AIMA Extends Renewal Certificates Again as April 15 Deadline Looms for Hundreds of Thousands of Immigrants

Portugal's immigration agency AIMA has quietly announced another extension to the validity of renewal certificates for residence permits, just days before the current documents were set to expire on April 15. The move, first reported by Diário de Notícias, offers temporary relief to the hundreds of thousands of immigrants whose lives have been in bureaucratic limbo since the agency inherited a massive backlog from the defunct SEF in late 2023.

But for those on the receiving end of this decision, the word "relief" may ring hollow. This is the latest in a long sequence of extensions that have become a defining feature of Portugal's immigration system -- a rolling series of temporary fixes that never quite address the structural problem underneath.

What Actually Changed

Under the new extension, renewal certificates already issued through AIMA's portal will remain valid for an additional 60 days, renewable until the final decision is made and the physical card is issued. The legal basis is Article 78(7) of Law 23/2007, which governs the renewal process for residence permits.

The extension applies to two main categories. First, documents that expired before June 30, 2025, which were processed through the earlier Estrutura de Missão task force. Second, documents that expired after June 30, handled through AIMA's newer renewal portal, where a downloadable receipt with a QR code serves as proof of legal status.

For applicants whose renewals have already been approved, a separate "comprovativo de deferimento" carries the same legal weight as the physical residence card itself.

The Paper Trail That Won't End

This is not new territory for immigrants in Portugal. Since 2020, successive governments have relied on decree-laws and administrative extensions to keep expired documents nominally valid. The problem has always been the same: the documents may be legally valid, but not everyone accepts them.

Banks, the tax authority, the immigration checkpoints at airports, and even other government agencies like the IMT (transport authority) and Social Security have repeatedly refused to recognise AIMA's renewal certificates. Portugal's Ombudsman has flagged this problem multiple times, calling the previous system of decrees "insufficient" in its most recent annual report.

AIMA sources told DN Brasil that the agency has met with major public and private entities -- including Portugal's banking association -- to push for broader recognition of the certificates. But acceptance remains inconsistent, and immigrants continue to face practical barriers when trying to renew work contracts, open bank accounts, or access healthcare.

A Backlog That Defines the System

The numbers tell their own story. AIMA has acknowledged more than 300,000 pending cases, ranging from first-time residence permits to renewals and nationality applications. The legal deadline for processing is 60 days. In practice, applicants regularly wait 12 to 18 months -- and many have waited far longer.

The agency says it is now issuing "thousands of cards per week," processing a mix of regular AIMA cases, legacy manifestations of interest, task force renewals, portal renewals, and CPLP (Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries) cases simultaneously. A specific solution for CPLP title holders is expected next week.

Meanwhile, a DW report this week highlighted the human cost. African immigrants from PALOP nations are among those worst affected, with cases dragging on for years. One São Tomé-born woman described waiting four years to regularise her children's status. An Angolan worker with an approved application has been waiting since November 2025 for the physical card, unable to leave Portugal or access the national health service.

What Immigrants Should Do Now

AIMA advises all applicants to always carry a printed copy of their renewal certificate or QR code receipt. Those whose applications have been approved should download the "comprovativo de deferimento" from their personal area on the AIMA website.

For expats and foreign residents navigating this system, the practical reality remains frustrating. The certificates are legally valid, but their practical utility depends on which institution you are dealing with. If you face a refusal, citing the specific legal basis -- Article 78(7) of Law 23/2007 -- may help, though it is no guarantee.

The recent push to issue 20,000 cards was a step in the right direction. But until the gap between approvals and card delivery narrows meaningfully, AIMA's certificate extensions will remain a fixture of life in Portugal's immigration system -- a system that has been in "temporary" crisis mode for the better part of six years.

Related reading: Parliament Passes Stricter Nationality Law After PSD-Chega Deal and Portugal's Nationality Law: Three Competing Visions