Mission Impossible: Obtaining a "Card/Certificate of permanent residence" as an EU citizen within the past 19 months

My initial 5-year residence document expired at the beginning of 2024 ("Certificado de Registo de Cidadão da União Europeia", issued to EU citizens by the municipality upon simple request; with the eight-digit number).

Since November 2023 (19 months !!!), I've been trying to get an appointment to regularize my residence and obtain that damn “Cartão/Certificado de Residência Permanente”:

calling them (as long as the line was still working; nowadays, they instruct you to visit their website where one can apparently sort out everything; yeah, right), personally at one of the AIMA’s “lojas” (“Lady, you need to call to get an appointment!”), through IRN and numerous emails. NOTHING worked. No reply, not even an automated one. No chance. And still NO appointment.

As many of us know damn well, in March 2024 they signed a law extending the validity of all AIMA-related documents until the end of this month. Today is 6th June and I haven't come across a new extension yet...

Should I really start panicking, since I also have to exchange my driving license for a Portuguese one soon?!? For which, of course, one needs a valid certificate of permanent residence. Another Portuguese Catch-22?!?

And yesterday, I’ve got the first ever email reply from AIMA!

To my latest detailed email explanation of my issue lasting more than a year and a half (needless to add: with all docs they need to schedule an appointment).

My happily surprised face quickly turned to disbelief. They sent me a link to their online form, which is useful ONLY to those who need to RENEW their "Cartão/Certificado de Residência Permanente"!?!

Yes, a link to their online form that is only useful for those who can copy the nine-digit number from their existing Cartão: https://contactenos.aima.gov.pt/

WTF?!?

My e-mail has “received their best attention”?!? (see the snapshot of their email)

I despair…

Especially since I feel too old and too tired from all the experiences and the many moves around Europe to even think about moving again, let alone actually do it.

PS: I am a pensioner from an EU country, without any complex status and no visa/work/school/etc. involved. I can't even imagine what it's like for those whose lives are literally ruined by the lack of this damn Cartão/Certificate.