You’re very lucky. My husband’s card renewal at AIMA, October 2025, still hasn’t been updated by the system. The system continues to show the previous year as completed. I’ve submitted a problem report but haven’t received a response.
I got the same issue. Where/how did you submit a problem report?
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Here’s the thread for CMD:
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Based on this new AIMA tracker feature - does anyone have a situation where the status shows the card was issued, the CTT tracking number is shown, but no update after that? And the CTT tells me nothing was sent under that tracking number..
I selected the “Report a problem” option in the AIMA contact form.
The image shows the process from the previous year.
I did exactly this for one of my dependents and I have not received any response since March 2026…
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Thank you. It turns out CMD stands for Chave Model Digital. I wish I had known this sooner, before my Golden Visa expired. Now I guess I should take the time to go to Loja do Cidadão to register for Chave Model Digital with my passport and AIMA card renewal papers to see if it works.
yes, it did work for me in the same situation, they issued a CMD based on my foreign passport and expired GV card with renewal receipt.
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I didn’t have high hopes for this either, but it was one way to try. I waited for hours at AIMA, but ridiculously, there was no AIMA department in charge of the Golden Visa; all I got was “I don’t know.” They said the Golden Visa was top secret. It’s ridiculous! 
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Surprisingly, I was at Loja de Cidadão to get my CMD. Everything went very smoothly; I only needed my passport and residence permit (although it had expired), and I didn’t even need to show my AIMA receipt. I made a CMD for the whole family in 15 minutes.
Update on my family’s online ARI renewal timeline:
My main ARI renewal application was submitted on 25 February 2026. The applications for my family members were opened and entered processing in early May 2026. Today (29 July 2026), my application and all of my family members’ applications were updated simultaneously to “Consulta UCFE.” I hope this timeline is helpful for others following the new online ARI renewal process.
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Hello, when I log in to the new portal to follow the renewal procedure completed in person in November 2025 in Lisbon and Coimbra for my dependents (my wife and two children), I get an error! However, when I log in with my primary applicant information, I get the correct information. Has anyone else experienced this issue? Thank you.
message aima.pdf (291.0 KB)
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Yes, I had the same error initially, then a few days later it worked but only showing the very old data for the first GV card. Perhaps they will eventually update with the renewal process data.
I have a question about how early one could and should apply for renewal. Within 60 days before the expiry of current card is OK? or Within 90 days?
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As soon as possible…
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I remember my lawyer telling me that I should renew my card 3 to 6 months before my old one expires. Later, I stopped using lawyer services and always renewed my family’s cards 6 months before they expired. However, AIMA always let the old cards expire a long time before issuing new ones. Provided you can prove that you attempted to contact AIMA between 3 and 6 months before the card expired. For me, the sooner it’s done, the better.
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Thanks Maria and @InvestVG-PT !
I think I will follow 90 days rule. I feel that if we apply 5-6 months before the expiry of current card. AIMA might put us to the back of the queue because they think that our card still have a long validity. We know that it usually takes more than 5-6 months for AIMA to send out the renewal card to us. Also, I really want the renewal card to have a starting date after the expiry of the current one. If we apply to early, there is a risk that the renewal card has a starting date before the expiry of the current one. I know it is not really a big deal, just a few days or a few weeks…
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Practical question: if the portal only opens for renewals 2 months out (as the article seems to suggest), how can one renew earlier?
You can apply for renewal no earlier than three months before the current one expires. It appears to take about eight months to get a new one.
My lawyer has been unable to submit the renewal application for my ARI dependent for a couple of weeks now, and the problem appears to be widespread.
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Right now the renewal portal opens for November and December. So pratically someone who has card with an expriry of Dec 31st can begin the renewal process today (about 5 months before the expiry of current card).
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