Portugal issue??

I received my SEF email yesterday but annoyingly, the only appointment option they are giving me is in Lisbon! There are several offices which are much closer. Anyone else had this issue?
 
Graham376 said:
I hear several others have this problem, one was on the phone to me this morning. Although a pain, quite doable by taking the 0700 train from Faro, arrives in Lisbon 0956, then Metro to SEF. Last direct train back leaves Lisbon around 1840. Half price fare for pensioners.
Click to expand...
I'm in my 40s, I don't think I qualify. ;)

I might just go up and spend the night if I can't get a closer appointment arranged.
 
shan said:
I'm in my 40s, I don't think I qualify. ;)

I might just go up and spend the night if I can't get a closer appointment arranged.
Click to expand...
We spent our first honeymoon in Lisbon, I think I can remember the Lapa Palace was rather nice, which was fortunate as Lisbon was shut for a bank holiday, shit that was 23 years ago! Take no notice.......it pissed it down, so we sat in bar drinking wine at 20p a glass, a man tried to sell us bourbon biscuit, just the one mind.
 
Clancy Moped said:
We spent our first honeymoon in Lisbon, I think I can remember the Lapa Palace was rather nice, which was fortunate as Lisbon was shut for a bank holiday, shit that was 23 years ago! Take no notice.......it pissed it down, so we sat in bar drinking wine at 20p a glass, a man tried to sell us bourbon biscuit, just the one mind.
Click to expand...
Lisbon's not really my favourite city. I prefer Porto but let's not give SEF any bloody ideas.
 
shan said:
I'm in my 40s, I don't think I qualify. ;)

I might just go up and spend the night if I can't get a closer appointment arranged.
Click to expand...
Same here. Email yesterday. Friends same, logged on yesterday and got a November date. Logged on this morning and only dates in December available and were visibly being bagged and only a days worth left and I wont be there. So thought maybe the December ones would all be gone and January ones would appear when I could be there. Logged on this evening and all November ones were available! In Lisbon. So bagged two, will find a nice airbnb and do tourist bit. Plus a half price train ride. Nice!
 
shan said:
I received my SEF email yesterday but annoyingly, the only appointment option they are giving me is in Lisbon! There are several offices which are much closer. Anyone else had this issue?
Click to expand...

Yes wife was very limited in choice and only appointments available were December.

She is back in UK until Jan 23 so needs to look at appointments next year. Not what SEF wants as they would like to complete 99% of Brits residency cards in 2022.
 
Sailfree said:
Yes wife was very limited in choice and only appointments available were December.

She is back in UK until Jan 23 so needs to look at appointments next year. Not what SEF wants as they would like to complete 99% of Brits residency cards in 2022.
Click to expand...
Well, SEF have taken long enough to get to this point - a few more months is not going to kill them.
 
shan said:
Well, SEF have taken long enough to get to this point - a few more months is not going to kill them.
Click to expand...

My appointment was 19th Oct. Paid €15 same day. Still no residents card yet.

I'm returning to UK next Thursday so if nothing by then will need to get friend to monitor letter box and give them authority to sign for it at Post Office!
 
Sailfree said:
My appointment was 19th Oct. Paid €15 same day. Still no residents card yet.

I'm returning to UK next Thursday so if nothing by then will need to get friend to monitor letter box and give them authority to sign for it at Post Office!
Click to expand...
That is annoying.
 
Stingo said:
SEF are catching up with Residence applications for us Brits. Today, yes, a Sunday, I received an email from them inviting me to make an appointment. Job done!
Click to expand...
Had my appointment on Tuesday, which took approximately ten minutes and was simple enough. This morning I went back onto the SEF portal to try get my payment reference. I had to log out/End Session and then back in again before the link to my payment reference would show. Doing the payment at a Multi Banco ATM was simple enough. Now to wait for my Residence Card to arrive in the post.

Next: Exchanging my expired UK driver's license for a Portuguese one.
 
Stingo said:
Next: Exchanging my expired UK driver's license for a Portuguese one.
Click to expand...

I hope you have better luck than I did. A few years ago, I decided to change mine. Had the medical etc. then applied at IMT in Faro, one February. Had to hand in my UK license and they issued a temporary paper Portuguese one but, only valid in Portugal for a few months so, couldn't even cross the border to Ayamonte. Later in the year back in UK with no license (even the paper one had expired in Portugal) so, obtained UK duplicate. In the December, IMT wrote requesting I hand that in.

Didn't bother and still driving on UK license on the excuse I'm UK tax resident with dual residence and insurance company have been made aware of situation via broker. Told police at roadside check I'm a tourist, to save any further explanation.

Edit. Just noticed your UK license has expired, can you exchange a non-valid license or, will you have to renew it first?
 
My previous Carte de Sejour in France was free. As was the Permanent Resident Card (for UK citizens post Brexit). As was my Carte de Nationale d'Identite (CNI), now that I am a French citizen. Applications all done on line. These days you then need to book an appointment at the Marie so they can take your fingerprints and verify that your resemble the photo you submitted on line.

For the citizenship, I had to take a language test (about 100 euros) and get my parents and my birth certificates translated by an official translator (cost another 100 euros). That was the total cost (excluding parking at the prefecture). This is a very different cost than French citizens are experiencing in the UK.

I had to pay for the passport though. But again, very easy to do. Applied on line at the same time as for the CNI. Paid the 86 euros online. One common appointment at the Marie a couple of days later for both CNI and passport. Then two weeks later SMS to say I can pick it up at the Marie. You do have to go in person with proof of identity.
 
Graham376 said:
Edit. Just noticed your UK license has expired, can you exchange a non-valid license or, will you have to renew it first?
Click to expand...
Apparently you can. If you're on Facebook (I'm not, but a mate sent me the docs) join a group called British expats in Portugal. In the "files" section you'll find all sorts of interesting stuff, including two pdf files about exchanging your license.
 
Graham376 said:
I hope you have better luck than I did. A few years ago, I decided to change mine. Had the medical etc. then applied at IMT in Faro, one February. Had to hand in my UK license and they issued a temporary paper Portuguese one but, only valid in Portugal for a few months so, couldn't even cross the border to Ayamonte. Later in the year back in UK with no license (even the paper one had expired in Portugal) so, obtained UK duplicate. In the December, IMT wrote requesting I hand that in.

Didn't bother and still driving on UK license on the excuse I'm UK tax resident with dual residence and insurance company have been made aware of situation via broker. Told police at roadside check I'm a tourist, to save any further explanation.

Edit. Just noticed your UK license has expired, can you exchange a non-valid license or, will you have to renew it first?
Click to expand...

I am in same situation.

As requested sent in my UK licence in July21. No replacement Portuguese licence.

Both paper substitute and UK Licence expired. UK licence in June22. Rather than take risk of being without any valid licence I renewed UK one.

After SEF appointment I went to IMT. Very helpful and renewed paper replacement for 6 months plus chased IMT Braga.

Now got e mail request to send in latest renewed UK licence! Sent it registered post.

My attitude is that my latest valid UK is still valid in UK until I receive the Portuguese one!

The fact I can't produce it would only be a problem if I needed to hire a car. Any other unexpected problems I will ask for a duplicate UK licence and no doubt the IMT will later ask for that one and the merry go round will start again!

Portugal can be so advanced in some ways eg being able to pay any bill or invoice at an ATM yet so beaureucratic and slow in others!
 
Graham376 said:
I hope you have better luck than I did. A few years ago, I decided to change mine. Had the medical etc. then applied at IMT in Faro, one February. Had to hand in my UK license and they issued a temporary paper Portuguese one but, only valid in Portugal for a few months so, couldn't even cross the border to Ayamonte. Later in the year back in UK with no license (even the paper one had expired in Portugal) so, obtained UK duplicate. In the December, IMT wrote requesting I hand that in.

Didn't bother and still driving on UK license on the excuse I'm UK tax resident with dual residence and insurance company have been made aware of situation via broker. Told police at roadside check I'm a tourist, to save any further explanation.

Edit. Just noticed your UK license has expired, can you exchange a non-valid license or, will you have to renew it first?
Click to expand...
Just tried to log in to the SEF portal, it wont work, try again later. The angry brigade have been giving them caca and the Embassy is involved
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top