Updated: August 2026
AIMA is responsible for the renewal of residence permits.
Since August 2025, IRN no longer handles residence-permit renewal appointments. Applicants should therefore use the applicable AIMA procedure rather than contacting an IRN counter for a renewal.
The procedure applies to holders of residence permits who need to renew their existing permit. The exact procedure depends on:
The current AIMA Renewal Portal is available for residence permits that expired or expire between 1 July 2025 and 31 October 2026.
For residence permits covered by the current system, renewal is generally carried out online through AIMA's Portal de Renovações.
The applicant should:
The online procedure is intended to centralise the renewal process and reduce the need for in-person appointments.
The documents required depend on the type of residence permit and the applicant's circumstances.
Applicants should be prepared to provide the documents requested through the AIMA Renewal Portal. Depending on the situation, these may include:
Applicants should always check the requirements displayed by AIMA for their particular renewal rather than relying on an old checklist.
For some categories, AIMA specifically requires information such as the NISS and an up-to-date address. For example, AIMA states that a NISS is necessary to successfully complete certain residence-permit renewals and that the applicant's address should be updated if they want the renewed document sent to their current residence.
A different procedure applies to residence permits that expired between 22 February 2020 and 30 June 2025.
AIMA established a separate procedure through its services platform for these cases. Applicants who have not yet been contacted by AIMA can submit a renewal request through the relevant AIMA service.
This procedure is different from the current Renewal Portal used for permits that expired from 1 July 2025 onwards.
Applicants should not rely on the previous automatic-extension system.
The previous arrangements that allowed certain expired residence permits to remain valid for a limited period were temporary measures introduced during the transition of the Portuguese immigration system.
Instead, applicants should initiate the appropriate renewal procedure through AIMA and keep proof that the renewal application has been submitted.
Golden Visa holders (Autorização de Residência para Investimento — ARI) can also renew their residence permits through AIMA's Renewal Portal. Since 16 February 2026, ARI renewal applications have been processed electronically through the AIMA Renewal Portal.
An in-person appointment is only required if AIMA determines that biometric data must be collected.
The current portal covers ARI permits that expired from 22 February 2020 up to 31 October 2026.
EU citizens and their family members have a separate residence-document system.
From 1 July 2026, AIMA's Renewal Portal became the channel for applications for:
Applicants submit the request, documents and applicable payment through the Renewal Portal. If biometric collection is necessary, AIMA will schedule an in-person appointment.
This means that the previous information stating that EU residence-card renewals cannot be handled through the renewal system is no longer accurate.
The Renewal Portal does not cover every type of immigration procedure. In particular, applicants should not use the ordinary residence-permit renewal procedure for:
For CPLP residence permits, AIMA maintains a specific renewal procedure rather than including them in the ordinary Renewal Portal procedure. Applicants who are unsure which procedure applies to them should consult AIMA before submitting an application through the wrong service.
May require a separate procedure rather than being treated as a standard residence-permit renewal. AIMA directs applicants to its Contact Form for certain data corrections or updates.
The responsibility for residence-permit renewals has moved to AIMA, and the process is increasingly conducted through AIMA's online services.
If you are unsure which procedure applies to you, check AIMA's official website before submitting an application.
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