Your Path to Living in Portugal

Timing and eligibility

• When to apply: from 90 days before expiry, and by at least 30 days before expiry (gov.pt / AIMA guidance).
• Hard conditions: regular situation with Finanças and Segurança Social, and criminal-record checks where applicable.
• Important: renewing the same category is not the same as a change of status (e.g. student → worker).

1) Work residence — employee (Art. 88)

Subordinate employment under a work contract. Renew the same Art. 88 category only — switching from another category is usually a change of status, not a simple renewal.

• Valid employment contract or recent payslips (Recibos de Vencimento)
• Ongoing Social Security contributions (NISS) as an employee
• Current address proof: Atestado de Residência or registered lease
• Passport / current residence card + updated NIF
• Regular situation with Finanças and Segurança Social (no outstanding debts)

2) Work residence — self-employed (Art. 89)

Independent professional activity. Renew the same Art. 89 category only.

• Proof of ongoing activity: Recibos Verdes and/or commercial registration when required
• Ongoing Social Security contributions (NISS) as self-employed
• Current address proof: Atestado de Residência or registered lease
• Passport / current residence card + updated NIF
• Regular situation with Finanças and Segurança Social (no outstanding debts)

3) Work residence — research / teaching / highly qualified (Art. 90)

Separate path from employee (88) and self-employed (89). Renew the same Art. 90 category; moving to/from 88 or 89 is usually a change of status.

• Contract or proof of ongoing activity matching your card category (research / teaching / highly qualified activity)
• Qualifications or institutional link when requested
• Social Security contributions + Finanças compliance when applicable
• Address proof + passport, current residence card and NIF

4) Study residence (Art. 91)

• Current academic enrolment
• Grades / academic progress evidence
• Sufficient means of subsistence
• Valid health cover or SNS path when accepted
• Address proof + passport and current residence card

5) Family reunification (Art. 98)

• Ongoing family-link proof (marriage / partnership / filiation…)
• Copy of the sponsor’s valid Portuguese residence card
• Family means and adequate housing proof
• Updated civil-status documents (translated/legalised when needed)

6) Investor residence (ARI / Golden Visa)

• AIMA enabled ARI renewals through Portal das Renovações for announced validity windows (confirm your case on the portal / AIMA news).
• Evidence that the investment was maintained during the previous period
• In-person biometrics may still be required if fingerprints are no longer valid

7) Highly qualified / EU Blue Card

• Matching contract/offer and qualification evidence when requested
• Tax + Social Security compliance and address proof
• Confirm you are renewing the same category

Digital renewal steps

1. Open portal-renovacoes.aima.gov.pt and register (password sent by email).
2. Start the renewal available for your profile.
3. Confirm personal data and address. For name/address/NIF changes use the AIMA contact form (Alteração de Dados).
4. Upload missing documents if asked, then pay the Multibanco reference within the issued deadline.
5. Keep the Recibo proving renewal is in progress until the new card arrives by post.

Official links

• Portal das Renovações
• aima.gov.pt
• AIMA news — Portal de Renovações
• AIMA contact form — data changes
• gov.pt — renew residence permit

How EOB helps

• Identify the correct renewal type for your Artigo
• Pre-check Finanças / Social Security before filing
• Prepare uploads, payment and Recibo follow-up
• Separate true renewals from change-of-status cases