The Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) in Portugal has launched a new online platform for obtaining a residence permit for citizens of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries
(CPLP). As of today, the approximately 150,000 immigrants from Portuguese-speaking countries with pending cases at SEF can automatically obtain a residence permit through the 'CPLP portal'. Citizens with CPLP visas issued by Portuguese consulates after October 31, 2022, can also apply for a residence permit through the online platform.
The national director of SEF, Fernando Silva, stated that the platform is exclusively online, and there is no need for any other interaction with the service or physical travel to a service point. However, in the case of minors involved in the legalization process, it is necessary to go afterwards to a SEF service point. The residence permit for CPLP immigrants will cost €15, and the document will be available in electronic format within 72 hours, as a rule.
This new platform is part of the mobility agreement between the Member States of the CPLP, which includes Portugal, Cape Verde, Brazil, Timor-Leste, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, São Tomé and Príncipe, Angola, and Mozambique. CPLP citizens who intend to come to Portugal from now on do not need to establish contact with SEF. Instead, they only need to go to the Portuguese consular representations in their countries of origin to obtain a visa for Portugal.
The launch of the online platform comes at a time when the number of appointments available with SEF has significantly dropped. This new service aims to simplify the process of obtaining a residence permit for CPLP immigrants and ensure a more efficient and accessible service for them.
The 'CPLP portal' is an essential step towards digital transformation in the Portuguese public sector, promoting transparency and ease of access for citizens. This platform is also in line with the European Union's eGovernment Action Plan 2021-2023, which aims to provide public services online, accessible, and user-friendly across the EU. Photo by Threeohsix, Wikimedia commons.