“Today, the General Directorate of Consular Affairs of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Foreigners and Borders Service, opened a
service post [in Porto] for British citizens, who, by virtue of Brexit, do not
have residence permits to fully enjoy their rights in our country”, declared
the Minister of Internal Administration, José Luís Carneiro, on a visit to the
service centre for British citizens in Porto.
The new service point for British citizens for the district
of Porto, an area where there are estimated to be around a thousand residents,
joins the new service points created recently in the Azores, Madeira, Lisbon,
Cascais and Loulé, listed the minister, advancing that there are plans to
create a post in Quarteira, another in Coimbra and another in Faro this
October.
“We have estimated around 1,000 British citizens living in
our region, with family reunification we will be able to reach 1,500 British citizens
who will be able to benefit from this support and service”.
“Difficulties”
The Minister of Internal Administration explained that
British citizens who were in Portugal already benefited from an electronic
solution (QR Code), which gave them these rights, but admits that there were
“difficulties” with the paper.
“There were difficulties, as in certain parts of the
country, perhaps due to lack of information, not all services accepted this QR
Code as a mechanism for accessing services. That's why we intend to reinforce
the response and here in Porto this platform has been in testing since
September 27th and today it is fully operational ”, he explained.
Deadline of the end
of the year
The minister reiterated today that he estimates that the
approximately 36,000 British citizens living in Portugal will have the new
post-Brexit residence card by December 31.
“By the end of the year, and that is our goal, we can ensure
that all 36,000 British citizens who signed up on the Brexit platform, at the
time of Brexit, can have all the documents that enable them to have fundamental
rights.”
The minister declared that Portugal has a duty to guarantee
a service of “greater proximity” so that “all British citizens can feel fully
integrated and welcomed in our national community”.
José Luís Carneiro recalled that Portugal has about “300,000
Portuguese” in the United Kingdom and is counting on the British authorities to
also “recognise their rights”, namely health and social protection.
I am hopeful of getting a residence card before the end of the year. But estimated 36,000 to be done in three months. So 12,000 a month ,4,000 a week. There are 5 days of bank holidays before Christmas guess the offices will be closed on those days , Also not all the new offices are open yet. I will be very surprised if this plan will be achieved by the end of the year .
By AlanM from Algarve on 04 Oct 2022, 20:02
Difficulty with the paper ? Then cut the Eucalyptus then they will have the paper they need . Complete stupid excuse
By Isabel Oliveira from Lisbon on 05 Oct 2022, 04:54
I think/hope your pessimism is unfounded. Many of the 36,000 British living in Portugal already have their residence cards. We went throughnthe ‘procedure’ in February and were given our cards mere days later.
By Jean from Açores on 05 Oct 2022, 11:58
do you know when Brits from Oeiras will get their residence card?
By Amanda Cross from Lisbon on 07 Oct 2022, 11:55
here in central Portugal, hell will freeze over before a residency appointment will be given
By Ian from Lisbon on 10 Oct 2022, 03:56
SEF in Lisbon have begun issuing cards. I've had my appointment, and am now just waiting for the card in the mail.
By Derek Denyer from Lisbon on 11 Oct 2022, 16:13
We received an email from SEF Oct 19. A new office opened up in Pombal Oct 20. My wife was able to make an appointment online. Very helpful staff, In and out in 20 minutes.
By Harvey woodard from Other on 21 Oct 2022, 09:03
Isn’t the policy to prejudice a particular group of people based on their nationality over all other applicants who might have been waiting longer or otherwise are just as equally or more entitled to have their applications processed unconstitutional? What if there had a policy that only light-skinned persons would have their renewals prioritized? This is abject prejudice due to pressure placed on the Portuguese by the British because of economics and their historical relationship. I think a class action suit is in order with a representative from citizens of EU countries who have applied for residency, who should be considered ahead of non-EU countries. Please step forward!
By Patrick Oh from Lisbon on 21 Oct 2022, 13:32
All great except I live in the Algarve and was offered an appointment in Lisbon which is effectively a days travel.
How on earth is that competent?
By james from Algarve on 25 Oct 2022, 12:38