Visa applications sent by post after next Tuesday by Brazilians wishing to enter Portugal will be returned, as requests must now be made in person at a visa centre or diplomatic representation, according to the Diplomatic Portal.
The measure aims to “ensure greater efficiency and closer contact with applicants.” As part of the reform of visa operations in Brazil, from Tuesday all visa applications for Portugal must be submitted exclusively in person by applicants at VFS Global Visa Application Centres in Brazil, by prior appointment available on the relevant website. This brings to an end the possibility of sending visa applications by post.
On Tuesday, slots for in-person appointments will open on a weekly basis, allowing applicants to choose the most convenient date and time to attend one of the VFS Global Visa Application Centres in the Brazilian cities of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador da Bahia, Brasília, Belo Horizonte, Belém do Pará, Fortaleza, Recife, Curitiba and Porto Alegre.
According to the Diplomatic Portal of Portugal’s foreign ministry, the new appointment system strengthens “security guarantees and slot availability through an innovative facial recognition mechanism.” Applicants will receive personalised service with immediate verification of document compliance, digital tracking tools and transparent progress updates on each application.
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The 2024 Migration and Asylum Report, prepared by AIMA, indicated that Brazilian nationals were the largest foreign resident community in Portugal in 2024, with 484,596 citizens accounting for 31.4% of all foreigners in the country. That year, 38,713 residence permits were granted.
