Planning your future in Portugal Seminar – second session
The upcoming seminar: Planning Your Future in Portugal under the theme: You’re never too young to plan for older age, taking place on Tuesday, 28 April at Boavista Resort – Lagos is now fully booked.
Due to overwhelming interest, places for this session filled up very quickly. Because of this, we have organised a second session, scheduled for 21 May at the Museu do Traje/Costume Museum in São Brás de Alportel. If you were unable to secure a place this time, you now have the opportunity to register for this second session HERE.
The event, conducted in English, is open to the public and aims to provide practical guidance for planning your future in Portugal.
Each speaker will share their expertise on key topics, including:
Networking and Support – The British Consulate will guide participants on registering contacts and building support networks.
Health and Insurance Planning – Health insurance plans tailored to expatriates.
Funeral and Ceremonial Arrangements – Explaining available funeral plans and services.
Legal Planning – Covering important legal topics, including wills and powers of attorney.
Financial Planning – Advise on asset inventories, international coordination, and tax implications in Portugal.
State Support Services – A social worker will outline options available through the Portuguese public system.
Community Safety – The PSP will present the ‘Idosos em Segurança’ programme, providing guidance on how seniors can stay safe and explaining how the police support vulnerable community members
Time: 10h00 – 12h30
Cost: Free to attend (prior booking with afpop required)
The second session is still being finalised. We will keep you informed about all the details in our next briefings.
Helping US citizens in Portugal
If you are a US citizen who requires a full-service FBI criminal background check and digital fingerprinting for your Portugal immigration process – then this is for you!
Following considerable demand, we are welcoming back Identity Abroad to the Algarve for a special satellite session at our office in Portimão on Thursday, 9 April and Friday, 10 April.
Identity Abroad is usually based in Porto but will be coming to the Algarve with their fully FBI-certified hardware and software to perform appointments for their Full-Service FBI Criminal Background Check service.
The entire process is explained by Nathan Wang from Identity Abroad: “We’ll capture applicants’ fingerprints using FBI-certified digital live scan equipment, provide expedited shipping and tracking of their documents, handle submission through our approved US channel partner, and deliver their FBI background checks as a PDF typically within 4-5 business days from appointment.
“While we can’t perform the apostille process, we have relationships with two partners and have negotiated the exclusive discounted rate of $100 for our customers on their 10 business-day turnaround rush service.
“Once applicants receive their FBI Background Check, they can send it to either partner to begin the apostille. Once complete, original physical documents are shipped back to Portugal ready for submission with AIMA, IRN, etc. The entire process takes approximately 18-20 business days from appointment.”
If you would like to take advantage of this service in the Algarve on 9 and 10 April, then please request your session directly with Identity Abroad by visiting: https://calendly.com/identityabroad-info
This service is open to members and non-members of afpop, with discounts available for afpop members.
IRS tax return
Tax return submission period: 1 April → 30 June.
Personal income tax (IRS) applies to the income of individuals resident in Portugal and to non-residents who earn income in Portugal. The submission of your Income Tax return (IRS) must be completed online through the Finanças portal at www.portaldasfinancas.gov.pt. For more detailed information, please consult our T01 information bulletin
Victims of crime support map
Victims of crime in Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, France, Italy and Portugal can now find support more easily thanks to the launch of an interactive online map of victim support services.
The map brings together 561 organisations in one accessible place, helping victims of crime – as well as their families and friends – to quickly identify where to seek help. Users can filter services by country, type of victim, type of crime and type of service, including counselling, legal assistance and crisis support.
This milestone is part of the Invictus project (Improving National Victim Services through Transnational Unity and Strategy), a Europe-wide initiative that aims to improve how victims' needs are assessed, how they are referred to support services, and how information is communicated.
Explore the map and find support today: https://victim-support.eu/invictus-im
V16 emergency lights in Spain
We have had questions from members about the V16 emergency lights that are now required in Spain. Foreign‑registered cars do NOT need to carry or use the V16 emergency light when driving in Spain. They may continue to use the traditional warning triangles (EU approved) that are legally required in Portugal. This is because Spain’s new V16 rule applies only to vehicles registered in Spain, not to foreign vehicles visiting temporarily.
WhatsApp & Signal cyber attacks
Portugal’s national intelligence service, the Serviço de Informações de Segurança (SIS), published a rare official statement on 11 March 2026 warning that foreign state‑backed hackers are running a global campaign targeting WhatsApp and Signal accounts of mostly government officials, diplomats, military personnel and journalists. However, it can also happen to private individuals.
Key points from the SIS announcement include:
Hackers are tricking users into giving away passwords, PINs, and verification codes through social‑engineering attacks, not by breaking encryption.
The campaign aims to gain access to individual and group chats, shared files, and privileged information.
SIS emphasised that WhatsApp and Signal themselves have not been compromised, but attackers exploit “careless use” by individuals.
Portugal issued the alert to warn the public and improve readiness against cyberattacks.
Even if you’re not a diplomat or journalist, you can still be affected because:
- The same tricks used on officials can be used on anyone.
Scammers often reuse successful techniques on the general population. - Compromised accounts can be used to target their contacts.
If someone you know is hacked, you may receive phishing messages appearing legitimate. - SIS explicitly warns the public to be prepared, indicating the threat extends beyond officials.
The hackers most frequently masquerade as a Signal Support chatbot to induce targets to divulge the codes, enabling them to take control of the accounts. Another method is to use the ‘linked devices’ function within Signal, it said.
LisbonWave26
Throughout this month, Lisbon's Civil Protection agency is raising public awareness about the Tsunami Warning and Alert System in the Tagus Estuary (the wide, open water area where the Tagus River meets the Atlantic Ocean), which currently has four warning sirens in the riverside area.
On March 24, at 10h30, Lisbon's Civil Protection will conduct the "LisbonWave26" exercise. This aims to test the Tsunami Warning and Alert System and familiarise the public with the siren sound, as well as the evacuation routes and meeting points defined for a possible occurrence of this type of phenomenon in Lisbon.
The following page includes a map of meeting points for evacuation:
Reduction in ISP tax for diesel and gasoline
The Government has approved a temporary reduction of the ISP fuel tax to offset recent price increases. From 16 March 2026, the tax dropped by 1.4 cents per litre on diesel and 2.7 cents on unleaded petrol, giving consumers real savings of 1.8 and 3.3 cents per litre, respectively. Without this measure, prices were expected to rise by nearly 10 cents per litre.
Daylight saving time
On Sunday 29 March 2026 the Daylight-Saving time starts, and the clocks will go forward 1 hour on Sunday morning at 01h00 (Portugal and Madeira) and at midnight for the Azores.
AIMA warning
Warning: Unofficial Website
AIMA has informed that the website aimapt.com is not official and has no connection to this Agency.
This website is improperly using AIMA's visual identity and attempting to pass itself off as an official platform, which may mislead and cause harm to those who use its alleged services.
We remind you that to access services provided by AIMA, you should:
- only use AIMA's official websites
- not enter personal or banking details or make payments on unofficial websites.
If you suspect fraud, you can report it to the competent authorities: PJ, Public Prosecutor's Office, PSP or GNR.
AIMA has already activated the necessary mechanisms in relation to this situation.
Stay alert. Be cautious.
AIMA Renewals Portal (non-EU): April, May and June 2026
The Renewals Portal is now also available for Residency Permit renewals expiring in April, May and June 2026. See further details on the renewal process in our previous briefings. The Portal is only available for residencies that have expired or are due to expire between July 2025 and June 2026.
Residency renewal for EU citizens and family members – reminder
AIMA has added an option on their contact form for Residency renewal applications for EU citizens and their family members’ Residency cards and Certificates (CRUE). This option is for cards and certificates that have already expired or are due to expire in the very near future.
You can find the contact form here: https://contactenos.aima.gov.pt/contact-form
Choose: “Topic Type” Community Residence Card and then the “Subtopic Type” that suits your specific request. If the English version gives you issues, please try the Portuguese version.
Choose: “Tipo de Assunto” Cartão de Residência UE and then the “Subtipo de Assunto” that suits your specific request.
Annual General Meeting (AGM) - reminder
A reminder the 38th Annual General Meeting will take place on Saturday 21 March 2026. Members are now able to download the AGM paperwork and voting forms at the afpop website https://afpop.com/en/agm-2026 (you need to be logged in) - click on the Download Paperwork link and a ZIP file will download automatically, or you may request them from the afpop office. Postal votes and proxy nominations are to be received in the afpop office by the last postal delivery on Thursday 19 March 2026.
New benefits for members
We’re pleased to highlight a growing number of companies featured in the afpop ADvantage Directory. They offer exclusive benefits and services for afpop members.
This week we have the following newcomers:
Germano de Sousa Laboratories - Clinical Laboratory tests and Anatomic Pathology Laboratory with 513 establishments nationwide – 20% Discount (Not applicable to billing to insurance companies or other financial institutions).
For more detailed information, please click on the link that will guide you to the afpop CONNECT website.
Satellite offices
If you need advice or assistance, wish to introduce a new Member to the Association, need to renew your subscription, or just have a general query, please come and see us. We ask you to make an appointment and to inform us about your enquiry, so staff can come prepared to assist you. Please contact the afpop office to make an appointment on 282 458 509 or info@afpop.com.
The next dates of the Satellites are:
- Almancil – Tuesday, 31 March between 10h00 and 12h30 (premises of MEDAL Seguros)
Lagos – Wednesday, 25 March between 10h00 and 12h30 (premises of MediLagos on R. José Ferreira Canelas, which is behind the Câmara building)
Due to the Planning your future in Portugal Seminar booked to take place on Tuesday, 28 April, we will not be able to attend the satellite in Almancil on that day.
Aansprakelijkheid
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