The Portuguese Immigration and Borders Authority, now known as AIMA (Autoridade para as Informações de Migração e Asilo), has started the renewal process for expired residence permits using two separate methods. This update is especially important for immigrants living in Portugal, including many from Bangladesh, to ensure their legal stay remains valid.
Applicants can renew their permits either online through AIMA’s digital platform, offering a convenient and contactless option, or by scheduling an in-person appointment at AIMA offices for direct assistance. This flexible approach is designed to accommodate different needs and reduce waiting times.
A different process will apply to residence permits that began to expire on June 30th . These permits will apply for renewal through a recently launched online portal and , if necessary, will be called for an in-person appointment at AIMA stores —
not at the Mission Structure. This is the case for immigrants who need to have their biometric data collected again, for example.
Initially, the portal will serve those with documents that expire or have expired in July. According to a statement from AIMA, “access to the Renewal Portal will soon be expanded to permits that expire during the month of August.”
Step by step
The agency released a statement explaining the new portal’s steps.
“The application for Renewal of Residence Permit is made by registering on the Renewals Portal by the applicants themselves, to whom an access password is sent to the indicated email address.
After successful registration, the applicant makes the request for Renewal of Residence Permit, the system carries out the necessary validations and the document is issued for payment of the due fees, which can only occur within 24 hours after the issuance of the guides.
After payment, a receipt for the renewal request will be issued, initiating the analysis process by the services that will allow the issuance of the renewed Residence Permit title.”
This second model should be the agency’s definitive way of renewing immigrant documents . This step will also be decisive for AIMA to definitively take over responsibility for this service, currently shared with the Institute of Registries and Notaries (INR), but which does not function as originally intended. Each branch has started to make its own rules regarding who to serve, leaving citizens confused and unserved. This is one of the reasons why legal action has also been sought for renewals.
AIMA’s task force will handle the oldest cases to bring more than 300,000 expired residence permits up to date. This Mission Structure, which was scheduled to end at the end of May, has been extended until December 31st. This is the deadline to clear this backlog, paving the way for AIMA to have openings to assist citizens with the various services provided by law .
Until this issue is resolved, a decree-law is in effect that renews all documents that expired before June 30th. The decree-law is valid until October 15th. The entire situation of delayed renewals is a cause for concern for immigrants, who are affected in various ways by this government failure .
Although the decree-law exists, it is often not recognized by private or even public companies, and it is not valid outside the country . This leaves immigrants unable to travel, a situation that is even more dire during this holiday season in Europe.