News from afpop

State of Alert
On 6 July, the Government announced the extension of the State of Alert until 23h59 on Thursday, 9 July, for ten inland districts: Vila Real, Bragança, Guarda, Viseu, Castelo Branco, Santarém, Portalegre, Évora, Beja, and Faro. The extension was justified by the continuing heatwave, with forecasts of temperatures above 30–35°C, very low humidity, the possibility of dry thunderstorms, and strong winds, all of which sustain a high wildfire risk. Existing restrictions and preventive measures remain in force throughout the extension period. 

Residents and visitors are advised to remain vigilant, follow guidance from the authorities, and avoid activities that could increase the risk of fire.

During the State of Alert, access to certain forest areas is restricted, and activities that could start fires are prohibited. This includes burning vegetation, using most machinery in forest and rural areas, setting off fireworks, and launching sky lanterns/balloons with lit wicks.

Exceptions apply to essential activities, including:

Feeding and caring for animals, necessary agricultural work such as irrigation, fertilization, harvesting, and crop transport (where there is no fire risk), manual cork harvesting and honey collection, urgent construction work with appropriate fire-prevention measures, agricultural harvesting and certain forestry operations during permitted hours and with fire-risk mitigation measures in place.

EU introduces new €3 charge on small parcels
If you regularly shop from online marketplaces from outside the European Union, your purchases may now cost a little more.

From 1 July 2026, the European Union has introduced a new customs charge on low-value parcels entering the bloc from non-EU countries. The measure affects consignments worth up to €150 and is designed to strengthen customs controls, improve consumer safety and create fairer competition for European retailers.

This means the fee is not charged per item, but according to the different categories of products contained in the shipment. For example: a parcel containing three T-shirts would incur a single €3 charge however a parcel containing a pair of trainers and a jacket would incur €6, as they fall into two different product categories.

Orders dispatched from warehouses located within the EU are generally not affected by the new customs charge. However, shoppers should always check where goods are being shipped from before placing an order.

IRN phishing warning
The Institute of Registries and Notaries (IRN) is warning about fraudulent e-mails claiming to be from the organisation and is asking recipients to urgently update their personal details via a link.

The IRN stresses that these messages are not genuine and that it does not contact people through unsolicited e-mails or suspicious links. The aim of these phishing attempts is to steal personal information or login credentials.

If you receive a suspicious e-mail:

• Check the sender's e-mail address carefully.

• Delete the message if you do not recognise the source.

• Do not click on any links or follow any instructions in the message.

IRN also advises the public to be cautious of unofficial service providers that claim to be linked to the organisation.

Government approves Guimarães-Braga metrobus line
The Portuguese Government has approved funding for a new Metrobus line between Guimarães and Braga. The project will be developed in two phases:

• Guimarães - Caldas das Taipas by 2030, with an estimated investment of €80 million.

• Caldas das Taipas - Braga, which is still under discussion with local authorities. Future extensions to Famalicão and Barcelos are also being considered.

This line will connect with the high-speed rail line currently under construction, which will link Lisbon to Porto and Vigo, with a stop in Braga, combining metropolitan transport with regional, national, and international transport.

Algarve electrified train line
The Algarve Line is now electrified throughout, allowing electric trains to run the full distance between Lagos and Vila Real de Santo António. From 19 July 2026 the Algarve Line will be operated end-to-end with electric trains and no change at Faro is needed. 

The project should reduce the Lagos–Vila Real de Santo António journey by roughly 25 minutes overall. The fastest new Inter Regional service will take 2h20, typical regional services may take around 2h39. The project is intended to strengthen connections within the Algarve and with Lisbon and northern Portugal.

Ageing Well in Portugal – seminar materials
Following the success of the seminars “Ageing Well in Portugal”, and in response to requests from participants, the presentations covering the various topics discussed during both events in Tavira and Lagos are now available for download and consultation at the following link HERE.

These materials are also available for those who were unable to attend the seminars but would still like to benefit from the valuable information shared by our expert speakers.

IPMA – weather warnings and temperature updates
The IPMA (Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere) website is an essential resource for keeping up to date with weather conditions across Portugal. Visitors can access the latest weather forecasts, monitor changing weather patterns, and view detailed meteorological information for every region of the country.

The website also allows users to easily identify areas that are currently under weather warnings, including regions placed under a Red Warning, the highest level of meteorological alert. These warnings are issued when severe weather conditions are expected and may pose a significant risk to people, property, and infrastructure.

Train services during heatwave
CP (Portuguese Railways) has resumed its full timetable, including Intercidades services to and from Faro, following cooler temperatures. However, as a precaution after recent heatwave-related disruption, the operator is still limiting seat sales on some long-distance services and routes considered more vulnerable. 

CP said it will continue to monitor weather conditions, with the safety of passengers and staff remaining its top priority.

Before you travel:

• Check the latest updates through CP's official channels;

• Bring sufficient water for your journey;

• Stay in shaded areas whenever possible and avoid prolonged sun exposure;

• Take extra care of children, older adults, and anyone who may be more vulnerable to the heat.

If you feel unwell during your journey or while at a station, please speak to a member of CP staff, who will be happy to assist you.

Summer events - reminder
With summer now in full swing, we remind you of the website of the Algarve Tourism Board with events being organised this summer: https://eventos.visitalgarve.pt/en/

You can find details of events in other areas of Portugal here: https://www.visitportugal.com/en/encontre/grandes-eventos/list

AIMA Renewals Portal (non-EU): until October 2026 - reminder
The Renewals Portal is now also available for Residency Permit renewals expiring in September and October 2026. The Portal is only available for non-EU residencies that have expired or are due to expire between July 2025 and October 2026. If your authorisation expires at a later date, you will need to wait for the Portal to open for that specific month.

The renewal of Residence Permits for Investment (ARI) that expired between 22 February 2020 and 31 October 2026, is now available on the Renewals Portal.

Residency renewal for EU citizens and family members – now on the Renewals Portal
From 1 July, the Residency renewal application for European Union (EU) nationals and their family members is available on the Renewals Portal. 

Eligible holders should be able to carry out the following on the Renewals Portal:

• submit their application

• pay the fees

• submit the required documents

After entering the Portal, you will need to log in with a password.

If you have not registered before, change the language to English if you prefer and go to the bottom of the page to click on CREATE ACCOUNT. You will come to the next page, where you fill in your e-mail address, Residência certificate or card number, NIF (Portuguese Fiscal Number) and Date of Birth – then click on CREATE ACCOUNT again.

There have been issues with creating a password for some people, at present we are not completely sure why, but we will keep members informed. 

If you do succeed, then after starting the application on the Renewals Portal, it will be necessary for most applicants to provide biometric data in person. AIMA will arrange an appointment and notify the applicant of the date, time and location of the appointment.

Applications submitted via the AIMA contact form up to 30 June 2026 and appointments already booked will remain valid.

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:

• Eurofinesco S.A. – Tax & Expatriate services in Guia – Free initial consultation

• Adler & Rochefort – Insurance broker Algarve - Special premium rates

• European Portuguese Classes – Language classes online – 10% Discount on first course only

Satellite offices
A reminder that there are no Satellite offices in July or August. We will be back in September.