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National ID card renewal in Portugal

Written from published rules on 27 August 2026. Not monitored for changes since. A starting point, not official advice — confirm anything that matters with Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado (IRN) / Institute of Registries and Notary.

Renewing a Portuguese National ID card, known as the Cartão de Cidadão, typically involves confirming eligibility, gathering required documents, scheduling an appointment if necessary, and attending a service desk to submit the renewal request.

Your timing

It is advisable to initiate the renewal process several months before the current card's expiration date. This allows ample time for securing an appointment, which can sometimes have waiting lists, and accounts for the processing time required for the new card to be issued and delivered.

Start 90 days ahead

This lead time accounts for potential appointment waiting times at service desks, and the subsequent processing and delivery of the new card, which can take several weeks.

The process

  1. 1Check the validity period of the current Cartão de Cidadão.
  2. 2Determine if an appointment is needed; renewals can sometimes be done at specific locations without prior booking, or online for certain age groups.
  3. 3Gather any necessary existing documents, such as the current Cartão de Cidadão.
  4. 4Attend a service desk (e.g., IRN, 'Loja de Cidadão') or complete the online renewal process if eligible.
  5. 5Provide biometric data (fingerprints and photograph) if applying in person, or confirm existing data if renewing online.
  6. 6Pay the applicable fee.
  7. 7Receive notification once the new card is ready for pickup or delivery.
  8. 8Collect the new Cartão de Cidadão, often requiring the presentation of the old card and the PIN letter.

What to bring

  • Current Cartão de Cidadão (Portuguese National ID card)
  • PIN letter (for online renewals or certain pickup procedures, though not always strictly required for the application itself)

Who handles it

Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado (IRN) / Institute of Registries and Notary

https://irn.justica.gov.pt/Cartao-de-Cidadao/Renovacao-do-Cartao-de-Cidadao

The fee for renewing the Cartão de Cidadão varies depending on the age of the applicant, the validity period requested (e.g., 5 or 10 years), and the urgency of the request. For standard renewals for adults, the cost is typically around €16. This information should be confirmed on the official IRN website or at a service desk.

What commonly goes wrong

  • Ensure the current card has not expired for too long, as certain conditions or processes might apply for severely expired cards.
  • If renewing online, verify eligibility conditions, as this option is usually available only for certain age groups (e.g., 25 years or older) and requires a Digital Mobile Key.
  • Be aware that appointment availability can vary significantly by location and time of year.
  • Keep the PIN letter for the new card secure, as it is needed to activate certain digital functionalities and for pickup in some cases.

Sources

Other documents in Portugal

National ID card renewal in other countries

Often renewed together

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