Portugal

What changed

Portugal's Agency for Integration, Migrations and Asylum (AIMA) has again shared rules for renewing paper residence cards. These cards are for people from European Union (EU) countries and their family members who are not EU citizens — legally called third-country nationals. The main rule is still to remove the first zero when you type the card number into the online system. For example, if your card number is 011641, you should type 11641. If you cannot send your application online, you must send an email to geral@aima.gov.pt. The email subject line must be specific. You must attach your personal details and a copy of your card. AIMA also published a new article on 14 August 2026. This article talks about the documents needed for third-country national family members of EU citizens. It specifically covers marriage certificates and applications for children.

What changed

AIMA has opened a special room for lawyers and solicitors. It is at its Lisbon II Office, at Rua Álvaro Coutinho, 16. This new room is a result of working with the Portuguese Bar Association and the Chamber of Solicitors and Enforcement Agents. It adds to the special information desks already available for these professionals. The change aims to give better support to legal professionals who act for foreign applicants. It also helps to make services quicker and better organised. This change was published on 24 July 2026.

What changed

Effective 1 July 2026, Portugal's Agency for Integration, Migrations and Asylum (AIMA) has expanded its Renewal Portal to include applications for the issuance of permanent residence certificates for EU Nationals (Article 16) and permanent residence cards for family members of EU nationals who are Third-Country Nationals (Article 17). This new digital functionality allows for online submission of applications, payment of fees, and upload of necessary documents, centralising and simplifying the process. Previously, these applications were submitted via a Contact Form, which will remain valid for submissions made until 30 June 2026. The in-person component is now primarily reserved for biometric data collection if required, with the rest of the process remaining digital.

What changed

Portugal's AIMA has launched a new 'Integrar para a Construção' (Integrate for Construction) programme, effective 3 June 2026. This initiative offers 300 hours of technical training and 300 hours of workplace training in the civil construction sector to immigrants, applicants and beneficiaries of international protection, and beneficiaries of temporary protection residing in Portugal. The programme aims to facilitate their integration into the national labour market and provides support such as training, food, and transport allowances. Applications for the first training cycle, which begins in July 2026, close on 5 July 2026. The programme targets 500 participants across 25 training groups and has a budget of approximately 2.5 million euros.

What changed

AIMA has changed how it schedules appointments and collects biometric data. This aims to fix the long wait times for residence permits. The former SEF, Portugal's Borders and Immigration Service, passed these backlogs to AIMA, the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum.

What changed

The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) now has a new online contact form. You use this form to book an appointment. The appointment is to apply for a residence permit. This permit is under Article 124 of the Aliens Act. AIMA published this new process on 18 May 2026. It is for foreign babies or children born in Portugal. Their parents must have a valid Portuguese residence permit. You must use a special section in the contact form. You must provide the child's Portuguese birth certificate. You must also provide scanned copies of one parent's passport and residence permit. If the other parent has a residence permit, you must provide a scanned copy of theirs too. A parent must submit the application. They must do this within six months after the child's birth registration.