The Portuguese authorities have introduced a new measure to automatically renew residence permits for all foreigners whose permits are set to expire by September 30, 2023. This means that foreign residents in Portugal do not need to visit a service desk or submit any paperwork to renew their permits.
To facilitate the automatic renewal process, the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) has created a dedicated section on their website where foreigners can complete the process. They need to log in to their SEF account and access the “Automatic Renewal” section. Here, they will need to provide their personal information, and the SEF will handle the rest, automatically renewing their residence permit.
The implementation of this new system is expected to make the renewal process more convenient for foreigners and reduce the number of individuals having to visit service desks in person.
Approximately 84,000 residence permits are set to expire by September 30, 2023. Regardless of the reason for their expiry (such as job changes, job loss, or permit revocation), the SEF will automatically renew all of these permits.
The automatic renewal will be valid for one year, which means that foreigners will need to renew their residence permits again in September 2024.
The SEF will provide further details about the renewal process in the coming weeks.
Moreover, the SEF has also announced plans to simplify the process for foreigners applying for a residence permit in Portugal. They will be introducing a new online application system to streamline the application submission process. Additionally, the SEF aims to reduce the amount of paperwork required for residence permit applications.
These changes align with the SEF’s commitment to enhancing the experience for foreigners living and working in Portugal, making it easier for them to navigate the residence permit process and contributing to a more welcoming environment for the international community.