Portuguese in UK vent frustration

Portuguese nationals in the UK have voiced their frustration at the online service to book appointments at consulates.

By TPN, in News, United Kingdom · 26 Sep 2022, 14:05 · 13 Comments

The Portuguese Communities Portal online scheduling platform is currently the only way to obtain a vacancy for issuing or renewing citizens’ cards and passports, as phone or email options have been discontinued. However, users complain most of the time there are no vacancies available and booking via the online platform is like a lottery, meaning obtaining documents takes many months.

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Comments

Sadly, the situation is the same with SEF in Portugal. They never pick up the phone.

By Dakota from Other on 26 Sep 2022, 14:30

No sympathy what so ever, 19 months on and I still have no official ID residence card and I handed over my uk driving licence in April and have had no response from IMT about when I will get my Portuguese driving licence so I cannot drive outside of Portugal. Disgraceful on the part of Portugal. Why should the UK government worry? they are miles ahead so the Portuguese should get their house in order before complaining.

By Paul di Roosta from Porto on 26 Sep 2022, 18:32

This is not just an issue in the UK - in Canada we have the same problem. I've been trying to get an appointment for over a year. Every couple of months, I've dedicated time each morning for a couple of weeks to try to book something, and get very frustrated on receiving "we currently don't have any appointments available, try at a later time", so I give up. I wouldn't care if my appointment was a year from now, just allow me to book and move on. These government employees are so full of themselves that they think that they are doing us a favour by working there, when in fact they owe us for having jobs.

By Fernando Pereira from Other on 26 Sep 2022, 20:26

This is why I'll much rather book a flight, go to Portugal on holiday and get it done there. Consulate services here are a disgrace. And like a previous comment mentioned, they are full of themselves. Plus get to enjoy UK and Portugal holidays. It is a joke.

By Elsa Luis from UK on 27 Sep 2022, 05:06

No use blaming the Portuguese in London and saying ‘It’s just same for us in Portugal’. Both governments have had 5 years to prepare and, sadly, have been found wanting. The pandemic showed us how unprepared our leaders are for anything!

By Ian from Other on 27 Sep 2022, 06:51

They should try getting to sef! I'm still trying to renew my residencia, which causes problems when I travel elsewhere in the EU.

By Glenis from Algarve on 27 Sep 2022, 07:27

Note that this problem is due to the Portuguese consulate in the UK, and not the British. Like the other comment, I've been waiting 2+ years for SEF to grant me an appointment. Poor disorganized processes and lazy government employees have made this a nightmare. Portuguese people usually shrug their shoulders, suggest that I'm not telling the truth and have little sympathy so interesting to see what it's like when they are affected too..

By Jo Walker from Lisbon on 27 Sep 2022, 08:06

Well when I did live in UK I did book appointment with the Portuguese consulate and despite did receive the appointment by email and confirmation when I did arrive to the place they didn't want to see me . That shows that the services they do whatever they want and they don't care about people at all

By Isabel Oliveira from Lisbon on 27 Sep 2022, 08:16

I wish the service of SEF was that good.

By Richard Purdom from Lisbon on 27 Sep 2022, 09:19

I agree SEF in Portugal is no different

By Julie from UK on 27 Sep 2022, 14:50

Unfortunately, it's not just SEF that doesn't work, it's also IMT.
I have been waiting for a new driver's license for 22 months. IMT does not respond by phone or email.
It is a societal problem that should be debated much more in the media.

By Larsson from Lisbon on 28 Sep 2022, 11:17

Civil servants - jobs for life and a nice pension when the they retire regardless of efficiency, why should they care!

By Greg from Other on 28 Sep 2022, 14:05

Unfortunately this isn't so muh different in other EU countries. One gets the impression that public services are simply collapsing. One reason might be that the word of the politicians collides with the world of public services. Politicians invite 1000s of migrants/expats into a country without making sure that immigration and other public services, housing, public transport, are ready for this.

By Tom from Lisbon on 30 Sep 2022, 11:08