Practical guidance lists typical documents for renewing a residence permit (autorização de residência): an identity document and current permit, proof of address (comprovativo de morada), evidence of means of subsistence or employment, a criminal record certificate (certificado de registo criminal) if required, passport photos and payment of fees. Requirements vary by permit type and nationality, so applicants should check the specific checklist for their permit category before applying. This is a useful quick reference for expats preparing renewals.
Checklist: documents usually needed to renew residence permits
Friday, 9 January 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
Renewal of a residence permit means applying to the immigration authority to extend your existing authorization to live in Portugal (autorização de residência), usually by submitting ID, your passport, proof of address, proof of means or employment, a criminal-record check and paying a fee. Start the process well before the permit expires because processing can take weeks or months; missing the deadline risks fines, loss of legal status and difficulty with work, banking or travel.
A criminal record certificate (certificado de registo criminal) is an official document showing whether you have criminal convictions and is commonly required for residence‑permit renewals, certain jobs or professional registrations. Expats are usually asked to provide a recent certificate from their home country (often translated and legalized) or obtain a Portuguese one via the justice portal, with the exact documents and acceptable validity periods varying by the authority handling the application.
