Cards issued until June 10, 2024 remain valid until the date printed on the document, with a maximum limit of August 3, 2031. The new cards, issued from June 11, 2024, already include contactless technology, fully complying with European standards.
The new European regulation for identification documents used to travel within the European Union (EU) will not require an early renewal of the Citizen Card, the Institute of Registries and Notaries (IRN) clarified this Wednesday.
In a statement, the IRN ensures that the Citizen Card remains valid until the date printed on the document, under normal circumstances, highlighting that, according to current legislation, there is no obligation for early renewal.
At issue is Regulation (EU) 2019/1157, of the European Parliament and of the Council, of June 20, 2019, which came into force last summer and which determines that citizen cards valid for circulation in the EU and the Schengen area have contactless access, among other requirements.
According to IRN, in the case of Portugal, cards issued from June 11, 2024, corresponding to the current model, include a dual-interface chip, with contact and contactless, complying with all the rules of the regulation.
Cards issued until June 10, 2024 have a machine-readable area, which allows identity to be validated at the boarding gates of airports in EU and Schengen countries.
The latter have, at the limit, a printed expiration date of August 3, 2031, the same date that ends the transition period for documents that do not fully comply with the new European security standards.
The IRN also adds that the Citizen Card of a Brazilian citizen under the Porto Seguro Treaty and the Lifetime Identity Card, which are not travel documents nor include a machine-readable zone, remain valid as identification documents in Portugal.
When to renew?
Citizens must renew their Citizen Card if:
• the card will expire within the next six months or if the card has expired
• you have lost your card or if it has been stolen or stolen
• want to change the data printed on the card (photograph and/or signature)
• identification elements – such as name, surname, gender and affiliation – are outdated
• need to issue new digital certificates (due to revocation of previous ones)
• the card is in poor condition or in poor working order
