News from afpop

Household changes
The makeup of your household needs to be updated with the Finanças, before the 2^nd of March 2026 for IRS purposes. If, during the previous year, there has been any change in your household composition, such as:

• Birth

• Marriage

• Divorce

• Change in parental agreement

• Death of one of person in a couple

• Change of permanent residence

You must update the respective household composition, with reference to 31^st of December 2025.

It is crucial to report changes to ensure correct tax deductions and automatic IRS.

Once this step is completed, taxpayers then have until the end of February (in 2026 this can be until 2nd of March due to the weekend), to consult, register or confirm invoices for expenses incurred in the previous year (see e-Fatura) More information can be found in the afpop Information bulletin T01 – IRS.

IUC rules approved
The Assembly of the Republic has approved the Government's proposal to simplify the payment of the Vehicle Tax (IUC). 

In 2026, you will still pay your vehicle tax in the month of registration.

In 2027, there will be a transitional phase, so that taxpayers have time to adapt to the new rules. You will pay a single instalment during the month of October 2027 when the tax amount is equal to or less than €500, or two instalments during the months of July and October when the tax amount is greater than €500.

From 2028:

The IUC (Vehicle Tax) will be paid in April by vehicle owners, with the possibility of payment in instalments, under the following terms:

• In one instalment, in the month of April, when the IUC amount is equal to or less than €100

• In two instalments, in the months of April and October, when the IUC amount is greater than €100 and equal to or less than €500

• In three instalments, in the months of April, July and October, when the amount exceeds €500.

Changes to the IUC payment system will not result in any increase in the tax and aim to provide greater predictability for citizens. For more information, please check the afpop Information Bulletin M03.

EES roll out delayed?
Members might have read in the media that EES (the EU’s new Entry/Exit System) has been delayed until September. In an official press briefing Commission spokesperson Markus Lammert clarified that: After the official rollout date of 10^th of April 2026, Member States may temporarily suspend EES operations for 90 days. This suspension may also be extended by another 60 days, covering July to September.

The Commission emphasised that this does not change the official end date of the progressive deployment, which remains 9^th of April 2026.

The Commission’s announcement comes after many reports of technical difficulties, staff shortages and long queues caused by the introduction of the EES.

The EES applies to you if you are a non-EU national travelling for a short stay to a European country using the EES and you either:

• possess a short-stay visa; or 

• do not need a visa to stay for a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period.

EU ends customs duty exemption for small online purchases
The European Union has approved new rules to end the current customs duty exemption for small parcels worth less than €150. The change mainly affects goods bought online from outside the EU.

At present, small packages can enter the EU without paying customs duties, which EU officials say creates unfair competition for European businesses. Under the new rules, all goods entering the EU will eventually be subject to customs duties.

A new European customs data hub, expected to be operational in 2028, will manage the system. Until then, EU Member States will apply a temporary flat charge of €3 for each product category in parcels valued below €150 and sent directly to consumers.

From the 1^st of July, the charge will be calculated per product category. For example, a parcel containing a silk shirt and woollen shirts would count as two different categories, meaning a total charge of €6.

The EU says the new system will increase revenue for both the Union and national governments, as customs duties are shared between them. The measure is separate from a proposed handling fee that is still under discussion.

According to the European Commission, the number of small parcels entering the EU has doubled each year since 2022. In 2024 alone, 4.6 billion such shipments arrived in the EU, with 91% coming from China.

The EU is continuing negotiations on broader reforms of its customs system, including the creation of a new EU customs authority.

Declaration of calamity - Extension of tax deadlines
Taxpayers with tax domicile in the municipalities covered by the declaration of calamity will have a new deadline for compliance with tax, reporting and payment obligations whose deadlines ended between 28^th of January and 31^st of March 2026, which will be until 30^th of April 2026. It is not necessary to submit any application; it is enough to fulfil the obligations within the new deadline.

This deadline is also for taxpayers whose certified accountants have their registered office or domicile in the municipalities covered, provided they invoke this situation when submitting their defence.

Other support measures can be found HERE (in Portuguese, but you can use your browser translator) 

Segurança Social warning
Fraudulent messages are being sent out in the name of Segurança Social (Social Security). These messages usually contain a link to a fake website that imitates the official Segurança Social Portal, claiming that the recipient has outstanding debts and urging immediate payment under threat of interest charges or additional costs.

If you receive such a message, do not click the link and do not provide any personal or banking details. This is a phishing attempt designed to steal confidential information or extort money by misusing Segurança Social’s identity.

Segurança Social does not send links or request banking information by message. Updates to IBAN details or other personal information must only be carried out through the official Segurança Social Portal, after secure login with your password. If in doubt, citizens should consult only official Segurança Social channels.

US Citizen digital fingerprinting
Are you a US Citizen who needs digital fingerprinting and a full-service FBI criminal background check for your immigration process in Portugal?

afpop is proud to welcome Identity Abroad to the Algarve for a special satellite session at our offices in Portimão on Thursday, 5^th of March.

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. You can find more information on the afpop Event Calendar

If you would like to take advantage of this service in the Algarve on 5^th of March, or also in Lisbon on 2^nd of March, where an additional satellite service is also being offered, 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 special discounts available for afpop members.

New afpop office opening hours
From the 2^nd of March, the afpop office will have new opening hours:

Monday – Thursday: 9h00 – 12h30 and 13h30 – 17h00

Friday: 9h00 – 13h30 and closed in the afternoon.

Due to the change of opening hours, the future News from afpop-briefings will be sent on Wednesdays, so the next briefing will be on the 4^th of March.

New e-mail addresses
Our afpop membership services team member Marisa will have a new e-mail address: support@afpop.com (apoio@afpop.com will be deleted soon) and Ellen will also have a change of e-mail address: ask@afpop.com (projectsupport@afpop.com will be deleted soon). info@afpop.com (Karina) and members@afpop.com (Cátia) will remain the same.

AIMA Renewals Portal (non-EU): April 2026
The Renewals Portal is now also available for Residency Permit renewals expiring in April 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 April 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 38^th Annual General Meeting will take place on Saturday 21^st of March 2026. Members will be able to download the AGM paperwork and voting forms at the afpop website or request them from the afpop office soon. Postal votes and proxy nominations are to be received in the afpop office by the last postal delivery on Thursday 19^th of March 2026. There will be more information in the February edition of UPDATE magazine.

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 pass by 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 24^th of February between 10h00 and 12h30 (premises of MEDAL Seguros)

• Lagos - Wednesday 25^th of February between 10h00 and 12h30 (premises of MediLagos on R. José Ferreira Canelas, which is behind the Câmara building)