Until now, I am unable to create a new account to begin the renewal process…Not sure that I will have to wait for a new aima’s portal in order to create an account or what…the show keeps rolling…
My lawyer created an account for me, but he couldn’t create one for my family. We also couldn’t create individual accounts. My lawyer couldn’t either. Apparently, AIMA hasn’t uploaded the ARI session card holders to the system, so the portal sees them as undefined.
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Hi, I am still waiting for my card. I also submitted the application at the end of August 2025 at the Porto office. In October, I received an email from the Castelo Branco office requesting all the documents on paper. I sent them by FedEx, they confirmed receipt, and since then there have been no updates.
How your initial documents were submitted in Porto, if not on paper?
Or do you mean Castelo Branco requested you post them all your original documents?
Initially all documents were printed and shown at Porto Office and sent by email.
Anyway, I kept it with me.
Almost two months later, they requested the same as I show at Porto.
I saw someone (not me) who received their renewed residence card this Wednesday. They had a situation similar to ours: they submitted their application in August in Porto and requested to pick up the card in person. They went to the AIMA office to check, and luckily the card had already arrived.
It seems a little unusual that AIMA would make this kind of request. How were you informed —did they contact you directly by email, or did the notice come through your lawyer?
By email. During biometrics in Porto I offered all documents in paper and they refused.
I did biometrics without a lawyer.
There are rumours that AIMA will be sending out a huge number of residence cards in the next few weeks (the number 20,000 was mentioned), apparently in an attempt to regularize people before April 15, when some immigrants’ residence rights will expire.
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Highly unlikely. The deadline will just be moved as it has been now for about 6 years.
Time will tell if this is true or not…
Publicado a: 13 Março 2026, 17:22
With complaints from Brazilians and other immigrants, who sometimes wait up to a year to receive their renewed residency permit at home, the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) promises to expedite the service.A source from the agency told DN Brasil that, in recent weeks, approximately 20,000 documents have been sent to the Casa da Moeda for issuance.
For what it’s worth, my card (maybe) arrived yesterday. Got a missed delivery notice from CTT that said it was from AIMA. Still missing them for the rest of my fam, so hopefully they’re picking up the pace.
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AIMA says no, no, no you’re mistaken senhor. There is no “increase in fees” 
Feels like this opinion piece, where it was the cable’s fault that the Glória funicular crashed.
Clarification on fee table update
5-March 2026
AIMA clarifies that it has not proceeded to any increase in fees, but to the annual update planned at Portaria no. 307/2023, from October 13.The update, which came into force on March 1, 2026, results exclusively from the application of the criteria set out in the Portaria, namely Artigo 3.º.
This article determines that rate values are automatically updated, as of March 1 each year, based on the variation of the average consumer price index (except housing) relative to the previous year, published by the National Institute of Statistics (INE).
According to INE, the average variation in the Consumer Price Index in Portugal for 2025, excluding housing, is set at 2.2%. Since this was the percentage used in the calculation of the update of rates. The reductions provided for point XIV of the Anexo da Portaria n.º 307/2023 continue to be applied.
This is a technical and mandatory update, stemming from law enforcement, not correspond to an AIMA discretionary decision or any extraordinary aggravation. This annual update has been applied on the same terms in 2024 and 2025.
The updated Fee Table is available on the official AIMA website, indicating the values applicable to different administrative procedures.
Can anyone chime in on how long it took to receive your card after the in-person renewal appointment?
My in-person appointment was in early January 2026. I asked my lawyers about its status.
They said there’s no way to check and AIMA is “analyzing processes by chronological order of biometrics, so we have to wait until your card is issued.”
I’d like to brace myself for how long this will take.[Serenity now!]
TIA.
Mine took 6 months. No longer says “investimento” but “empreendedor” and has 3 years from roughly when it was printed I guess until expiration.
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When was your appointment date?
Two dependents got their cards a few days ago; primary and one dependent still awaited. In-person appointment in September 2025 Lisbon, card date is Feb 2026, 3 year validity (real estate converted to D2). So this tracks @sleuth_09dirk’s 6 months experience.
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Can you share how did your contractor alter the POA? That sounds like THE failure point, so any hint on avoiding it would be great… Also, I hope he got some jail time for such a thing??
Simple cut and paste job on a pdf, adding an extra paragraph. A crooked notary was involved, too, who never notarized an original. No action was taken against the notary and we’re awaiting the criminal trial where nothing will likely happen to the contractor, but where we will hopefully get our building back. The “buyers” can appeal any decision so it may be 2-3 more years.
And our residency renewal is currently suspended in the meantime awaiting the outcome of the trial. We’re filing a lawsuit against aima to try to get the renewal approved. There is some law that might help us since we didn’t sell it. We’ve done what we were supposed to do.
For better or worse we’re not the only ones who have been screwed.
We were fortunate we caught it before it was flipped.
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Hi. My husband also renewed his card at the same time as you, but he still hasn’t received it. So, I’d like to ask if you have received your renewed card yet? Thank you