The portal set up by the government to “simplify” the issuance of residence permits to citizens of countries that are part of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP) received “more than 6,300 applications” in the first two hours of operation. This new portal of the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF), which became available on Monday morning, is for immigrants who have already submitted an expression of interest (a formal application with SEF for a residence permit) in 2021 or 2022 and that have pending cases.
The Ministry of Home Administration (MAI), in a statement, informed that by midday, the SEF had issued 561 documents in connection with the payment of residence permits (which will cost 15 euros, similar to the issuance of a citizen card), which were received through digital. platforms available on the websites www.sef.pt that it www.ePortugal.gov.pt.
However, the gate registers access restrictions, as pointed out by the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) to Lusa. “Due to the high demand for the new CPLP portal, there has been a significant increase in traffic on the SEF network,” which made access to the site difficult.
After completing the entire online process and paying for the document, migrants are expected to receive the document certifying their residence permit in Portugal “as a rule” within 72 hours.
This measure could cover the “farmost world” of about 150,000 citizens, “which corresponds to the number of visas and the number of applications submitted on the electronic platform Automatic Scheduling Advance (SAPA)”, manifestations of interest informed SEF Director Fernando Silva at the presentation ceremony of this platform New, on Friday.
This residence permit will be valid for one year, “renewable for two consecutive periods of two years”, and physical travel to SEF facilities is only mandatory if there are minors involved.
Nationals of member states of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe and Timor-Leste) presenting as expressions of interest until December 31, 2022 and those with CPLP visas issued by Portuguese consulates after October 31. In the second phase, it will be available to CPLP nationals with an expression of interest submitted after January 1 and to CPLP nationals on the national territory with regular entry, who have not yet applied for a residence permit with the SEF.
This measure follows the Mobility Agreement between CPLP member states, which was approved in July 2021. It entered into force on January 1, 2022 (with various countries ratifying the agreement throughout that year). The Minister of Home Administration, José Luis Carneiro, stressed that in practice this agreement is “another step on the road to promoting mobility between the countries of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries”.
The official stressed that the idea is to have a “faster, safer and simpler process”, with “automatic data verification”, where there will be a data crossing with the Department of State (MNE).
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