No SEF appointments available
Last activity 22 September 2022 by Gentleman_H
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Hi everybody,
I am a Romanian/Canadian citizen in Portugal, already got my Certificado de Registo, the rest of my family Canadian citizens (wife + 2 daughters). We have a rental contract, all of us have NIFs with Portuguese address, the girls are enrolled in school, the problem is that we are not able to get an appointment at SEF for my wife and daughters to get their residence cards through reagrupamento familiar. And, from what I understood from the lady I was able to talk to on the phone at SEF, no one knows when we will be able to make an appointment for the rest of my family.
We were assured at the Camara Municipal when I got my Certificado de Registo that the rest of my family have the same right to reside in Portugal that I have, even with Canadian passports. But we do not feel comfortable on this promisse, especially with the initial 3 months after entry of my family members expiring soon...
The question is, what do we do in situations where they do require proof of residence (such as residence card or proof that an appointment at SEF is pending)?
What do we do if my wife is stopped on the street and asked for ID (and the 3 months allowed expired already)?
What do we do if we want to travel out of Portugal?...
Anyone with any experience with this kind of issue? I am pretty sure we are not the only ones who've gone through this...
Any recourse available at SEF?
Thank you for any possible reply/advice,
Cristian
Hi Cristian,
It is highly recommended to pre-book your appointment online through the SEF website. Avoid using the phone.
https://www.sef.pt/en/Pages/pre-marcacao-online.aspx
_____
(Translation required)
https://eportugal.gov.pt/servicos/agend … eiras-sef-
Pedir renovação de Cartão de Residência para Cidadão de Estado terceiro familiar de nacional da UE/EEE/Suíça:
https://eportugal.gov.pt/servicos/pedir … /eee/suica
Hi JohnnyPT,
The problem is, it's a first-time (not renewal) residency card they need, and this has to be done over the phone according to SEF.
Has anyone booked appointment for first-time residency card online?... Is that possible?
Thanks,
Cristian
It seems many of us are in a similar position!
I am now delayed by nearly by 18 months, due completely to the SEF appointment system.
This is compounded by the fat that one needs a Police Clearance within 3 months of the appointment, attested by the Portuguese Consulate; and so I have now done 4 of these.
I have a lawyer who is advising me, and their advice is the same, "there are no appointments on the system".
Covid has no doubt contributed, but so has the recent processing of Ukrainians into the country.
All I need is a biometrics appointment and I am done under the GV application, and can receive my residency.
It is inefficient and ineffective, and the disappointment is that I have invested over 500K into the country, while Portugal has not kept their side of the contract!
@williamstony360 While SEF is a special issue I would think that ypou better get used to the workings (or better not workings) of your new home. It is very annoying and I hear similar stories from people that are trying to exchange their driver's license. Somethimes I think that Portugal is only a good immigration country for those from EU countries as they have an automatic right to be in Portugal.
Portugal is a good immigration country for EU and non-EU citizens.
Thank you Ctomac for the insight. Super useful!
I have managed to talk to SEF on a couple of occasions about the Art 15 application for my wife (UK). I am EU and have my CRUE. They are telling us that we need a criminal records check for my wife! Has someone had to do that? Also, if yes, does it need to be a DBS or AKRO? And, finally, does it need to be translated into Portuguese?
Art. 15 clearly states that SEF should only be asking for certain documents (passport/marriage certificate/residence card of EU spouse) - and NO MORE THAN THAT. The European commission specifically states that if a country requests more than the necessary documents (under Directive 2004/38/EC), it is in breach of EU law (the right of free movement of EU citizens and their spouse/kids) - so why are they asking for documents above and beyond this??
@houaahouaa regarding the criminal record check, I always obtain a police clearance from ACRO UK, in order to do this you will need to upload a proof of residence in Portugal if you are living in Portugal, and in order to get this proof of residence in portugal or what is known here as atestdao de residencia. You can get the atestado de residencia by contacting by email or go in person to the freguesia of your neighborhood or bairro. they will give you two formas, one forma you fill by your self and the other forma where you need to find two portuguese citizens as witnesses in your building and registered in your freguesia who can write their names and provide a copy of their cidadão cartão, and sign. After completing these two formas you send them back to the freguesia and will wait 2 - 3 days to receive the atestado de residencia. Then you need to translate it from portuguese into English with a translator office. after completing translating it then you go to the acro UK website and do the application of obtaining the police clearance.
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