AIMA Portugal April 2026: What's Changing for Expats
AIMA moved the goalposts again this month, and the expat WhatsApp groups have been on fire. Two announcements in two days: parliament voted to double the path to Portuguese citizenship from 5 to 10 years, and AIMA added another 60 days to renewal certificates. We are expats here too. Here is what we worked out once we stopped panicking and read the actual text.
What actually changed in April 2026
Two announcements, one day apart. They affect overlapping groups of people, but they are completely different rules, and the news coverage mashed them into one story. Here is the split.
- On April 1, 2026, parliament approved a new nationality law by 152 votes to 64. It doubles how long you have to live in Portugal before applying for citizenship, from 5 years to 10 years (7 years for CPLP and EU nationals). The law is now on President António José Seguro's desk. He can sign it, veto it, or send it to the Constitutional Court. It is not in effect yet.
- On April 2, 2026, AIMA extended renewal certificates that were due to expire on April 15 by about 60 days, to around June 14, 2026. The extension is automatic for eligible holders, and it can be extended again if cases stay unresolved.
If the headlines have you panicking, breathe. The renewal extension is already live and does not need you to do anything. The citizenship law has not been signed and might not pass in its current form.
The 60-day renewal extension, explained
This one covers a very specific group. Your permit expired on June 30, 2025. You filed the renewal. Your file has been sitting in AIMA's queue ever since. There are an estimated 40,000 to 60,000 people in exactly that spot, so if this is you, you are not alone, and you are not forgotten.
What it means in practice:
- Your previous certificate, valid until April 15, 2026, is now valid until approximately June 14, 2026.
- The extension is automatic. You do not file anything new.
- If your case still has not been resolved by June 14, the certificate can be extended again under the same blanket regime.
- Carry a printed copy at all times. AIMA asked permit holders directly to do this. Border officials, employers, and landlords will ask to see it.
Your permit expired after June 30, 2025? Different rule applies: a six-month extension from your original expiry date. The gov.pt renewal page has the current details.
If you drive for Uber or Bolt, an extra wrinkle
The 60-day extension is legal, but Uber is not accepting it. AIMA's digital "proof of approval" for drivers in the queue says, in its own text, that it does not replace a residence permit when the permit is legally required. Uber read that line and started blocking accounts on April 15. Bolt gave drivers a 30-day grace period instead, starting the same day.
If your AIMA case is in the backlog and you drive for a platform, the realistic options are limited:
- Bolt: your 30-day window started April 15. Keep the proof of approval and your expired card on hand, and watch your partner inbox.
- Uber: the account block is automatic. An English-speaking immigration lawyer in Lisbon can request an urgent AIMA appointment and, in some cases, file an administrative court action to force a decision.
- If driving is your only income and you have already lost days, write down the lost earnings. They may matter later.
About 8,000 drivers are caught in this gap, out of around 39,000 TVDE drivers in Portugal. You are not alone in this. Source: Portugal News, April 17 2026.
The new citizenship law, if it is signed
The version parliament approved doubles the wait for a Portuguese passport. Here is what it actually says.
| Category | Old rule | New rule |
|---|---|---|
| EU citizens | 5 years | 7 years |
| CPLP (Portuguese-speaking) citizens | 5 years | 7 years |
| All others | 5 years | 10 years |
| When the clock starts | Date of initial application | Date of first residence card |
| Language test | A2 Portuguese | A2 Portuguese (unchanged) |
| Civic test | Not required | New: Portuguese culture, history, rights and duties |
| Sephardic ancestry pathway | Open | Closed |
The sneakiest change is the clock. The old rule counted your years from the day you submitted your first application. The new rule only starts the clock the day AIMA hands you your first residence card. With the current backlog, that card can take one, two, even three years to arrive. The real wait is longer than the headline 10 years suggests.
The president has three options: sign, veto, or send the law to the Constitutional Court for review. Until that decision, nothing changes for anyone already in the queue.
Why this is happening: the AIMA backlog context
AIMA took over from the old SEF in October 2023 and inherited more than 400,000 pending cases. Most of those are already resolved. The 40,000 to 60,000 still stuck tend to be the hardest or the slowest.
Two things made April 2026 particularly messy:
- AIMA's cultural mediators (subcontracted staff who handle translation and frontline case work) went on strike in late March 2026 over their employment contracts. They represent nearly half of AIMA's effective staffing.
- AIMA fees went up by as much as 33% on March 1, 2026. That was the agency's first fee adjustment since it was created.
The 60-day extension is a response to both pressures. It buys the agency time while mediators are off the floor and cases pile up.
What to do right now
If you are in Lisbon and any of these situations match you, here is the short checklist:
- If your permit is in renewal and your certificate says "valid until April 15, 2026," you are now covered until about June 14. Print a fresh copy. Keep one in your wallet and one at home.
- If you are close to hitting 5 years of legal residency and planned to apply for citizenship soon, talk to a lawyer about filing before any presidential signature happens. The 5-year path may close.
- If you applied for a residence card years ago but never received one, the citizenship clock will restart from card issuance under the new law. Push AIMA for progress now.
- If you are a Golden Visa holder waiting on a decision, published timelines are optimistic. Factor the current backlog into any plans that depend on holding a card.
For anything legally binding, go to a real professional. We keep a vetted list of English-speaking immigration lawyers in Lisbon and, for family reunification or naturalization cases, family lawyers. If you are on the Golden Visa route, our investment consultants know the current fees and timelines in detail.
At the AIMA counter, if your Portuguese is weak
AIMA accepts documents in Portuguese, English, French, or Spanish, so you do not need to translate anything already in those four languages. The phone system has English too: call the AIMA Contact Center at +351 217 115 000, weekdays 8am to 8pm, and press 1 when prompted. In person, English service is not guaranteed. It depends on the clerk you get.
A small survival kit for the counter. The phrases you will hear most:
| What the clerk says | What it means |
|---|---|
| Tem o seu NIF? | Do you have your tax number? |
| Qual é o número de processo? | What is your case number? |
| Já pagou a taxa? | Have you paid the fee? |
| Passaporte, por favor | Passport, please |
| Preciso dos originais | I need the original documents |
| Assine aqui | Sign here |
| Comprovativo de morada | Proof of address |
| Comprovativo de pagamento | Proof of payment |
Two phrases worth memorising in the other direction. If the clerk is going too fast: "Pode repetir mais devagar, por favor?" (can you repeat more slowly, please?). To check for English service: "Fala inglês?" (do you speak English?). If the answer is no, your realistic options are to bring a Portuguese-speaking friend, or bring your lawyer.
What this costs if you hire help
Rough current rates in Lisbon:
- AIMA charges €70 to €160 for the renewal itself, depending on permit type. Fees went up 33% on March 1, 2026.
- An immigration lawyer handling your full renewal usually runs €500 to €1,500.
- A consultation-only review of your case is typically €100 to €250.
- If your case needs administrative court action (AIMA missed its deadlines, unfair rejection), budget €2,000 to €5,000.
Anything quoted outside those ranges is a flag. Ask for a written engagement letter. Ask what is actually included: translations, document gathering, appointment booking, court work if needed. If a lawyer will not put the scope in writing, that is usually your answer.
FAQ
Does the 60-day AIMA extension apply to me automatically?
Yes, if your residence permit expired on June 30, 2025 and your renewal certificate was valid until April 15, 2026. The extension is automatic. No new paperwork. Carry a printed copy.
Has Portugal officially doubled the residency requirement to 10 years?
Parliament approved the new law on April 1, 2026, but it is not yet in effect. The text sits on the president's desk. Until he signs, vetoes, or sends it to the Constitutional Court, the current 5-year rule still applies.
If the law passes, when does my residency clock start?
From the date AIMA issues your first residence card, not from your initial application. Given current backlogs, this can add one to three years to the official timeline.
Can I apply for Portuguese citizenship under the old 5-year rule before the new law passes?
If you already meet the current criteria, yes. Speak to an immigration lawyer quickly. Transitional provisions are not finalized, so timing matters.
What happens if my AIMA case is still unresolved on June 14, 2026?
AIMA has confirmed certificates can be extended again if no final decision has been issued. You stay in legal status. Keep documentation updated and watch for notifications from the AIMA contact portal.
I drive for Uber or Bolt and my AIMA renewal is stuck. What can I do?
Bolt accepts AIMA's "proof of approval" for 30 days from April 15, 2026. Uber refuses, because the proof says it does not replace a residence permit. About 8,000 TVDE drivers are stuck. An immigration lawyer can push for an urgent AIMA appointment.