Well, in a few months, my temporary residence is due to expire.

I've repeatedly attempted to contact AIMA and they never respond. I've even tried some immigration experts and they tell me that AIMA currently don't have appointments.....

Its a bit of a shit show, Its not like I can return to my country of origin as I have nowhere to live there. Anyone else have this nonsense looming?

I can only sympathise with anyone having to fight their way through immigration documentation at the moment.

However, as you already have the required document (albeit one due to expire shortly), are you aware of this?

Valid and Accepted Documents and Visas until 30 June 2025

My residency was up for renewal just over a year ago around the time of the SEF / AIMA change over and I spent months trying to get an appointment but in the end gave up, bit the bullet and got a lawyer to sort. They had an appointment arranged with in a week (that I did not need to attend) and our new residency cards arrived four weeks later.

Cost an arm and a leg though but it was worth it for the peace of mind!

I'd happily do it but even the immigration lawyer is saying they have no appointments...

I know SEF were pretty useless but AIMA is proving to be just as bad.

I think that's a little unfair.

Changes in government policy over recent years have created a huge backlog of cases which added to the problems created by drastic cuts to the public sector in the Troika era, without a corresponding increase in resources to compensate for it.

You can renew your card at local IRN, you need to send them email request. Visit local IRN, they might have notice on window with details.

As for aima mess, opening floodgate to illegality immigration backfired spectacularly. 400000 cases of applications from illegal immigrants bundled with legal ones, what a brilliant idea.
Is anyone to be accountable for this, nope. Probably got promoted.

It wasn't a case of opening floodgates. The initial target of the law changes were people already in the country and working.

It was a matter of giving them a path to regularisation of their immigration status. An eminently sensible idea, as far as I'm concerned, even if the practicalities of the exercise could have been better handled.

Further to that, there were initiatives to attract other new residents, who were given a pass, under some circumstances, on having to pre-request a work or residence visa - so definitely not "illegal immigrants".

You can dress it any way you want, but they are illegal immigrants, all 400000 of them. Most overstayed tourist/student visa or crossed over from other EU states.
Yes, most of them were working here illegaly. When law was put in place, it was estimated there are some 100K that could benefit.
It was such badly thought and badly planned idea that then created massive rush of illegal immigrants to take advantage of badly planned law.
There were even many Brits coming over to take advantage of this madness.

What would have been sensible idea, would be for law to only apply for people already present at time of law passing.
Not to leave it open-ended law. Absolute mad and reckless idea.

That seems to be correct according to this link: https://justica.gov.pt/en-gb/Servico...sidence-Permit
I don't need to renew at the moment but will try this route next year.

I read through it - it all seems fine, they just don't tell you how to get a 'prior appointment'

its the appointment part thats the problem. I have emailed them to explain my situation but I've never heard anything in return

Please let us know if you are successful Iain.

It's Steve but good guess, my brother is called Iain

That's peculiar. When you first responded with a thank you post, now missing, there was an "Iain" at the end. Bob was my uncle by the way.

That is peculiar. My thank you post is definitely missing....and I definitely didn't delete it.

I looked at the link for renewal at a registry office, and thought it was contradictory.

In Registry Offices t is not possible to request:
the renewal of long-term resident status

Then further down it says:

In Registry services, you can request the renewal of temporary and permanent residence permits

Is there a difference between long-term resident status and permanent residence permits ??