Just Call this Number
SEF, AIMA & impact on NHR….
If you live in Portugal, you may have had the need to call SEF. Unfortunately, most often no one answered the phone.
First Time
Our first experience with SEF was when we were applying for our first Temporary Residence cards. The original appointment was postponed due to Covid. It was moved from the office down the block, to one a 20-minute car ride away. However, we were informed online of the time, date, and location. Our appointments were handled efficiently and the workers were welcoming. We received our cards in the mail within a few weeks. We had absolutely no complaints! We also never tried to call…
Second Time
Our second SEF encounter was less positive and occurred when coincidently I lost my Residency Card and Denise was attempting to get her driver’s license.1 You may recall that I called dozens of times. After being told by a Portuguese friend, “SEF never answers the phone…send an email”; I sent an email. Surprise, there was no response to my email.
Then I called the relocation company we worked with thinking they may have a secret number or keys to the backdoor of the office. They don’t. Instead, they pay someone to hit redial for days on end until someone answers. It was this process that resulted in us learning we were too close to our renewal date to get an appointment. And so we waited…
Third Time is Not the Charm
We began going online to request our Automatic Residency Card renewal 90 days before it expired. Each time I got a message that said my request could not be processed. I was told by our relocation company to continue to try … SEF was backed up but they would open slots eventually. And they did. In early July the online request was accepted. There was even a place to update our address. Ahh efficiency….could life get any better?
As it turns out, it could. Friends who had made the same requests around the same time we did received their cards within a month. We did not. So once more I called our relocation company, and again they paid someone to hit redial a few hundred times. A few days later we got the answer.
“They were sent to your old address in Cascais. They are probably in that office.”
“Will they forward them to the address we provided?” I asked.
“Probably not.”
“We are planning a trip to Cascais in October. Can we pick them up then?”
“I’m not sure, but it is worth a try”, came the answer.
And so, when we went on a road trip to avoid the Feira da Praia, we stopped in Cascais. We arrived at SEF at 9:10 and were the sixth in line. From time to time a guard came to the door. He sent some people away and invited others into the building. The woman behind us in line followed someone inside and he seemed to assist her even though he had not called her inside. So mustering all my courage I said to Denise, “You need to just go inside!” She returned one of her “looks” and we both sheepishly stepped inside.
When the guard turned his attention to us, Denise said:
We were told our Residency Cards were sent to the wrong address and are now in this office. We were told we could pick them up without an appointment.
Is this the absolute truth? No.
Did it work? Yes.
The guard kindly took our passports to a woman in an adjacent room. She started riffling through a large box of envelopes. A few minutes later she returned with an envelope addressed to Denise. The guard opened the envelope and pointed to the place Denise needed to sign. A moment later, the process was repeated for me. By 10:00 we had thanked the guard and the woman with the box and were standing outside with our new Residency Cards in hand.
Final Irony
Before exiting the building I noted that our address was still incorrect. I asked the guard if we could update our address while we were there. He shook his head and handed me a piece of paper with the phone number for SEF to make an appointment. I didn’t protest as I have three years to reach them by phone.
AIMA
If you have been following the news you know that SEF has been replaced by a new organization called the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylym as of 29 October 2023. The transition to this new agency was announced in 2021. The agency will face some significant challenges:
The chart above shows the number of Golden Visa applications that were still pending in July. Over the past 10 years, SEF was able to clear 1,153 applicants a year meaning the current backlog will extend till 2030.
In October, Diário de Notícias reported that there are at least around 270,000 requests for a residence visa still to be decided.
CNN Portugal reported that the information systems used by SEF employees are 10 years old. And it would appear that the new agency will not have the funding to invest in newer systems or additional personnel.
Impact on the End of NHR
What this means for the end of NHR is still not certain. However, many news organizations and tax consultancy firms are suggesting that the final budget will include a transition period for persons who hold valid visas as of 31 December 2023. I participated in a webinar recently on this topic.2 A Portuguese accountant reported that he was able to secure NHR status for an American citizen who had arrived in Portugal just a few days earlier even though he did not have an appointment to receive his temporary residency. Some are even suggesting that those who have made an application (even if they have not yet gotten their visa) may be allowed to apply for NHR. An official announcement should be made when the budget is approved in late November. Stay tuned…
Espero que se riam connosco, até à próxima vez,
Nanc
Note, that Denise is now begun Year 2 of waiting for her driver’s license. After providing a Finanças document IMT did provide Denise a temporary license. I would congratulate her for having a record, but we know someone who is well into Year 3.
Great patience on both of your parts. I was starting to bite my nails over what you go through. Good job.
Wow, so much good information Nancy! I always look forward to reading what you write. AND it will definitely help me as I continue to move forward through the process. : )