Wow, was that from an in-person renewal?
Yes in person
Golden Visa renewal process – I would like to share some developments we have experienced and kindly ask if anyone with similar experiences could provide guidance.
In July 2025, I instructed my lawyer to submit our first renewal application, and I was informed that the submission had been completed. However, when I requested the documents necessary for re-entering Portugal after my residence card expires in October 2025, we noticed that the system shows the application date as October rather than July, which surprised us.
Additionally, two days ago, biometric appointments were scheduled for me and my children on June 5, 8, and 9, in different cities. Unfortunately, my spouse did not receive any appointment. My lawyer now expects that her appointment can only be arranged in August.
If anyone has experienced similar issues with family renewals, discrepancies in application dates, or delays in appointments, we would greatly appreciate hearing about your experiences. Your input would be very valuable to us and others in a similar situation.
Thank you in advance for your support and insights.
2 Likes
I completed auto-renewal in June 2024.
My family dependents were unable to get renewal appointments since that time.
Lawyer submitted request through the new contact portal in August 2025.
Appointment received on September 5 for December 6.
Aug 2025 - appt requested
Sept 2025 - appointment confirmed
Dec 2025 - appointment completed successfully.
All dependents’ applications were handled at the same AIMA office on the same day. In person biometrics was not required.
The law firm did a good job and were reasonably aggressive throughout the process. They made it happen and got the good results. No lawsuit.
4 Likes
Once you have applied for a renewal, your residency is extended until a decision is made, even if your card expires in the meantime (although I think this might only be the case if you apply before the card expires). But the catch is that any time spent in Portugal in that waiting period with no valid card is in a grey zone as far as counting towards your residency requirements. Arguably it could/should count, but our lawyer said it’s not worth the hassle taking up that fight with AIMA, and you should always aim to meet your requirements during the dates of card validity.
[deleted to avoid confusion]
It depends… in the case where you are very close to the 1 year maximum non-resident allowance that would be disqualifying from citizenship consideration, I think it would be worth fighting AIMA on this point. AIMA doesn’t have the capacity or the will to promptly renew expired cards. That should not be the OPs problem.
I think you might be mixing up the situation with cards that expired on or before June 30. Different rules apply there.
1 Like
Maybe it is true that if your card expires after June 30 and you apply for a renewal your card is extended indefinitely. Can you point or cite to this law because I’ve never seen it?
1 Like
Ok. I will delete my comment so as not to confuse.
It’s long been the case under the current rules that your lawful residence stays valid while a renewal is being processed, as long as you submit the request before the card expires or within the 6 month grace period. That comes straight from the immigration regulations. Your lawyer can point you to the exact articles if you want them. The recent exception was only introduced because the SEF to AIMA transition meant people with cards expiring on or before 30 June couldn’t realistically secure appointments, so the government gave that group an automatic extension to keep them in status until the system settled down.
How do you think an expired residence card would affect one’s ability to enter/exit non-Portugal Schengen zone? Say someone wanted to drive to Britain via France with a renewal appointment booked and expired card in hand?
This is a real possibility for us.
My lawyer just received my card. It took 2.5 months (76 calendar days) from the appointment date for my renewal. 
7 Likes
Did you have to attend in person? May we know what aima office you renewed?
My lawyer attended on my behalf as my biometrics were less than ten years old. Renewal was at AIMA Évora.
Some stats if helpful:
Previous Card Expiry Date: Feb 7, 2025
Appointment Request (via lawyer): July 28, 2025
Appointment Date: Sept 24th, 2025
Card Issuance Date: Nov 25th, 2025
Card Delivery Date: Dec 9th, 2025
New card valid for two years (GV via fund route), same as my previous two cards
8 Likes
In other European countries, you can only travel if you have a valid Resident Authorization card. The risk of being caught in another country is having a record indicating that you are irregular in the Schengen Area. Having a record of being irregular in the Schengen Area is precisely one of the reasons foreseen in the legislation that prevents the granting of a Residence Authorization in Portugal.
While waiting to receive your Residence Authorization card, you can only enter and leave the Schengen Area through Portugal.
Article 77, paragraph 1, subparagraphs i) and j), of Law No. 23/2007
https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/legislacao-consolidada/lei/2007-67564445-222587915
1 Like
This is what was confusing to me.
Clarification: Right of Residence
AIMA clarifies that the right of residence of foreign citizens remains valid for up to 6 months after the expiry date of the Residence Permit Card ( Article 63 (14) of Regulatory Decree No. 84/2007).
Foreign citizens from countries outside the European Union who have not yet applied for renewal of their residence permit will only be in an irregular situation in the following situations:
6 months from 15 October 2025 for cards that expired by 30 June 2025 and the right of residence maintains valid until 15 April 2026.
6 months from the expiry date of cards that expire after 30 June 2025.
Foreign citizens who have already applied to renew their residence permit must bring their expired permit with them, as well as proof that the renewal application has been made.
I travelled in and out of non-PT Schengen with an expired card and a receipt from an already attended AIMA renewal appt.
But I am on a passport that does not require a Schengen visa anyway, so the only thing I bypassed by having a PT-card in hand was the dreaded EES 
2 Likes
That’s such useful info for me. Thanks and congrats!