Expat Exchange
Free MembershipSign In

Portugal Forum

7 years ago

SEF office experiance

7 years ago
Hello,
My wife and I are arriving in Lagos in late October. We are Canadian and are trying to get a residence permit to experience life in Portugal. Lagos is a temporary stop for us to rest up a bit and then we are hoping o find a nice little place in Lisbon. I have read the countless tales on this site and others regarding the visa and our adventure is similar, yet different.
We went to the Vancouver consulate as we were from western Canada and told "there is no residence visas now".
Apparently, just that morning, he consulate was told to issue only Schengen visas to Canadians wanting a residence visa! Even when we questioned this we were told that the SEF offices just wanted our applications in the system and to go to an SEF office asap upon arrival in Portugal and ask for a residence visa.

My question is this; Is there an SEF office which someone has had exceptionally good luck dealing with in either the Algarve or Lisbon? Is a translator necessary and/ or recommended?
Thanks in advance to anyone who answers.
Phil

AnchorLess
AnchorLess

GeoBlue
GeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

GeoBlueGeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

Living in Portugal GuideLiving in Portugal Guide

Our Living in Portugal Guide is a primer on everything about living in Portugal: best places to live, cost of living, pros and cons, healthcare and insurance, obtaining a driver's license, how to bring your pet with you and more.

Portugal Forum Portugal Forum
Join our Portugal forum to meet other expats and talk about living in Portugal.

Contribute to Portugal Network Contribute
Help other expats and newcomers by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Portugal.

Best Places to Live in Portugal Best Places to Live in Portugal

If you're thinking about living in Portugal, here are the 15 Best Places to Live in Portugal in 2023.

Healthcare in PortugalHealthcare in Portugal

Expats in Portugal with a residency visa can participate in the national health care system. Here's what you need to know about the SNS and the combination of public and private services you'll need to manage your health in Portugal.

Cost of Living in PortugalCost of Living in Portugal

Expats offer insight into the cost of living in Portugal.

Moving to PortugalMoving to Portugal Guide

Expats moving to Portugal are drawn by a variety of places to live, a rich history and so much more. Here are some tips on what it means to move there, and how to make it happen.

Real Estate in PortugalReal Estate in Portugal

Real estate listings in popular cities and towns in Portugal.

Pros Cons of Living in PortugalPros & Cons of Living in Portugal

Take off your rose-colored glasses and learn what expats have to say about the biggest challenges and the greatest rewards of living in Portugal.

Retiring in PortugalRetiring in Portugal

Advice for people retiring in Portugal.

Visa and Residency PortugalPortugal Visa & Residency Guide

Thanks to Susan Stults Korthase for this helpful overview of current requirements to begin the process of obtaining a Residency Visa when moving from the US to Portugal.

10 Tips for Living in Portugal10 Tips for Living in Portugal

If you've recently arrived in Portugal, here are 10 tips for digital nomads living in Portugal.

GeoBlue
GeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

GeoBlueGeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

Contribute to Portugal Network Contribute
Help others in Portugal by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Portugal.

AnchorLess
AnchorLess

Copyright 1997-2024 Burlingame Interactive, Inc.

Privacy Policy Legal