My lawyer informed me that another client who renewed on 7 Nov 23 as soon as Q4 opened up online received their new AIMA card last week. I also renewed 7 Nov and I’m still waiting for mine, although my card expiry date was later so perhaps AIMA is processing in date order or perhaps that person was faster hitting the send button …who knows. So it seems things are moving, at least for some.
2 Likes
Hi there - I also renewed on Nov 7 (for a card that had expired in Oct) and my card has yet to arrive at my lawyer’s office. Hoping it does so soon!
2 Likes
Ah ok, the client who received theirs was also an October expiry. Mine expired in December. Hopefully we will both have good news soon!
Edit: I should also add that they confirmed their new card validity period started from a couple of days after the renewal lodgment date, presumably when the payment was received by AIMA
2 Likes
So, there is a break between residency (between card validity terms). Does this mean that previous years don’t qualify for the non-interrupted stay anymore when applying for permanent residency or citizenship?
I’ve made it for my 11yo son just as I did for the rest of my family members i.e. online.
2 Likes
No, all expirations were extended by decree through July 2024. There is no break in validity.
No, there is no break, because statute automatically extended the validity until December 31, 2023, and then added another extension to I believe June 2024. So even though the card says a different date, you were still considered a legal resident and therefore that time counts. At least that is my understanding from my lawyer, and also from reading various regulations and trusted news sources.
The extension is not automatically included when applying the citizenship. You still have to apply for one certificate “Contagem do tempo” (in english: counting time). SEF/AIMA will include the break/extension into the certificate. It takes few months to get “Contagem do tempo”. Therefore, unless the gap between cards is 6 months- 1 year, it is not worth the effort getting the certificate.
This is very good information! Thank you for this!
Don’t worry, there is no break in residency for anyone. Everyone with expiries from Oct-Dec 23 was able to renew on 7th Nov 23. New cards seem to all have issue dates from around 10 Nov 23 (presumably when application and payment was processed) no matter if your previous card expired in Oct, Nov or Dec (although I’ll be able to confirm this when I receive my new card replacing a Dec expiry)
Even if there is a break, you don’t need continuous 5 years to apply for citizenship, interpolated periods are fine.
For the purposes of counting the periods of legal residence provided for in this law, the sum of all periods of legal residence in the national territory, consecutive or interpolated, shall be considered, provided that they have elapsed within a maximum interval of 15 years.
3 Likes
Does anyone know what the difference is between acquiring nationality “through effect of will” versus by naturalization? This difference seems to be key to how possible it is for minor children of GV holders to be able to get citizenship.
They are two separate paths outline by the citizenship law: https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/legislacao-consolidada/lei/1981-34536975
Naturalization requires age 18 or older, 5 years residence, A2 Portuguese, clean criminal record, etc.
Secção III
Aquisição da nacionalidade por naturalização
Artigo 6.º
(Requisitos)
1 - O Governo concede a nacionalidade portuguesa, por naturalização, aos estrangeiros que satisfaçam cumulativamente os seguintes requisitos:
a) Serem maiores [18 or older] ou emancipados à face da lei portuguesa;
b) Residirem legalmente no território português há pelo menos cinco anos [5 years residence];
c) Conhecerem suficientemente a língua portuguesa [sufficient Portuguese i.e. A2];
d) Não tenham sido condenados, com trânsito em julgado da sentença, com pena de prisão igual ou superior a 3 anos, por crime punível segundo a lei portuguesa [no major criminal record];
…
“through effect of will” for minors requires age under 18, having a parent who is a Portuguese citizen.
Capítulo II
Aquisição da nacionalidade
Secção I
Aquisição da nacionalidade por efeito da vontade [effect of will]
Artigo 2.º
(Aquisição por filhos menores ou incapazes)
Os filhos menores [under 18] ou incapazes de pai ou mãe que adquira a nacionalidade portuguesa podem também adquiri-la, mediante declaração.
And can be opposed if there is a lack of “connection to the Portuguese community”.
Artigo 9.º
(Fundamentos)
1 - Constituem fundamento de oposição à aquisição da nacionalidade portuguesa por efeito da vontade [effect of will]: a) A inexistência de ligação efectiva à comunidade nacional [lack of connection];
3 Likes
Excellent summary. Worth recalling that naturalisation used to require ‘connection to the national community’, but this was removed from the law in 2006 (though as anonymous69 says, it still exists for ‘effect of will’)
Hi,
The issuing authority might have messed up with the address. I experienced this issue with my family’s cards in January 2023. I sent numerous emails to the SEF’s central office with no success. After a while, I visited the local SEF office in Faro, without an appointment, and sought assistance from a staff member. It turned out that my wife’s and children’s cards were there because CTT had been unable to deliver them to an incorrect address and had returned them to the issuing authority.
My situation was more complex, as my card had been sent to Lisbon. This occurred due to an inexplicable mix-up involving my lawyer’s address in Lisbon and my home address in the Algarve. They suggested I simply wait…
Therefore, my approach was to send the same email to both the central and regional offices of SEF twice a week. In these emails, I detailed my situation and requested help in locating my residence card. I wrote the emails in both English and Portuguese (thanks to ChatGPT). After 1.5 months, I received an email from the Faro office of SEF, inviting me to collect my card.
The lesson here is that the card cannot be lost. If it is not delivered, it will be returned to the issuing authority. You might find my tactic of persistently emailing them effective. Sooner or later, it should yield results.
Unfortunately, I can’t assist you with the email addresses, as they were likely changed following the reorganisation of SEF.
1 Like
Thank you for sharing this story. I’ve been biting my nails for two months wondering what will happen to my card if something goes wrong with the delivery. But, as chance has it, I was advised early this morning that it has finally arrived. Whew!
2 Likes
It is possible to change address during autorenewal. However, statistics among friends shows that in 50% or even may be 2/3 cases cards are sent to the old address, despite change. And of course, the old wrong address is printed on the card in this case. Which requires appointment at AIMA for the change of the address!))
Good news! I just received my new AIMA card from a Q4 2023 renewal. I renewed the same day as everyone else, Nov 7th, but my new card issue date is Nov 15th 2023 (w/ 2 year validity), so a few days later than those posting above, but weeks earlier than the previous card’s Dec 2023 expiration date. Now waiting for Q1 2024 to open for spouse renewal.
7 Likes
My lawyer also received mine today - exactly the same: a Nov 7th application and new card issue date of Nov 15 2023. Relief!
6 Likes
Great news! 
We too are waiting for spouse’s 1qtr 2024 expiration renewals to open… would appreciate you letting us know if you hear anything. Will do the same here. 
3 Likes