I may be mistaken but I thought that part of the problem was that AIMA has to invite you to schedule a renewal appointment. IIRC many here have waited for months after their cards have expired before receiving emails from AIMA inviting them to book an appointment.
Happy to have some clarification from those who have gone thru the renewal process.
@layover_guy in response to your quick question.
-My original card expired on Feb 8, 2024 (2 years after issue)
-I renewed (online) on July 15, 2024 and it was issued July 18, 2024.
-It is valid until July 18, 2027 (3 years after issue)
So, it is not at all associated with my original card and is 3 (THREE) years from the issue date of the new card.
I am the primary applicant. My wife recently renewed and has not yet received her card and I expect it to align with the issue date also.
My card expired in April, I got my process number from my attorney and went onto the AIMA portal myself and requested an appointment. A couple weeks later I received a date in Santarém. Then they opened up the ability for family reunification members to renew, so I repeated the process for my spouse. His appointment was 3 weeks after mine in Setúbal. No cards yet but proof we paid the renewal fee (€182 each).
I have a renewal in March 2026, also in Santarem. I didn’t know the card issuance was also delayed…
Thank you, so this means its best to apply as late as possible (ideally 30 days before expiry) to get card as late as possible and hopefully save some money on less trips to portugal and less renewal fees (end up renewing 4 times instead of 5 or something like that).
Did anyone do in person renewal in November/December 2025 and received card yet? Trying to determine how long of delay until card issuance. And what AIMA location did you or your lawyer attend?
Not useful yet but my renewal is next week in Lisbon. I’ll post when I get my card
I have a question for the NG community somewhat related to renewals. If an investor decides to NOT renew their residency card, and they are living full time in Portugal, would they be expected to depart the country prior to their card expiring? Or would the 90 day Schengen rule come into effect?
We have been considering options and gaming out scenarios over the holidays. If we decide against renewing, I don’t think we can sell the villa and leave before the beginning of April. The extra 90 day reprieve would be most welcome.
I plan on putting this to our lawyer this week but I’d appreciate any thoughts and insight.
The card is valid 6 months after the expiry date written on it.
Ok, thank you. What is the chance of a French customs and immigration officer understanding this if we attempt to cross from France to Britain with what would seem to be an expired card? 
Expired cards are only recognised in Portugal. You are on your own outside of Portugal. Other EU countries will not accept expired card but with some luck, explanation and depending on the immigration officer, you can pass through. But you will not be allowed to board the plane with expired card when coming back to Portugal.
Our most likely exit will be driving via France.
One possible scenario is us flying roundtrip to a 3rd country direct from PT. We’d reenter without cards and get stamped in. Could this in theory be the ‘start’ of our 90 day tourist Schengen time? This is the million dollar question.
I am not sure what your remaining concern is about.
Do you think the French border control will not let you out of Schengen? Or that they put a black mark on your ‘file’ as overstayer?
As I mentioned earlier, it is officially stated by AIMA on their website, with references to the PT law that the expired card is still valid 6 months after the expiry. All you do is print out that AIMA page (+ the article of the law if you are really keen) and show it at the Schengen border telling them you are exempt from EES, so they don’t scan your face and fingers.
Yeah, this came up as a worst case scenario in discussions. Mostly it is the concern of minha sogra. She’s rather panicky over these sorts of things. But if it is as you say, and you aren’t usually wrong, then this is a good thing for us to know if indeed we pull up stakes.
Thanks for your input Tommy.
I posted some time back about my own experience entering/exiting Schengen with an expired ARI card, coupled with AIMA/legal pages printed out (in Portuguese). The non-PT speaking border control was pretty ok with it. More recently same thing in the PT itself, but I believe they have online access to their own system so they actually checked my renewal status (or so they said).
Thanks Tommy. This is a big help. 
@tommigun I’m flying into to Lisbon with an expired card in a few weeks (to be exact, after a renewal appointment but likely before I get the new card). Did you have to show any printouts to Portuguese immigration or was your expired card sufficient with a verbal explanation?
Not Lisbon, but nothing extra was asked for besides the card and the passport. Took less time checking my card status on their computer than scanning faces/fingers of the ‘normal’ people from the same queue. But also they asked if I speak Portuguese, to which I answered affirmatively just to be on the safe side..
This isn’t quite true. The basic rule is the card is expired and not valid for any purpose. There is a six month grace period to apply for renewal. Beyond that, you are subject to deportation. If you overstay, you can’t renew or reapply, so self-deportation is the thing.
The special rules at the moment are that the card remains valid for Portugal purposes if you have an AIMA renewal appointment and for six months after that.
The practical experience is that few people traveling within the Schengen area are encountering an immigration officer. Outside the Schengen area the card and the special rule are of no value.
Did you have to explain why your card was expired or just handed it over and they checked online?