How to get and renew your residence permit in Portugal (AIMA)

What it is

A residence permit (autorização de residência) lets a non-EU citizen live in Portugal. It's issued by AIMA (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo), the immigration agency, as a residence card (cartão de residência).

• Most people apply after arriving on a residence visa, while the visa is still valid.
• Family members of EU citizens (who aren't EU citizens themselves) apply to AIMA for a residence card for family members instead.
• The first permit is temporary and must be renewed. After five years of legal residence you can apply for permanent residence.

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens don't need one: they get the registration certificate (CRUE) at their câmara municipal.

Before you start

You'll usually need:

• Your passport with your residence visa.
• Your NIF, and often your NISS (social security number).
• Proof of address in Portugal (a rental contract or an atestado de residência from your parish).
• Proof of means: your job contract, income or pension.
• Health cover: insurance or your SNS registration.
• Criminal record authorisation (AIMA usually checks it).

Steps: your first permit

1. Check your AIMA appointment. Residence visas often come with one already booked; otherwise follow the instructions you were given or book through AIMA.
2. Go to the appointment with your documents. AIMA takes your fingerprints and photo.
3. Pay the fee and keep the receipt: it shows your application is in progress.
4. Receive your residence card by post at your address.

Steps: renewing it

1. Apply between 90 and 30 days before it expires, online on the AIMA renewal portal.
2. Pay the fee online.
3. Go to a biometrics appointment only if AIMA asks (for example if your fingerprints or passport have expired).
4. Receive your new card by post.

Cost

AIMA fees for the application and the card, shown when you pay.

Common pitfalls

• Letting your visa expire before applying to AIMA.
• Renewing late. Applying more than 30 days after the expiry date can bring a fine.
• Moving without telling AIMA. Your card is posted to your registered address.
• Long waits. AIMA has had big backlogs: keep every receipt and email.

When to ask a helper

Ask someone who got or renewed a permit recently: they'll know how long the card took and which documents AIMA asked for.