calm and trust informative and accurate posts by reputable members of the community.
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UPDATE: This is apparently not for ARI visa holders. I am still trying to verify this.
Any update if online renewal is for GV
My lawyer confirmed that the newly-resumed online renewals of residency are, as is too often the case, not applicable to ARI visas. I am actually living in Portugal full-time, now with an expired residency card. Meanwhile, I’m experiencing the consequences. Since my lawyer is rather unsympathetic and useless and refuses to share my AIMA login with me, I am seeking ways to go around her and try to get a renewal appointment. The few avenues to try this (Siga, and Livro Amarelo) have slammed shut for anyone in any visa category seeking renewals. But as AIMA and IRN problems pile up–close to half a million pending residency applications, while at the same time, around 15% of AIMA’s workforce has announced their intentions to quit–we Golden Visa holders keep getting shoved farther and farther back in the queue.
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During the most recent automatic renewal (before this one right now), GV was included and GV holders were allowed to renew automatically. Not sure why your lawyer is being an a$$h@le like this. If I were you, I would ask the lawyer about submitting a lawsuit to get an appointment for renewal. Since you are living full time in PT, 100% you will win the case. It takes times and money, but it will progress. If you do not act anything, who knows what is going to develop. I am very close to your situation (card expires in Q3) and I am well prepared to file lawsuit…
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The latest update from our lawyer was that there are no appointment and they are waiting to hear from AIMA what the procedure will be.
What happens after June 30 when our status is expired but there is still no renewal appointment? Does this count against us, or will it be forgiven since it’s the government’s fault?