AIMA's April 2 Announcement
On April 2, 2026, AIMA — Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo — announced that it was extending the validity of renewal certificates for a further 60 days. The certificates in question were issued to holders of residence permits that had expired on June 30, 2025, and whose proof-of-status documents were scheduled to lapse on April 15, 2026. The announcement was published through AIMA's official channels and confirmed to The Portugal News, which reported on the extension the same day. AIMA stated that the extension was granted because a significant number of pending cases had not yet reached a final decision, and allowing certificates to expire while those cases remained unresolved would have caused avoidable legal and practical harm to tens of thousands of permit holders.
The announcement follows a pattern of sequential extensions that has characterised AIMA's management of the backlog crisis since the former SEF was dissolved in October 2023. The agency inherited over 400,000 pending cases from SEF and has been working to clear them ever since. While the government has claimed that 93% of the inherited backlog has been resolved, immigration lawyers and advocacy groups note that "resolved" includes archived and rejected cases, not only approved ones. An estimated 40,000 to 60,000 cases remain actively pending as of early 2026, and many of those are the cases whose renewal certificates were at risk of expiring on April 15.
Which Permits and Certificates Are Affected
The 60-day extension applies specifically to renewal certificates associated with residence permits that expired on June 30, 2025. In late 2025, AIMA had previously announced that permits with a June 30, 2025 expiry would have their validity extended to April 15, 2026, as part of the broader wind-down of the automatic extension regime that had been in place since AIMA's creation. When automatic extensions were formally ended in October 2025, AIMA confirmed that the April 15, 2026 deadline was the final blanket protection for this cohort of permit holders. The April 2 announcement now pushes that deadline approximately 60 days forward, to around June 14, 2026.
Permit holders in this category typically include immigrants whose initial residence permits were issued in 2023, whose renewals were submitted on time but have not yet been processed to a final decision, and who have been relying on the renewal certificate as proof of their legal right to reside and work in Portugal. The certificate serves as the only bridge between an expired physical card and the issuance of a new one. Without it, a permit holder has no document to show an employer, a bank, or a border control officer to prove legal status. The extension is therefore not an administrative formality — it is the legal instrument that keeps tens of thousands of people in status while they wait.
Permit holders whose permits had a different expiry date, or who did not submit a renewal application before the permit expired, are not necessarily covered by this announcement. If you are uncertain whether your specific documents fall within the scope of the extension, you must verify directly through your AIMA online portal account or by contacting AIMA's support line. Do not assume coverage based on approximate dates.
The New Timeline: Dates and Deadlines
The sequence of deadlines for this cohort of permit holders is as follows. Residence permits in this category expired on June 30, 2025. AIMA had extended their effective validity to April 15, 2026 through the renewal certificate mechanism. The April 2, 2026 announcement adds 60 days to that, placing the new effective expiry at approximately June 14, 2026. AIMA also stated that certificates can be renewed again after the 60-day period if cases remain pending and a final decision has not been issued — meaning the agency has not ruled out a further extension if the backlog persists.
Holders should treat June 14, 2026 as a hard deadline rather than a soft target. AIMA has not committed to an automatic further extension, and past experience shows that the agency's announcements on extensions have typically been made within days of the preceding deadline expiring. Waiting until mid-June and then finding out no further extension is granted would leave permit holders in an immediately precarious legal position. If your case is still pending by late May 2026 with no resolution in sight, take proactive steps: contact AIMA to confirm the status of your case, request an update in writing, and consult an immigration lawyer about whether an administrative subpoena through the courts is warranted to compel a decision.
What the Certificate Covers: Your Rights While Waiting
A valid AIMA renewal certificate functions as proof of legal residence status in Portugal. Legally, a permit holder who submitted a timely renewal application maintains their right to reside and work in Portugal while the renewal is pending. This is established under Portuguese administrative law: submitting a complete renewal application before the permit expires preserves the applicant's status until a final decision is issued. The renewal certificate is AIMA's formal documentation of this protected status. It should be accepted by Portuguese employers as proof of the right to work, by Portuguese banks as proof of residence, and by Portuguese public services as proof of legal status.
For travel within the Schengen Area, the renewal certificate is generally accepted as a travel document equivalent to a residence permit. Article 21 of the Schengen Convention and related EU regulations allow third-country nationals holding valid residence permits in one member state to travel freely within the Schengen zone for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. A valid renewal certificate is treated as equivalent to a residence permit for this purpose. However, in practice, individual border authorities may apply additional scrutiny to certificates versus physical cards. Travellers are advised to carry a clear printed copy of the full certificate along with their valid passport, and to verify acceptance policies with the destination country before departure.
The certificate does not replace all functions of a physical residence card. Some third parties — including certain banks, private employers in regulated sectors, and notaries — may require a physical card rather than a certificate. If you encounter a refusal based on your certificate rather than a physical card, your immigration lawyer can draft a formal letter citing the applicable legal provisions that establish the certificate's validity as proof of status.
After the 60-Day Extension: What Happens to Your Case
The 60-day extension does not change the underlying processing of your case. AIMA continues to review pending renewal applications in the order in which they were received, subject to the agency's internal prioritisation criteria. Cases that have been pending for a very long time — particularly those submitted in 2023 or early 2024 — may be nearing the front of the queue and approaching a final decision. Cases submitted more recently may still have months to go. There is no mechanism through the renewal certificate extension to accelerate your case; the extension simply ensures that your proof-of-status documents remain valid while you wait.
When AIMA reaches a decision on your case, the outcome will be one of three types. If approved, you will receive an approval certificate (certificado de autorização de residência) that has the same legal validity as a physical residence card. This approval certificate can be used for all purposes — employment, banking, Schengen travel, and public services — while the physical card is being produced. You will then be called for a biometric appointment at an AIMA service centre to capture your biometric data for the physical card. Production and delivery of the physical card typically takes 4 to 6 weeks following the biometric appointment. If your application is rejected, you will receive a written decision and have the right to appeal. If your application is returned for additional documentation (a common outcome under the strict complete-application rule in force since April 2025), you will have a defined deadline to submit the missing documents before the case is closed.
One-year legal deadline: Portuguese administrative law sets a one-year deadline from the date when AIMA's statutory decision period expires within which applicants can file a legal action compelling a decision. For permit holders whose cases have been pending since 2023 or early 2024, this deadline may already be approaching or may have passed. Filing an administrative subpoena before this deadline is critical to preserving your legal remedies. If you are uncertain whether this deadline applies to your case, consult an immigration lawyer without delay.
Steps to Take Now
The most important immediate action for permit holders in this category is to verify your current certificate and confirm its new validity date. Log into your AIMA online portal account and check the status of your renewal application and the validity of your associated documents. If you do not have online portal access set up, visit an AIMA service centre or contact AIMA's support channels to confirm your status. Do not assume that the extension has automatically been applied and that your documents are valid without verification.
Print a fresh copy of your renewal certificate. Even though the validity date may be extended automatically in AIMA's systems, the physical document you carry may still show the old April 15 date. In situations where you need to present proof of status to an employer, bank, or border officer, carrying the most recent AIMA-issued documentation along with a printout of AIMA's April 2 announcement is prudent. For the QR code proof of renewal available through the online portal, regenerate and save a fresh version.
If your case has been pending for more than 12 months from the date AIMA's statutory decision period expired — typically calculated as 90 days from the date AIMA received your complete renewal application — you should consult an immigration lawyer to assess whether you are still within the window to file a judicial action. The administrative subpoena route has consistently produced decisions within 2 to 3 months in Portuguese administrative courts. Cases that have been waiting significantly longer than 12 to 18 months without a final decision are strong candidates for this intervention. The AIMA permit renewal guide contains a full breakdown of the renewal process and what to expect at each stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
My AIMA renewal certificate was due to expire on April 15, 2026. Is it still valid?
Yes. AIMA announced on April 2, 2026 that renewal certificates for residence permits that expired on June 30, 2025 — and whose associated documents were due to lapse on April 15, 2026 — are extended by 60 days. The new deadline is approximately June 14, 2026. You do not need to take any active step to obtain the extension; it applies automatically to all certificates in this category. However, verify your specific certificate status through your AIMA online account or by contacting AIMA directly, as individual case circumstances may differ.
Can I travel within the Schengen Area with my AIMA renewal certificate?
An AIMA renewal certificate, when valid, serves as proof of legal residence status in Portugal and is generally accepted by Schengen member states as a travel document equivalent to a residence permit for freedom of movement. However, border authorities in some countries apply stricter scrutiny to certificates versus physical cards. Before travelling, confirm the acceptance policy with the destination country's embassy or border authority. Carry the full renewal certificate printed clearly alongside your valid passport.
Will AIMA extend the certificates again after June 2026?
AIMA has stated that certificates can be renewed again after the 60-day extension if cases remain unresolved and no final decision has been issued. However, AIMA has not committed to an automatic further extension beyond June 2026. Treat June 2026 as the operative hard deadline. If your case is still pending by late May 2026, contact AIMA and consult an immigration lawyer about whether legal action to compel a decision is warranted.
What happens when AIMA approves my renewal application?
When AIMA approves your pending renewal application, you will receive an approval certificate with the same legal validity as a physical residence card. You can use this approval certificate for employment, banking, travel, and public services while the physical card is produced. You will then be notified to attend a biometric appointment for the physical card, which typically takes 4 to 6 weeks to produce and deliver after the appointment.
Does the 60-day extension apply to all renewal certificates or only those expiring April 15?
The April 2 announcement specifically addressed renewal certificates associated with residence permits that expired on June 30, 2025, and whose documents were set to expire on April 15, 2026. If your permit had a different expiry date, or if your renewal certificate was issued under different circumstances, verify directly with AIMA or your immigration lawyer whether the 60-day extension applies to your specific documents. Do not assume the extension applies universally to all pending cases.