The Honorary Consulate of Ireland has been fully operational since Monday 2 December, 2024, and is located in Quinta Shopping in Almancil.

Ireland’s Ambassador to Portugal, Alma Ní Choigligh, started by positively sharing that “Ireland and Portugal have a very close and warm relationship, stretching back hundreds of years. Today we have more in common than ever – we’re both Atlantic-facing EU member states with a strong commitment to peace, democracy and the rule of law.”

The Ambassador told The Portugal News that “Ireland’s Honorary Consul in the Algarve will primarily provide consular services and assistance to Irish citizens, and act as a focal point for the vibrant Irish community here. The Embassy will also work closely with the Consulate in the broader development of economic, business and cultural relations.”

When asked why the Algarve was chosen as the location for the honorary consulate, the Ambassador replied, “The Algarve has always been a popular destination for Irish people, and since 2018 arrivals in Faro airport have more than doubled. With over €3 Billion in annual bilateral trade between Ireland and Portugal in recent years, the value of our deepened links is increasingly clear and we are really pleased to now have an official presence in the Algarve region.”

“For Ireland, the opening of an Honorary Consulate is an enhancement to the links between the two countries and will be hugely beneficial not only to the many Irish residents in this part of Portugal but also to the increasing numbers of visitors and Algarve-based Portuguese institutions.”

The Ambassador exemplified this by saying, “there has been a marked increase in the number of Irish residents who have registered with the Portuguese authorities as resident throughout the whole of Portugal. In 2012, Portuguese official figures counted 838 registered citizens, a figure that in 2023 stands at 5450. In the Algarve specifically there were 452 citizens in 2012, a figure that has since risen by over 300% to around 1500.”

Honorary Consul

Ambassador Alma Ní Choigligh, announced that Andrea Viegas has been appointed as Ireland’s first Honorary Consul in Portugal, based in the Algarve region, following an open and competitive process which began back in early 2023, including an advertisement inviting applications in The Portugal News.

Following the Ambassador's announcement, she kindly shared more about the history and the role of the Honorary Consul, “Ireland very much appreciates the role played by our Honorary Consuls. They play a vital role in the provision of consular services to Irish citizens throughout the world. The first Irish Honorary Consul was appointed shortly after the Second World War and now, over 80 Honorary Consuls are in place in more than 50 countries worldwide.

The role of an Honorary Consul is by definition honorary - but amongst the key characteristics sought for the role were: fluency in both English and Portuguese, residency in the Algarve, availability to provide consular services during weekdays and provision of suitable premises. Andrea Viegas filled all of the criteria and was appointed following an interview and consideration by both the Irish and Portuguese authorities.”

Consular services

The Ambassador shed some light on the consular services that will be provided, explaining that, “For many Irish citizens, their first contact with our network of Embassies and Honorary Consulates can be at times of great distress or difficulty. This may be as a result of events affecting our citizens who are travelling, living, working or holidaying abroad, impacting their families and loved ones at home in Ireland. For many, such contact may often become their primary means of support, assistance and reassurance as they try to navigate their way through unfamiliar processes, communicate effectively with medical staff or authorities in a foreign country, or assembly the documentation necessary to travel immediately in response to a family crisis.”

Concluding with, “Honorary Consulates offer similar consular assistance and support as Embassies and can also administer oaths, take affidavits, carry out notarial acts and most importantly for Irish citizens, issue Emergency Travel Documents in cases of lost, missing and stolen passports. With the new Honorary Consulate in the Algarve, Irish residents and visitors there will no longer have to travel to Lisbon in order to receive Emergency Travel Documents.”

For more information, please visit the Embassy’s website: https://www.ireland.ie/en/portugal/lisbon/

Author

Following undertaking her university degree in English with American Literature in the UK, Cristina da Costa Brookes moved back to Portugal to pursue a career in Journalism, where she has worked at The Portugal News for 3 years. Cristina’s passion lies with Arts & Culture as well as sharing all important community-related news.

Cristina da Costa Brookes