A residence permit showing deferido is approved, but that does not mean the physical card has already been printed or posted. The fastest way to diagnose a missing card is to identify the last confirmed stage: AIMA approval, card production, CTT acceptance, failed delivery, or return to AIMA.
Quick Answer: If you have no CTT tracking code, first ask AIMA whether the card has been produced and dispatched. If CTT has the card, follow the postal tracking and act before the collection deadline. If CTT has returned it, the collection procedure depends on how your AIMA process was initiated.
This guide covers the period after an AIMA application has been approved. It does not explain how to check whether an application is still under analysis. For that earlier stage, use the AIMA process tracker guide. For a general explanation of the document itself, see the Portugal residence card guide.
First Identify Where the Card Is Stuck
A missing residence card is usually one of four different problems. Each one requires a different contact.
| Last confirmed event | What it usually means | Who should act next |
|---|---|---|
| AIMA status says deferido, but there is no CTT code | Approved, but printing or dispatch is not confirmed | AIMA |
| CTT says Aguarda entrada nos CTT | A shipment record exists, but CTT says the object has not yet entered its network | AIMA as sender, then CTT if the status changes |
| CTT says Aceite, Em trânsito or Em entrega | CTT physically has the registered item | CTT |
| CTT says Entrega não conseguida or available for collection | Delivery failed and the card may be waiting at a CTT point | CTT, before the deadline |
| CTT says Devolvido ao remetente | The return to AIMA has started or completed | AIMA |
| CTT says Entregue, but you have no card | Possible household handover, incorrect delivery or loss | CTT and AIMA |
One pattern I keep seeing is applicants treating the approval date as the mailing date. It is not. A card can be approved in AIMA’s system while the physical document is still waiting for production or dispatch.
Approval, Printing and Delivery Are Separate Stages
Does “deferido” mean the residence card has been printed?
No. “Deferido” confirms the administrative decision, not production or delivery. A useful way to read the process is:
- AIMA approves the residence permit.
- The card data is prepared and sent for secure production.
- The physical card is produced, commonly associated with the Imprensa Nacional-Casa da Moeda, or INCM.
- The registered letter is created and handed to CTT.
- CTT delivers the card or returns it after an unsuccessful delivery and collection period.
Until a CTT object code exists, you do not have proof that the card has entered the postal network.
How long after deferido does AIMA take to send the card?
AIMA does not publish a fixed, reliable post-approval deadline for printing and dispatching an ordinary residence card. Current applicant reports range from roughly two or three weeks to several months, but those reports are anecdotal and are not a promised service level.
Once CTT has accepted the letter, the postal stage should be much shorter. CTT gives an indicative delivery time of about one working day in mainland Portugal and about two working days in the Azores and Madeira for domestic registered mail. Those CTT estimates begin after acceptance, not on the AIMA approval date.
A practical rule is to stop asking “How many days since deferido?” and ask instead: Has the card been printed, and has CTT accepted it? Those two questions reveal which institution currently controls the delay.
How to Find the CTT Tracking Number
Where is the CTT code for an AIMA residence card?
CTT may send the shipment code by SMS or email, or place it on the paper delivery notice left at the address. CTT also confirms that the sender knows the code generated for a tracked shipment.
A typical CTT code contains two letters, nine digits and two final letters, such as RD123456789PT. Some codes can be entirely numeric.
Check these places:
- SMS messages from CTT.
- Your inbox and spam folder for a CTT delivery email.
- A paper notice in the mailbox.
- Any AIMA approval or dispatch communication.
- The CTT app, if your mobile number and deliveries are associated with it.
If none of these contains the code, contact AIMA and ask two precise questions:
- Has the residence card been physically produced and dispatched?
- What is the CTT código de objeto or shipment code?
Your AIMA process number, NIE, NIF or old residence card number cannot be entered as a substitute in CTT’s tracking tool.
What Each CTT Tracking Status Means
CTT’s wording tells you whether the card is still with the sender, moving through the network or waiting for action.
| CTT status | Meaning for your residence card | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Aguarda entrada nos CTT | CTT received electronic shipment information, but the object has not yet entered the CTT network | Do not assume it has been posted. Ask AIMA whether the envelope was handed over |
| Aceite | The object entered the CTT network | Start monitoring daily |
| Em trânsito | The card is being transported or processed at a CTT centre | Usually wait unless the status remains unchanged for an unusual period |
| Em espera | The item is awaiting instructions or a scheduled delivery day | Open the tracking details and check whether CTT needs action from you |
| Em entrega | The postal worker is on the delivery route | Make sure someone can answer and that your name is visible at the address |
| Entrega não conseguida | CTT attempted delivery but could not complete it | Check SMS, email, mailbox and tracking for the collection point and deadline |
| Disponível para levantamento | The item is waiting at the stated CTT point | Collect it within the stated deadline with the required identification |
| Entregue | CTT recorded the item as delivered | Confirm who received it; dispute immediately if nobody did |
| Devolvido ao remetente | The item is being returned or has been returned to AIMA | Follow AIMA’s returned-card procedure; CTT says an initiated return cannot be cancelled |
The most important status is often Aguarda entrada nos CTT. It means a label or electronic record may exist, but CTT says the physical object has not entered its network. That is still an AIMA-side dispatch question.
What Happens After a Missed CTT Delivery?
How long does CTT keep the residence card?
CTT’s standard collection period for registered mail is six working days. The period normally starts on the working day after the date of the delivery notice. The letter may become available earlier, including on the day of the failed attempt, but the notice or electronic message should state the collection point and final date.
AIMA’s March 2026 FAQ confirms that residence cards are sent by registered mail with delivery confirmation to the address provided in the application. If you are absent, CTT should leave a collection notice. If the card is not collected during the stated period, it is returned to AIMA.
Do not rely only on a paper notice. Check the CTT tracking page, SMS and email because a notice can be overlooked or placed in the wrong mailbox.
Can CTT stop the return after the deadline?
Once the return instruction is underway, CTT says it cannot cancel the return. At that point, repeatedly visiting the CTT point is unlikely to recover the card. Save the tracking history and switch to the AIMA returned-card procedure.
What Happens When CTT Returns the Card to AIMA?
Will AIMA email me about a returned card?
AIMA promises an email summons for returned cards when the process was initiated through services.aima.gov.pt. The message identifies the Loja AIMA and the specific collection date. AIMA tells applicants to check their inbox and spam folder.
The card may be collected only at the office and on the date stated in the summons. AIMA says collection can be made by the applicant or by a properly authorised lawyer holding a specific power of attorney for that purpose.
For a process started through another channel, AIMA’s current FAQ does not promise the same email workflow. It tells the applicant to approach the Loja AIMA where the request was submitted, according to that office’s available hours and services.
Which AIMA office receives the returned residence card?
The correct office depends on the application route, so do not assume every returned card goes to Lisbon.
| Application route | AIMA’s current direction |
|---|---|
Process initiated through services.aima.gov.pt | Wait for the email summons and use the Loja AIMA and date stated there |
| Process initiated through another channel | Approach the Loja AIMA where the request was made, subject to the services available there |
| ARI or Golden Visa process | AIMA’s ARI FAQ says a returned card is sent to the AIMA office nearest the residence address printed on the document |
This distinction matters. Community reports often mention cards being found in a different city, but the safest action is to obtain confirmation from AIMA rather than travelling to an office based on a guess.
If you need to attend an office, check the current service method first through the AIMA appointment guide. A returned-card summons is not the same as a normal residence-permit appointment.
How to Correct an Old or Incorrect Address
How do I update my address with AIMA in 2026?
AIMA’s current address-correction route is its online Contact Form. Select:
- Tipo de Assunto:
Portal das Renovações - Subtipo de Assunto:
Comunicar/retificar Morada
Enter the new information and attach the documents requested by the form. AIMA states that the database update should be completed within two working days after registration.
A rental contract, property deed or parish council certificate may be relevant depending on the evidence requested. The Portugal proof of address guide explains the common documents and what each one proves.
An address correction is preventive, not a guaranteed interception service. It may update AIMA’s database within two working days, but it does not guarantee that a registered letter already accepted by CTT will be redirected. Continue tracking the original envelope separately.
Make sure your full name is visible on the mailbox and doorbell, the building number and apartment details are complete, and someone at the address knows a registered AIMA letter may arrive. These small details cause more delivery failures than they should.
Tracking Says Delivered but the Card Never Arrived
What should I do when CTT shows “Entregue”?
Treat a false or unexplained delivered scan as urgent because the card is an identity document. Work through the evidence in this order:
- Save screenshots of the complete tracking history, object code, delivery date and time.
- Ask everyone at the address, including family, flatmates, reception, concierge and neighbours who sometimes accept registered mail.
- Check whether the envelope was placed in a mailbox even though AIMA says cards are sent by registered mail with delivery confirmation.
- Contact CTT promptly, dispute the delivery and ask what delivery evidence is available, including who received or signed for the item.
- Notify AIMA in writing as the sender and ask it to trace the registered letter and confirm the delivery record.
- If the card is confirmed lost or misdelivered, make a police report and request a second copy through AIMA’s Contact Form.
AIMA’s online second-copy procedure requires the applicant to select the residence-permit topic, provide identity documents and attach proof of the police report. Do not request a second copy merely because the card is late. First exclude the possibility that it is still at a CTT point or already returned to AIMA.
What if Casa da Moeda Has Not Printed the Card?
Who should I contact when there is no CTT tracking at all?
If no shipment code exists and AIMA confirms the card has not been produced, CTT cannot investigate because it has not received an object. The applicant-facing administrative process remains with AIMA, even when secure card production involves INCM.
Ask AIMA to verify each production dependency:
- the approval date and final decision;
- whether all fees show as paid;
- whether biometrics and photograph are valid;
- whether the name, date of birth and nationality match the passport;
- whether the current address was transferred correctly;
- whether the production order was sent;
- whether the card was printed, dispatched or rejected for a data problem;
- the CTT object code, if dispatch has already occurred.
AIMA’s official ARI guidance also directs applicants asking whether a card is issued or still in production to AIMA, not to a public INCM tracking portal. For an ordinary residence card, use the AIMA Contact Form and keep the submission confirmation.
Message to send AIMA about a card not received
You can adapt this concise Portuguese text:
Assunto: Cartão de residência deferido mas não recebido
Exmos. Senhores, o meu pedido de autorização de residência foi deferido em [data], mas ainda não recebi o cartão. Solicito a confirmação de que o cartão foi produzido e expedido, a data de expedição e o respetivo código de objeto CTT. Caso tenha sido devolvido, agradeço a indicação da Loja AIMA onde se encontra e do procedimento para levantamento. Nome completo: [nome]. Data de nascimento: [data]. Nacionalidade: [nacionalidade]. NIE/n.º de processo: [número]. N.º do título anterior: [número]. Morada registada: [morada].
Attach the approval document, payment proof, process receipt, old card if available, CTT screenshot and proof of the correct address. A complete first submission is more useful than several short messages containing different pieces of information.
AIMA Card Not Received: Action Plan by Situation
| Your situation | Immediate action | Evidence to keep |
|---|---|---|
| Approved less than a few weeks ago, no tracking | Check portal, email and address; ask AIMA whether production started if the delay continues | Approval and payment records |
| Approved for a long time, no tracking | Submit a written status request asking whether the card was printed and for the CTT code | Contact Form confirmation |
| CTT says Aguarda entrada nos CTT | Ask AIMA whether the physical envelope was handed over | Tracking screenshot with date |
| CTT item is moving | Monitor CTT and ensure delivery access | Full tracking history |
| Missed delivery | Collect within the CTT deadline | Notice, code and ID |
| Returned to sender | Check AIMA email and spam; follow the correct office route for your process channel | CTT return proof and AIMA summons |
| Delivered but missing | Dispute with CTT, notify AIMA, then report loss and request a second copy if confirmed | Delivery scan, complaint number and police report |
| Address was wrong | Correct it through AIMA’s Contact Form and separately resolve the existing shipment | Address-change submission and proof of address |
Common Mistakes That Delay the Card Further
- Waiting for AIMA to phone. The published returned-card workflow for
services.aima.gov.ptuses email, so check spam. - Using the AIMA process number on the CTT website. CTT needs the postal object code.
- Assuming deferido means dispatched. Approval, printing and CTT acceptance are separate events.
- Missing the six-working-day collection period. The deadline on the notice or tracking record controls the shipment.
- Going to a random AIMA office. The correct office depends on the application channel and the summons.
- Changing the address but ignoring the existing envelope. A database correction may not redirect mail already in transit.
- Requesting a second copy before checking for a return. A card marked missing may actually be waiting at AIMA.
- Sending AIMA an incomplete message. Include the process number, approval date, address and CTT evidence in one submission.
If the problem has moved beyond ordinary production or delivery delay and AIMA remains inactive despite a documented written request, the Article 109 CPTA guide to legal options for AIMA delays explains the difference between an administrative complaint and court action. A late card does not automatically mean litigation is the next step, but a clear paper trail matters if escalation becomes necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deferido mean my AIMA residence card has been printed?
No. Deferido means AIMA approved the application. It does not prove that the physical card has been produced, handed to CTT or delivered. The first postal proof is normally a CTT shipment code or a tracking event such as Aguarda entrada nos CTT or Aceite.
How long does CTT keep an AIMA residence card after a missed delivery?
AIMA sends residence cards by registered mail with delivery confirmation. CTT’s standard collection period for registered mail is six working days, normally counted from the working day after the delivery notice. The date and deadline shown on your notice or tracking page control your particular shipment.
Where can I find the CTT tracking number for my residence card?
CTT may send the code by SMS or email or print it on the paper delivery notice. The sender also has the shipment code. If you received no CTT alert, ask AIMA to confirm whether the card was dispatched and to provide the CTT object code. Your AIMA process number is not a CTT tracking number.
Will AIMA contact me if CTT returns my residence card?
For a process initiated through services.aima.gov.pt, AIMA says it sends an email summons identifying the AIMA office and collection date. Check spam. For a process initiated through another channel, AIMA’s FAQ tells the applicant to approach the AIMA office where the request was made, subject to that office’s available service.
Which AIMA office receives a residence card returned by CTT?
There is no single national collection office for every case. A services.aima.gov.pt applicant must follow the office and date in the email summons. For another application channel, AIMA directs the applicant to the office where the request was submitted. ARI cases have separate guidance linking returned cards to the office nearest the registered residence.
What should I do if CTT says delivered but the residence card is missing?
Save the tracking record, check with everyone at the address and contact CTT immediately to dispute the delivery and request delivery evidence. Notify AIMA as the sender. If the card is confirmed lost or misdelivered, make a police report and use AIMA’s Contact Form to request a second copy.
Can changing my AIMA address redirect a card already sent by CTT?
Do not assume so. AIMA says address corrections submitted through its Contact Form are updated within two working days, but that does not guarantee the redirection of registered mail already accepted by CTT. Track the existing shipment separately and correct the AIMA record to prevent another card going to the old address.
What if Casa da Moeda has not printed my residence card?
If no CTT code exists and AIMA confirms the card is still awaiting production, it is not yet a postal problem. Ask AIMA to verify that the approval, payment, biometrics, personal data and address were correctly transferred for production. AIMA does not publish a fixed post-approval printing deadline for ordinary residence cards.